Where Canadians Living Abroad Are Located

A recent report from the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada has highlighted the growing trend of Canadian citizens choosing to live abroad. The report, commissioned by Senator Yuen Pau Woo, revealed that an estimated four million Canadians were residing outside of the country in 2016, making up just over 11 per cent of the total population.

The report found that motivations for Canadians living abroad vary, including permanent emigration and reverse migration from Canada. It also noted that naturalized Canadians, who acquire citizenship later in life, are increasingly choosing to move on from Canada after four to seven years of arrival.

Data from the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada showed that the largest Canadian population outside of Canada is found in the United States, followed by Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Canadians also have strong ties to East Asia, with countries like South Korea, China, and Japan ranking among the top 10 countries where Canadians reside.

Despite the growing number of Canadians living abroad, the McGill report highlighted a lack of support and attention from Canada towards its diaspora. Issues such as health care coverage, taxation, and voting were identified as areas where Canadian expats face challenges.

The report called for greater transparency and policy recommendations to ensure active support for the diaspora and an official government strategy towards Canadian expats. It emphasized the importance of engaging with the diaspora to create a stronger Canadian international network.

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