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  1. Canada
  2. ›
  3. Housing

Housing: why Canada does not build enough

Canada’s population grew faster in 2023 and 2024 than at any time since 2000, and housing starts did not keep pace. The federal government launched Build Canada Homes to build more, while US duties on softwood lumber raise the cost of a key material. What starts, population, prices and rents say.

Citoyen·Data as of Nov 12, 2026

Scope: Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation housing starts and population estimates, New Housing Price Index, consumer price index rents and residential construction prices (Statistics Canada); OECD house price indicators.

This dossier is updated at least once a quarter with the new figures. Follow it to get a notification at each update.

Key points

Housing starts259,028in 2025, against 201,070 a year on average in the 2010s
Population increase in a year1,139,889from July 2023 to July 2024
Rent increase since 201935%against 25% for all prices
Fall in the price-to-income ratio since the peak20%from Q2 2022 to Q3 2026
  • A population that grew faster than construction. From July 2023 to July 2024, the population rose by 1,139,889, while 245,367 homes were started in 2024: 4.6 additional residents per home started, against 2.0 on average in the 2010s.
  • Starts remain below their peak. 259,028 homes were started in 2025, fewer than in 2021 (271,198). Over the first three quarters of 2026, 181,640 starts, against 192,412 a year earlier.
  • Population growth has collapsed. The population is growing 0.46% over a year in Q3 2026, against 3.10% at the peak, in Q2 2024; it rose by only 189,425 between July 2025 and July 2026.
  • Rents have outpaced prices. Since 2019, rents have risen 35%, against 25% for all prices. Their rise peaked at 9.0% over a year in May 2024 and is down to 2.8% in Sep. 2026.
  • Construction costs up sharply. The price of building residential buildings rose 67% in six years (Q3 2020 – Q3 2026), with a peak of 22.8% over a year in Q1 2022.
How to read these figures

A housing start is a dwelling whose foundations have been poured, counted by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); a building of a hundred apartments counts as a hundred. Yearly figures are the sum of the quarters, complete years only. The population increase is measured from 1 July to 1 July (Statistics Canada estimates, non-permanent residents included) and set against the starts of the calendar year in which it ends: an order of magnitude, not a housing need, which also depends on household size.

The OECD price-to-income ratio divides a house price index by disposable income per head (2015 = 100): above 100, homes are less affordable than in 2015. The New Housing Price Index follows builders’ asking prices for comparable new houses; the construction price measures the cost of the work (materials, labour, equipment) to a contractor, excluding land.

1. Population and construction

During the 2010s, the population grew by 2.0 residents for each home started, on average. The large arrival of new residents in 2023 and 2024 more than doubled that ratio.

Housing starts and population increase

Starts in the calendar year; population increase from 1 July of the previous year to 1 July of the year shown.

  • Population increase
  • Housing starts

Source:Statistics Canada (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)·Statistics Canada

Show the chart data
PeriodHousing startsPopulation increase
2000151,653284,444
2001162,733335,125
2002205,034338,344
2003218,426283,262
2004233,431296,346
2005225,481303,925
2006227,395328,461
2007228,343317,693
2008211,056358,412
2009149,081382,771
2010189,930375,833
2011193,950333,319
2012214,827374,174
2013187,923367,597
2014189,329353,074
2015195,535270,432
2016197,915406,305
2017219,763434,272
2018212,843527,545
2019208,685545,875
2020217,880410,143
2021271,198211,226
2022261,849705,764
2023240,2671,077,076
2024245,3671,139,889
2025259,028446,389

Population growth over a year

Change in population over four quarters, %, on the first day of each quarter.

