Express Entry Statistics 2026
The key numbers behind Express Entry, compiled from IRCC's official data and updated automatically after every draw. Last update: October 27, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Key Express Entry statistics
- 149,259 invitations to apply (ITAs) were issued in 64 Express Entry draws in 2026, as of October 27, 2026.
- 228,724 candidates were in the Express Entry pool on October 25, 2026.
- 21,322 candidates (9.3% of the pool) had a CRS score above 500.
- 31.8% of candidates in the pool scored 400 or less.
- The latest Canadian Experience Class cut-off was 519 (Oct 15, 2026). In 2026, CEC cut-offs ranged from 507 to 523.
- French-language draws had the lowest regular cut-offs: 382–435 in 2026.
- IRCC held 78 draws in the last 12 months, about 6.5 a month, inviting 188,772 candidates.
- The average 2026 draw invited 2,332 candidates.
- 1,066,507 invitations have been issued in 453 draws since the first draw on January 31, 2015.
- Canada's Immigration Levels Plan targets 109,000 Federal High Skilled (Express Entry) admissions in 2026 and 111,000 in 2027, out of 380,000 permanent residents a year.
- From November 3, 2026, 186 occupations qualify as high-wage for extra CRS points: 31 in tier 1, 89 in tier 2 and 66 in tier 3.
CRS score distribution of the Express Entry pool
How many candidates had each CRS score on October 25, 2026 (total: 228,724). IRCC publishes this with every draw.
| CRS score | Candidates | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 601–1,200 | 787 | 0.3% | |
| 501–600 | 20,535 | 9.0% | |
| 491–500 | 12,162 | 5.3% | |
| 481–490 | 12,342 | 5.4% | |
| 471–480 | 16,330 | 7.1% | |
| 461–470 | 15,803 | 6.9% | |
| 451–460 | 14,475 | 6.3% | |
| 441–450 | 13,159 | 5.8% | |
| 431–440 | 13,155 | 5.8% | |
| 421–430 | 12,768 | 5.6% | |
| 411–420 | 12,543 | 5.5% | |
| 401–410 | 11,880 | 5.2% | |
| 351–400 | 47,911 | 20.9% | |
| 301–350 | 17,247 | 7.5% | |
| 0–300 | 7,627 | 3.3% |
Scores of 601+ almost always include 600 points from a provincial nomination. See where your score sits →
Express Entry draws: 2026 at a glance
| Draw type | Draws in 2026 | Lowest cut-off | Highest cut-off | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 18 | 507 | 523 | 519 |
| French-language proficiency | 12 | 382 | 435 | 407 |
| Healthcare and social services | 3 | 467 | 475 | 475 |
| Trades occupations | 2 | 476 | 477 | 476 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 21 | 697 | 805 | 761 |
Monthly trends and our outlook: Will CRS scores go down? Every draw: Express Entry draws.
Records since 2015
- Lowest cut-off (non-PNP draw): 75 (Canadian Experience Class, Feb 13, 2021)
- Largest draw: 27,332 (Canadian Experience Class, Feb 13, 2021) invitations
- Highest possible CRS score: 1,200
Cite these statistics
You're welcome to quote any number on this page. Please link to this page so readers can see the latest figures.
CRSTool, "Express Entry Statistics 2026", updated October 27, 2026, based on IRCC data. https://crstool.com/express-entry-statistics
FAQ
How many people are in the Express Entry pool?
228,724 candidates as of October 25, 2026, according to IRCC's latest published CRS score distribution.
How many people in the Express Entry pool have a CRS score above 500?
21,322 candidates (9.3% of the pool) had a CRS score above 500 as of October 25, 2026. Many of those above 600 have a provincial nomination.
How many Express Entry invitations were issued in 2026?
149,259 invitations to apply in 64 draws so far in 2026 (as of October 27, 2026).
What is the highest CRS score?
The maximum possible CRS score is 1,200. In practice, scores above 600 almost always include the 600 points for a provincial nomination.
Sources and method
- IRCC, Express Entry rounds of invitations: every draw and the CRS score distribution of the pool
- IRCC, 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan
- IRCC, High-wage occupations
We download IRCC's data after every draw and recalculate every figure automatically. "In 2026" means January 1 to the latest draw. See our methodology.