Who’s staying in New Brunswick? Insights from the 2023 Immigrant Retention Update
Author: DataNB
Posted on Feb 9, 2026
Category: DataNB
New Brunswick continues to see rising numbers of newcomers, and the latest update in our immigrant retention series shows how those patterns are shifting. In 2023, 4,400 primary applicants landed in the province — almost double the number from 2021.
Even more striking is that 83.4% were still here a year later, marking the highest one‑year retention rate in more than a decade. Immigrant Retention in New Brunswick: 2023 Landing Cohort Update looks at immigration cohorts from 2005 to 2023 and compares results across pathways, source countries and regions.
It shows that more than half of 2023 arrivals came through the Provincial Nominee Program, while Sponsored Family and Resettled Refugee applicants had the highest one‑year retention. Patterns also differ by country of origin: India remains the top source country, but newcomers from Senegal and Nigeria show some of the strongest retention.
Moncton continues to receive the largest share of newcomers, reflecting long‑standing settlement trends. Together, these results offer a refreshed look at how immigration to New Brunswick is evolving — and where newcomers are choosing to build their lives.