Source:Statistics Canada

Show the chart data
PeriodPopulation growth
Q1 20000.88%
Q2 20000.92%
Q3 20000.94%
Q4 20000.96%
Q1 20010.98%
Q2 20011.04%
Q3 20011.09%
Q4 20011.12%
Q1 20021.12%
Q2 20021.11%
Q3 20021.09%
Q4 20021.03%
Q1 20031.00%
Q2 20030.95%
Q3 20030.90%
Q4 20030.91%
Q1 20040.94%
Q2 20040.94%
Q3 20040.94%
Q4 20040.95%
Q1 20050.94%
Q2 20050.93%
Q3 20050.95%
Q4 20050.98%
Q1 20061.00%
Q2 20061.03%
Q3 20061.02%
Q4 20061.01%
Q1 20071.00%
Q2 20070.97%
Q3 20070.98%
Q4 20070.98%
Q1 20081.02%
Q2 20081.04%
Q3 20081.09%
Q4 20081.12%
Q1 20091.14%
Q2 20091.16%
Q3 20091.15%
Q4 20091.16%
Q1 20101.14%
Q2 20101.13%
Q3 20101.12%
Q4 20101.11%
Q1 20111.06%
Q2 20111.00%
Q3 20110.98%
Q4 20110.95%
Q1 20121.02%
Q2 20121.06%
Q3 20121.09%
Q4 20121.09%
Q1 20131.06%
Q2 20131.05%
Q3 20131.06%
Q4 20131.08%
Q1 20141.05%
Q2 20141.04%
Q3 20141.01%
Q4 20140.98%
Q1 20150.92%
Q2 20150.81%
Q3 20150.76%
Q4 20150.75%
Q1 20160.84%
Q2 20161.02%
Q3 20161.14%
Q4 20161.21%
Q1 20171.23%
Q2 20171.19%
Q3 20171.20%
Q4 20171.28%
Q1 20181.35%
Q2 20181.39%
Q3 20181.44%
Q4 20181.46%
Q1 20191.45%
Q2 20191.45%
Q3 20191.47%
Q4 20191.53%
Q1 20201.58%
Q2 20201.52%
Q3 20201.09%
Q4 20200.53%
Q1 20210.34%
Q2 20210.35%
Q3 20210.56%
Q4 20211.14%
Q1 20221.32%
Q2 20221.41%
Q3 20221.85%
Q4 20222.12%
Q1 20232.38%
Q2 20232.60%
Q3 20232.77%
Q4 20232.95%
Q1 20243.02%
Q2 20243.10%
Q3 20242.85%
Q4 20242.31%
Q1 20251.88%
Q2 20251.42%
Q3 20251.08%
Q4 20250.85%
Q1 20260.68%
Q2 20260.54%
Q3 20260.46%

2. Starts below their peak

Housing starts have risen markedly since 2020, with a peak of 271,198 in 2021, then a slight fall.

Housing starts each year

All areas, sum of the four quarters, unadjusted data. Latest complete year: 2025, 259,028.

Source:Statistics Canada (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

Show the chart data
PeriodHousing starts
1990181,630
1991156,197
1992168,271
1993155,443
1994154,057
1995110,933
1996124,713
1997147,040
1998137,439
1999149,968
2000151,653
2001162,733
2002205,034
2003218,426
2004233,431
2005225,481
2006227,395
2007228,343
2008211,056
2009149,081
2010189,930
2011193,950
2012214,827
2013187,923
2014189,329
2015195,535
2016197,915
2017219,763
2018212,843
2019208,685
2020217,880
2021271,198
2022261,849
2023240,267
2024245,367
2025259,028

3. Prices and rents

House prices have fallen since 2022, without returning to their pre-pandemic level relative to incomes. Rents kept rising faster than other prices until mid-2026.

House prices relative to incomes and rents

OECD indices, 2015 = 100. In Q3 2026: 120.5 for price-to-income, 118.2 for price-to-rent.

