IN 2021, international students were more likely to live in unsuitable housing (i.e., a dwelling without enough bedrooms for the household members) compared with Canadian-born students, but there were disparities across municipalities, according to Statistics Canada.

The report “Housing international students: Housing suitability across municipalities” found that the rate of unsuitable housing in 2021 was highest in Brampton, Ontario (63%), followed by Surrey, British Columbia (61%). The lowest rate was in Calgary, Alberta (25%).

Much of the variation across municipalities in the rates of unsuitable housing for international students was related to the students’ country of origin. In Brampton, 91% of international students came from India, compared with 79% in Surrey and 26% in Calgary. In most municipalities, international students from India reported living in unsuitable housing at much higher rates than students from other countries.

In addition to increasing numbers, the sociodemographic characteristics of the international student population have also been changing rapidly since 2021. These trends demonstrate the need for and importance of ongoing monitoring of the housing circumstances of international students, says Statistics Canada.