Report Shows Housing Starts in Canada Flat Since 1970s Despite Population Growth More than Tripling

April 22, 2025 TruthUSA

Despite Canada’s population tripling since the 1970s, housing starts in the country have remained stagnant, creating a challenge in housing affordability, as outlined in a recent report.

The Crisis in Housing Affordability report, conducted by the Fraser Institute, analyzed housing starts from 1972 to 2024, pointing out that these starts have not kept pace with population growth.

According to the report, housing starts peaked in 1976 at 273,203 and dropped to 245,367 in 2024. The authors noted that between 1972 and 1979, Canada’s population grew by 279,975 people per year, compared to 859,473 people per year between 2021 and 2024.

Steven Globerman, a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and co-author of the report, highlighted that despite increased immigration-driven population growth post-COVID-19, Canada has failed to boost homebuilding adequately to meet the housing demand.

In 2023, there were 5.1 new residents for each housing unit started, decreasing to 3.9 in 2024. The authors also pointed out that Canada’s population growth in 2024 was twice the rate observed before the pandemic.