  • Price-to-rent
  • Price-to-income

Source:OECD

Show the chart data
PeriodPrice-to-incomePrice-to-rent
Q1 200065.648.4
Q2 200065.448.7
Q3 200065.049.2
Q4 200064.549.5
Q1 200164.349.9
Q2 200166.650.1
Q3 200166.350.6
Q4 200166.851.3
Q1 200266.951.9
Q2 200269.353.1
Q3 200270.054.0
Q4 200270.554.7
Q1 200371.755.9
Q2 200372.056.5
Q3 200373.657.2
Q4 200374.958.4
Q1 200475.559.6
Q2 200475.360.6
Q3 200475.961.3
Q4 200476.662.3
Q1 200578.963.6
Q2 200578.664.6
Q3 200578.665.6
Q4 200580.167.2
Q1 200680.268.8
Q2 200682.870.4
Q3 200684.673.6
Q4 200685.174.7
Q1 200784.775.9
Q2 200788.978.5
Q3 200790.479.9
Q4 200790.780.9
Q1 200890.482.1
Q2 200890.082.4
Q3 200888.881.5
Q4 200887.379.5
Q1 200985.676.8
Q2 200985.276.7
Q3 200987.479.3
Q4 200990.682.6
Q1 201091.084.4
Q2 201093.585.5
Q3 201091.784.5
Q4 201091.085.0
Q1 201192.186.6
Q2 201193.388.0
Q3 201194.389.2
Q4 201194.490.0
Q1 201294.990.8
Q2 201295.991.7
Q3 201295.391.6
Q4 201295.291.5
Q1 201394.491.8
Q2 201395.092.1
Q3 201395.292.6
Q4 201396.093.6
Q1 201497.795.1
Q2 201497.395.2
Q3 201497.996.2
Q4 201498.997.4
Q1 201598.798.5
Q2 201598.598.6
Q3 2015100.2100.4
Q4 2015102.6102.5
Q1 2016107.8104.4
Q2 2016109.2107.4
Q3 2016112.5111.3
Q4 2016114.3114.0
Q1 2017117.8117.2
Q2 2017120.5121.4
Q3 2017120.0122.8
Q4 2017119.6123.0
Q1 2018121.3124.0
Q2 2018122.2123.6
Q3 2018122.7124.1
Q4 2018122.4124.8
Q1 2019122.0123.3
Q2 2019118.7121.6
Q3 2019119.4122.0
Q4 2019120.4123.5
Q1 2020122.3125.2
Q2 2020113.3126.2
Q3 2020119.4128.4
Q4 2020126.8133.8
Q1 2021125.6137.9
Q2 2021132.5143.2
Q3 2021136.3146.9
Q4 2021143.3151.2
Q1 2022147.2156.9
Q2 2022151.2160.0
Q3 2022145.4152.4
Q4 2022138.3146.8
Q1 2023137.3141.8
Q2 2023136.6140.9
Q3 2023139.5144.3
Q4 2023138.4140.6
Q1 2024137.8137.2
Q2 2024136.9136.5
Q3 2024134.7134.9
Q4 2024135.3134.6
Q1 2025134.7133.6
Q2 2025131.4129.1
Q3 2025128.7125.6
Q4 2025128.0124.6
Q1 2026125.7122.5
Q2 2026120.9119.4
Q3 2026120.5118.2

New home prices (house and land)

Statistics Canada index, December 2016 = 100. Down 4.7% from its Aug. 2022 – Sep. 2026 peak.

