Insight
Housing Construction vs Population Growth
Canada's population is 41,798,407 persons (Jul 1, 2026), up 0.5% vs one year earlier. Housing starts are running at 248,896 units, annualized (Sep 2026).
Updated 2026-11-12
| Metro | Value |
|---|---|
| Vancouver B.C. | 440 per 100 |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo Ont. | 210 per 100 |
| Kelowna B.C. | 142 per 100 |
| Sherbrooke Que. | 108 per 100 |
| Victoria B.C. | 104 per 100 |
| Montréal Que. | 98 per 100 |
| Kingston Ont. | 78 per 100 |
| Trois-Rivières Que. | 77 per 100 |
| Québec City Que. | 74 per 100 |
| Moncton N.B. | 62 per 100 |
| Saint John N.B. | 50 per 100 |
| Winnipeg Man. | 46 per 100 |
The ratio we use
New homes completed per 100 added residents divides 12-month completions by the 12-month increase in population. Households average more than two people, so a ratio around 40–50 roughly keeps pace; that's context, not an official threshold. Where population fell, the ratio isn't shown.
Caveats
Completions include rental, condo and ownership homes. Population estimates for metros are annual (July 1), while completions are monthly, so periods don't line up exactly.
Sources
Informational only, not financial advice. Data as of the release snapshot generated 2026-11-12.