Somalia → Canada
Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows
- From
- Somalia
- To
- Canada
- Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
- 5,170
- Change since 2018
- +141.0%
- Share of all arrivals in Canada, 2023
- 1.10%
Inflow 20235,170OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Somalia to Canada
Inflows of nationals of Somalia recorded by Canada; stock of nationals of Somalia living there; and acquisitions of Canada's nationality (OECD).
Inflows by year
Data table
| 2000 | 1,361 |
| 2001 | 988 |
| 2002 | 598 |
| 2003 | 957 |
| 2004 | 1,362 |
| 2005 | 1,197 |
| 2006 | 1,061 |
| 2007 | 1,161 |
| 2008 | 1,014 |
| 2009 | 1,214 |
| 2010 | 1,526 |
| 2011 | 1,532 |
| 2012 | 1,574 |
| 2013 | 2,029 |
| 2014 | 1,491 |
| 2015 | 1,157 |
| 2016 | 1,310 |
| 2017 | 1,390 |
| 2018 | 2,145 |
| 2019 | 3,275 |
| 2020 | 1,010 |
| 2021 | 2,075 |
| 2022 | 2,940 |
| 2023 | 5,170 |
| Year | Inflow | Stock | Acquired nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,170 | — | 2,419 |
| 2022 | 2,940 | — | 1,974 |
| 2021 | 2,075 | 10,270 | 572 |
| 2020 | 1,010 | — | 470 |
| 2019 | 3,275 | — | 1,321 |
| 2018 | 2,145 | — | 998 |
| 2017 | 1,390 | — | 630 |
| 2016 | 1,310 | 9,080 | 785 |
| 2015 | 1,157 | — | 1,005 |
| 2014 | 1,491 | — | 747 |
| 2013 | 2,029 | — | 440 |
| 2012 | 1,574 | — | 356 |
| 2011 | 1,532 | 5,260 | 662 |
| 2010 | 1,526 | — | 607 |
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023
Migrant population
People born in Somalia who live in Canada: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).
Migrant population by year
Data table
| 1990 | 4,480 |
| 1995 | 8,865 |
| 2000 | 16,809 |
| 2005 | 19,406 |
| 2010 | 22,239 |
| 2015 | 27,206 |
| 2020 | 31,726 |
| 2024 | 34,668 |
- Estimate, 2024
- 34,668
- Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
- 0.39%
- Rank among countries of birth, 2024
- 50
- Counted by
- country of birth
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024
Canadian permits
Work and study permits, new permanent residents and Express Entry invitations for citizens of Somalia (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP work | IMP work | Study | Permanent residents | Express Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,845 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5,805 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5,175 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,940 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2,080 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1,010 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3,280 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 2,135 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 1,385 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 1,315 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1,165 | 0 |
Study permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 75 |
| 2017 | 80 |
| 2018 | 55 |
| 2019 | 45 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 |
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025
Compared with other corridors
Nationalities with the most arrivals in Canada, 2023; Somalia ranks 20.
- India139,785
- China39,350
- Philippines26,965
- Afghanistan20,180
- Nigeria17,465
- Pakistan11,860
- Cameroon11,685
- Iran10,680
- Eritrea10,680
- United States10,640
- France10,075
- Syria9,345
- Germany6,720
- France1,734
- Netherlands1,453
- United States1,450
- Austria1,248
- Türkiye1,026
- Belgium862
- Italy785
- Finland645
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023
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