Source:Statistics Canada

Show the chart data
PeriodNew home prices
Jan. 200570.1
Feb. 200570.3
Mar. 200570.6
Apr. 200571.0
May 200571.3
Jun. 200571.9
Jul. 200572.0
Aug. 200572.3
Sep. 200572.7
Oct. 200573.2
Nov. 200573.6
Dec. 200574.1
Jan. 200674.7
Feb. 200675.2
Mar. 200676.0
Apr. 200676.9
May 200677.8
Jun. 200679.0
Jul. 200679.8
Aug. 200681.0
Sep. 200681.4
Oct. 200681.6
Nov. 200682.0
Dec. 200682.0
Jan. 200782.3
Feb. 200782.7
Mar. 200783.0
Apr. 200783.7
May 200784.6
Jun. 200785.1
Jul. 200785.9
Aug. 200786.3
Sep. 200786.5
Oct. 200786.6
Nov. 200787.0
Dec. 200787.1
Jan. 200887.6
Feb. 200887.9
Mar. 200888.1
Apr. 200888.1
May 200888.1
Jun. 200888.2
Jul. 200888.2
Aug. 200888.2
Sep. 200888.3
Oct. 200887.9
Nov. 200887.7
Dec. 200887.5
Jan. 200987.0
Feb. 200986.4
Mar. 200986.0
Apr. 200985.5
May 200985.4
Jun. 200985.2
Jul. 200985.4
Aug. 200985.5
Sep. 200985.9
Oct. 200986.1
Nov. 200986.4
Dec. 200986.7
Jan. 201087.1
Feb. 201087.1
Mar. 201087.4
Apr. 201087.6
May 201087.9
Jun. 201088.0
Jul. 201087.9
Aug. 201088.0
Sep. 201088.1
Oct. 201088.2
Nov. 201088.4
Dec. 201088.4
Jan. 201188.6
Feb. 201189.0
Mar. 201189.0
Apr. 201189.2
May 201189.6
Jun. 201189.8
Jul. 201189.9
Aug. 201190.0
Sep. 201190.1
Oct. 201190.3
Nov. 201190.6
Dec. 201190.7
Jan. 201290.8
Feb. 201291.0
Mar. 201291.3
Apr. 201291.5
May 201291.7
Jun. 201291.9
Jul. 201292.0
Aug. 201292.1
Sep. 201292.3
Oct. 201292.5
Nov. 201292.6
Dec. 201292.7
Jan. 201392.8
Feb. 201393.0
Mar. 201393.0
Apr. 201393.2
May 201393.4
Jun. 201393.5
Jul. 201393.6
Aug. 201393.7
Sep. 201393.8
Oct. 201393.8
Nov. 201393.9
Dec. 201393.9
Jan. 201494.1
Feb. 201494.4
Mar. 201494.5
Apr. 201494.7
May 201494.8
Jun. 201494.9
Jul. 201494.9
Aug. 201495.2
Sep. 201495.3
Oct. 201495.4
Nov. 201495.5
Dec. 201495.5
Jan. 201595.5
Feb. 201595.6
Mar. 201595.7
Apr. 201595.7
May 201595.9
Jun. 201596.1
Jul. 201596.2
Aug. 201596.5
Sep. 201596.6
Oct. 201596.8
Nov. 201596.9
Dec. 201597.0
Jan. 201697.1
Feb. 201697.3
Mar. 201697.5
Apr. 201697.7
May 201698.5
Jun. 201698.6
Jul. 201699.0
Aug. 201699.1
Sep. 201699.3
Oct. 201699.7
Nov. 201699.9
Dec. 2016100.0
Jan. 2017100.1
Feb. 2017100.5
Mar. 2017100.7
Apr. 2017101.5
May 2017102.2
Jun. 2017102.4
Jul. 2017102.8
Aug. 2017102.9
Sep. 2017103.1
Oct. 2017103.2
Nov. 2017103.3
Dec. 2017103.3
Jan. 2018103.3
Feb. 2018103.1
Mar. 2018103.1
Apr. 2018103.1
May 2018103.1
Jun. 2018103.2
Jul. 2018103.3
Aug. 2018103.3
Sep. 2018103.3
Oct. 2018103.3
Nov. 2018103.3
Dec. 2018103.3
Jan. 2019103.2
Feb. 2019103.2
Mar. 2019103.2
Apr. 2019103.2
May 2019103.1
Jun. 2019103.0
Jul. 2019102.9
Aug. 2019103.0
Sep. 2019103.2
Oct. 2019103.3
Nov. 2019103.2
Dec. 2019103.4
Jan. 2020103.4
Feb. 2020103.8
Mar. 2020104.1
Apr. 2020104.1
May 2020104.2
Jun. 2020104.3
Jul. 2020104.7
Aug. 2020105.2
Sep. 2020106.5
Oct. 2020107.3
Nov. 2020107.9
Dec. 2020108.2
Jan. 2021109.0
Feb. 2021111.1
Mar. 2021112.3
Apr. 2021114.4
May 2021116.0
Jun. 2021116.7
Jul. 2021117.2
Aug. 2021118.0
Sep. 2021118.5
Oct. 2021119.6
Nov. 2021120.5
Dec. 2021120.8
Jan. 2022121.9
Feb. 2022123.2
Mar. 2022124.7
Apr. 2022125.1
May 2022125.7
Jun. 2022125.9
Jul. 2022126.0
Aug. 2022126.1
Sep. 2022126.0
Oct. 2022125.7
Nov. 2022125.5
Dec. 2022125.5
Jan. 2023125.2
Feb. 2023124.9
Mar. 2023124.9
Apr. 2023124.8
May 2023124.9
Jun. 2023125.0
Jul. 2023124.9
Aug. 2023125.0
Sep. 2023124.7
Oct. 2023124.7
Nov. 2023124.4
Dec. 2023124.4
Jan. 2024124.3
Feb. 2024124.4
Mar. 2024124.4
Apr. 2024124.7
May 2024124.9
Jun. 2024124.7
Jul. 2024125.0
Aug. 2024125.0
Sep. 2024125.0
Oct. 2024124.5
Nov. 2024124.6
Dec. 2024124.5
Jan. 2025124.4
Feb. 2025124.5
Mar. 2025124.5
Apr. 2025124.0
May 2025123.7
Jun. 2025123.4
Jul. 2025123.3
Aug. 2025122.9
Sep. 2025122.7
Oct. 2025122.2
Nov. 2025122.2
Dec. 2025122.0
Jan. 2026121.5
Feb. 2026121.9
Mar. 2026121.6
Apr. 2026121.1
May 2026120.7
Jun. 2026120.6
Jul. 2026120.5
Aug. 2026120.4
Sep. 2026120.2

