Toronto’s population is shrinking, and thousands are choosing to leave
For the first time since the pandemic peak, Toronto’s census area lost residents between July 2024 and July 2025. Here’s who’s going, where they’re headed, and what to consider if you’re thinking of moving.
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By Torontoer Staff
Toronto’s census metropolitan area recorded a net population decline between July 2024 and July 2025, losing 992 people. This is only the second year-to-year drop since at least 2001, and it represents the largest net population loss of any Canadian metro last year.
The shift is driven largely by internal migration within Canada. Tens of thousands of people left the Toronto region for other parts of Ontario and other provinces, outpacing births and international arrivals for the first time in years.
What the numbers say
Statistics Canada’s latest figures show births in the Toronto CMA were at their highest level since 2019–2020. International arrivals also remained above pre-pandemic levels, but net international migration fell sharply compared with the record-breaking influx of the previous year.
The Toronto CMA recorded the highest level of net emigration since comparable records began in 2001, and it experienced the largest-ever loss of non-permanent residents. Net international migration in 2025 was 53,397, compared with 339,801 the year before. Those declines could not offset the large number of residents moving elsewhere in Canada.
The Toronto census metropolitan area dropped by 992 people between July 2024 and July 2025.
Statistics Canada
Where people are going
Most movers are staying within the Greater Golden Horseshoe, but a sizable share are relocating much farther. The top net destinations from Toronto were Oshawa and Hamilton, which each gained large numbers of former Toronto residents. Western cities, notably Calgary and Edmonton, also drew thousands.
- Oshawa: net gain of 11,797 people from Toronto
- Hamilton: net gain of 10,765
- Calgary: net gain of 7,069
- Edmonton: net gain of 5,562
- Montreal was one of the few cities to send more people to Toronto than it lost to it, with a net gain of 1,172 for Toronto
Inside the wider CMA, the population changes were uneven. Mississauga logged the largest drop, losing more than 16,700 people, a 2.14 percent decline. The City of Toronto lost just over 8,500 residents, and Brampton declined by about 5,822. Meanwhile, Milton, Pickering, Oakville and Vaughan recorded population gains that helped offset some of the overall decline.
Why people are leaving
The data points to affordability and lifestyle as major factors. Housing prices, long commutes and rising costs have pushed some households to smaller or more affordable cities. For newcomers, the share of Ontario’s immigrants choosing Toronto fell from roughly 76 percent to just over 60 percent in five years, with places like Ottawa picking up a larger share.
Alberta’s job market and lower housing costs attracted many Ontarians in 2024–2025. For others, the move reflects remote-work flexibility, family considerations or a search for a different pace of life. The result is a redistribution of population across Canada rather than a straightforward decline in demand for urban living.
Thinking of leaving Toronto? Practical considerations
If you are considering a move, look beyond a single metric such as home price. Employment prospects, commute times, taxes, childcare and access to health care will affect your cost of living and quality of life. Below are a few practical steps to help evaluate a move.
- Compare total housing costs, including utilities, property taxes and insurance, not just mortgage or rent.
- Research job openings and wages in your field. Some regions offer lower housing costs but fewer opportunities in specific sectors.
- Factor in moving costs and the potential need to sell a home in a slower market.
- Test the commute and local services, for example by spending a week living in the area if possible.
- Check public transit, schools and health-care access to match your priorities.
- Consider social networks and family supports, which affect long-term satisfaction more than short-term savings
What this means for Toronto
Toronto remains Canada’s largest urban region, but continued outflows could affect housing demand, commuter patterns and municipal planning. A smaller or slower-growing population could ease some housing pressure, but it may also change where governments prioritise services and investment.
For individuals, the current trend highlights that a city’s advantages can shift over time. Affordability, jobs and lifestyle preferences are actively reshaping where Canadians choose to live.
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