Is migration a major determinant in population figures?
Yes, the Cohort-Survival method considers the level of net in-migration to the city-in other words the number of people moving into the city minus the number moving out. Currently, net migration accounts for about two-thirds of our population growth; the rest comes from “natural increase”, the amount by which births exceed deaths. As the baby-boom generation starts to age into its 70’s (by 2020), deaths will rise substantially. By 2031, the number of deaths will almost equal births, meaning that virtually all growth will be from migration. The majority of net migration to Ottawa is now from other countries, and this is expected to rise to account for close to all migration, and hence all population growth, by 2031.