Rents and all prices, change over a year

Rent component and all items of the consumer price index, % over twelve months.

  • All items
  • Rents

Source:Statistics Canada

Show the chart data
PeriodRentsAll items
Jan. 20101.4%1.9%
Feb. 20101.3%1.6%
Mar. 20101.3%1.4%
Apr. 20101.3%1.8%
May 20101.3%1.4%
Jun. 20101.3%1.0%
Jul. 20101.3%1.8%
Aug. 20101.2%1.7%
Sep. 20101.2%1.9%
Oct. 20101.2%2.4%
Nov. 20101.2%2.0%
Dec. 20101.2%2.4%
Jan. 20111.1%2.3%
Feb. 20111.2%2.2%
Mar. 20111.2%3.3%
Apr. 20111.2%3.3%
May 20111.2%3.7%
Jun. 20111.1%3.1%
Jul. 20111.1%2.7%
Aug. 20111.1%3.1%
Sep. 20111.1%3.2%
Oct. 20111.1%2.9%
Nov. 20111.1%2.9%
Dec. 20111.1%2.3%
Jan. 20121.2%2.5%
Feb. 20121.3%2.6%
Mar. 20121.3%1.9%
Apr. 20121.3%2.0%
May 20121.3%1.2%
Jun. 20121.3%1.5%
Jul. 20121.3%1.3%
Aug. 20121.4%1.2%
Sep. 20121.5%1.2%
Oct. 20121.5%1.2%
Nov. 20121.5%0.8%
Dec. 20121.6%0.8%
Jan. 20131.6%0.5%
Feb. 20131.6%1.2%
Mar. 20131.6%1.0%
Apr. 20131.6%0.4%
May 20131.6%0.7%
Jun. 20131.7%1.2%
Jul. 20131.7%1.3%
Aug. 20131.7%1.1%
Sep. 20131.6%1.1%
Oct. 20131.6%0.7%
Nov. 20131.7%0.9%
Dec. 20131.6%1.2%
Jan. 20141.6%1.5%
Feb. 20141.5%1.1%
Mar. 20141.5%1.5%
Apr. 20141.5%2.0%
May 20141.5%2.3%
Jun. 20141.5%2.4%
Jul. 20141.5%2.1%
Aug. 20141.4%2.1%
Sep. 20141.5%2.0%
Oct. 20141.5%2.4%
Nov. 20141.4%2.0%
Dec. 20141.4%1.5%
Jan. 20151.3%1.0%
Feb. 20151.4%1.0%
Mar. 20151.4%1.2%
Apr. 20151.4%0.8%
May 20151.3%0.9%
Jun. 20151.2%1.0%
Jul. 20151.2%1.3%
Aug. 20151.1%1.3%
Sep. 20151.0%1.0%
Oct. 20150.9%1.0%
Nov. 20150.8%1.4%
Dec. 20150.8%1.6%
Jan. 20160.8%2.0%
Feb. 20160.8%1.4%
Mar. 20160.7%1.3%
Apr. 20160.6%1.7%
May 20160.7%1.5%
Jun. 20160.6%1.5%
Jul. 20160.5%1.3%
Aug. 20160.6%1.1%
Sep. 20160.5%1.3%
Oct. 20160.5%1.5%
Nov. 20160.5%1.2%
Dec. 20160.5%1.5%
Jan. 20170.5%2.1%
Feb. 20170.5%2.0%
Mar. 20170.6%1.6%
Apr. 20170.6%1.6%
May 20170.6%1.3%
Jun. 20170.7%1.0%
Jul. 20170.7%1.2%
Aug. 20170.6%1.4%
Sep. 20170.7%1.6%
Oct. 20170.7%1.4%
Nov. 20170.8%2.1%
