Toronto sees record-high population loss due to COVID-19

Toronto experienced record-high population loss last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a report by Statistics Canada on population estimates, despite overall positive population growth, due mostly to international migration, Toronto saw people moving out of the city to surrounding areas.

From July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020, Toronto saw 50,375 people leave the urban centre. Similarly, Montreal saw its record-high loss with 24,880 leaving.

Because of this migration to surrounding areas, places like Oshawa saw population growth of 2.1%, with Milton seeing a 4.0% increase and Brampton seeing a 3.4% increase.

“The desire to live outside the largest urban centres was also reflected in the rapidly increasing housing costs in neighbouring real estate markets, a trend that has continued in spite of the pandemic,” the report said.

“Personal health, the ability to work remotely, and higher housing costs are among the most important factors contributing to the decision of many Canadians to continue (or to no longer continue) living in large urban centres hardest hit by the pandemic. Whatever the exact reasons, urban sprawl is an important trend to monitor.”

Overall in Canada, despite lower international migration due to travel restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19, international migration accounted for the vast majority, 90.3%, of the growth in metropolitan areas.

In comparison, it accounted for just over one-third of the population growth in other regions of the country.