Dec. 20170.8%1.9%
Jan. 20180.8%1.7%
Feb. 20180.9%2.2%
Mar. 20180.9%2.3%
Apr. 20181.0%2.2%
May 20181.1%2.2%
Jun. 20181.1%2.5%
Jul. 20181.2%3.0%
Aug. 20181.3%2.8%
Sep. 20181.3%2.2%
Oct. 20181.3%2.4%
Nov. 20181.4%1.7%
Dec. 20181.4%2.0%
Jan. 20192.2%1.4%
Feb. 20192.5%1.5%
Mar. 20192.7%1.9%
Apr. 20192.2%2.0%
May 20192.1%2.4%
Jun. 20192.4%2.0%
Jul. 20192.6%2.0%
Aug. 20193.0%1.9%
Sep. 20193.0%1.9%
Oct. 20193.7%1.9%
Nov. 20193.1%2.2%
Dec. 20193.4%2.2%
Jan. 20202.4%2.4%
Feb. 20202.7%2.2%
Mar. 20202.6%0.9%
Apr. 20202.3%−0.2%
May 20201.5%−0.4%
Jun. 20201.8%0.7%
Jul. 20201.2%0.1%
Aug. 20201.4%0.1%
Sep. 20201.6%0.5%
Oct. 20201.0%0.7%
Nov. 20201.5%1.0%
Dec. 20200.6%0.7%
Jan. 20210.9%1.0%
Feb. 20210.1%1.1%
Mar. 20210.5%2.2%
Apr. 20210.9%3.4%
May 20212.5%3.6%
Jun. 20212.1%3.1%
Jul. 20212.6%3.7%
Aug. 20211.6%4.1%
Sep. 20211.9%4.4%
Oct. 20211.8%4.7%
Nov. 20211.7%4.7%
Dec. 20212.8%4.8%
Jan. 20223.1%5.1%
Feb. 20224.2%5.7%
Mar. 20224.1%6.7%
Apr. 20224.5%6.8%
May 20224.4%7.7%
Jun. 20224.3%8.1%
Jul. 20224.9%7.6%
Aug. 20224.7%7.0%
Sep. 20224.2%6.9%
Oct. 20224.7%6.9%
Nov. 20225.9%6.8%
Dec. 20225.8%6.3%
Jan. 20235.8%5.9%
Feb. 20235.4%5.2%
Mar. 20235.3%4.3%
Apr. 20236.1%4.4%
May 20235.7%3.4%
Jun. 20235.8%2.8%
Jul. 20235.5%3.3%
Aug. 20236.5%4.0%
Sep. 20237.3%3.8%
Oct. 20238.2%3.1%
Nov. 20237.4%3.1%
Dec. 20237.7%3.4%
Jan. 20247.9%2.9%
Feb. 20248.2%2.8%
Mar. 20248.5%2.9%
Apr. 20248.2%2.7%
May 20249.0%2.9%
Jun. 20248.8%2.7%
Jul. 20248.5%2.5%
Aug. 20248.9%2.0%
Sep. 20248.2%1.6%
Oct. 20247.3%2.0%
Nov. 20247.7%1.9%
Dec. 20247.1%1.8%
Jan. 20256.3%1.9%
Feb. 20255.8%2.6%
Mar. 20255.1%2.3%
Apr. 20255.2%1.7%
May 20254.5%1.7%
Jun. 20254.7%1.9%
Jul. 20255.1%1.7%
Aug. 20254.5%1.9%
Sep. 20254.8%2.4%
Oct. 20255.2%2.2%
Nov. 20254.7%2.2%
Dec. 20254.9%2.4%
Jan. 20264.3%2.3%
Feb. 20263.9%1.8%
Mar. 20264.2%2.4%
Apr. 20263.6%2.8%
May 20263.5%3.2%
Jun. 20263.5%2.8%
Jul. 20262.5%3.0%
Aug. 20262.8%3.0%
Sep. 20262.8%3.1%

4. The cost of building

Construction costs jumped in 2021 and 2022 with material prices, then their rise came back to a few points a year. These series do not yet measure the effect of US softwood lumber duties or of Build Canada Homes.

Residential construction prices, change over a year

Building construction price index, residential buildings, average of fifteen large metropolitan areas, % over a year, by quarter. Latest point: 2.7% in Q3 2026.

Source:Statistics Canada

Show the chart data
PeriodResidential construction prices
Q1 20187.2%
Q2 20187.7%
Q3 20186.1%
Q4 20185.2%
Q1 20194.3%
Q2 20192.7%
Q3 20192.4%
Q4 20192.4%
Q1 20202.2%
Q2 20202.2%
Q3 20204.1%
Q4 20206.4%
Q1 202111.0%
Q2 202118.8%
Q3 202120.4%
Q4 202121.8%
Q1 202222.8%
Q2 202220.3%
Q3 202218.7%
Q4 202215.5%
Q1 202310.9%
Q2 20237.1%
Q3 20235.9%
Q4 20235.9%
Q1 20245.3%
Q2 20244.5%
Q3 20244.1%
Q4 20243.7%
Q1 20253.6%
Q2 20253.7%
Q3 20253.4%
Q4 20253.1%
Q1 20262.9%
Q2 20262.5%
Q3 20262.7%

What we know, what we don’t

What the figures establish

  • The population grew much faster than housing starts in 2023 and 2024.
  • Rents have risen much more than prices overall since 2019.
  • Construction costs have risen sharply since 2020.

What they don’t tell

  • How many homes are missing: it depends on household size and vacant homes, which these series do not measure.
  • The effect of US softwood lumber duties and of Build Canada Homes on construction: these series do not measure the effect of policies.
  • Differences between cities and provinces: this dossier only reads the national total.

Stay up to date

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Sources

Series downloaded from their producers on Nov 12, 2026, the snapshot date. Only published periods are used: no projection.

  • OECD Analytical house price indicators (DF_HOUSE_PRICES)
  • Statistics Canada Population estimates, quarterly (table 17-10-0009)
  • Statistics Canada New Housing Price Index, total (house and land) (table 18-10-0205)
  • Statistics Canada Consumer Price Index, rent and all items, not seasonally adjusted (table 18-10-0004)
  • Statistics Canada Building construction price indexes, residential buildings, fifteen census metropolitan area composite (table 18-10-0289)
  • Statistics Canada (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing starts, all areas, quarterly (table 34-10-0135)