How Many People Are In The Express Entry Pool? (And What Does That Mean For You)

On this page, you will find our in-depth analysis of the current profiles in the pool along with what this may mean for you and your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

A Snapshot of Active Profiles in the Pool

• As of April 13, 2025, there are 244,282 profiles in the Express Entry pool.
• This is an increase of 7,373 candidates since the last Express Entry pool data on March 16, 2025.
• The pool is extremely competitive at the 451-500 points range. If you’re in this range, any increase in points will be advantageous. Your language results are the low-hanging fruit here.
• Want to know how competitive your CRS score is compared to the Express Entry pool? Check out our online Express Entry CRS points calculator.

Resources to Help You Boost Your CRS Score

What is the Express Entry Pool?

The Express Entry pool represents all candidates with an active Express Entry profile. The number of profiles in the pool changes daily as draws take place and as new applicants submit their profiles, while others leave due to expiry, receiving an invitation, or a change in eligibility.

How Many Express Entry Profiles Are Currently in the Pool?

Here’s a snapshot of the current candidate spread in the Express Entry pool:

CRS Scores and The Express Entry Pool

Note that we update these figures once per month, not after each draw.*

How Many People Have a CRS Score of 500+?

Here’s an overview of the candidate score ranges in the Express Entry pool:

601-1200 Range

March 16: 693

April 14: 816

A small increase of 123 candidates. The small changes at this range isn’t surprising given the low activity in provincial draws so far this year.

501-600 Range

March 16: 25,522

April 14: 19,782

Change: –5,740 candidates

This significant drop is directly linked to the removal of LMIA points. Many candidates previously in this band had job offers that contributed to scores over 500. Without those points, many now fall into lower CRS ranges. We wrote more about the removal of LMIA points here.

451-500 Range

March 16: 70,055

April 14: 71,542

Change: +1,487 candidates

This change was interesting, given that we expected to see a fairly significant jump in the candidates who fell from the 501+ range to the 450+ range. We figure at least 5,373 candidates moved into this range, but only 1,487 additional candidates are in this pool range (even with a 7000+ increase in the overall pool figures. And given the subrange changes below, it’s likely that a good number of candidates in the 481-500 range also had points for a valid job offer.

Subrange changes:

491–500: -1,618 (from 13,711 → 12,093)

481–490: -984 (13,343 → 12,359)

471–480: +182 (16,033 → 16,215)

461–470: +2,157 (14,032 → 16,189)

451–460: +1,750 (12,936 → 14,686)

401-450 Range

March 16: 61,487

April 14: 67,301

Change: +5,814 candidates

351-400 Range

March 16: 51,802

April 14: 53,479

Change: +1,677 candidates

301-350 Range

March 16: 21,303

April 14: 22,799

Change: +1,496 candidate

0-300 Range

March 16: 6,047

April 14: 8,563

Change: +2,516 candidates

CRS Points Changes After This Express Entry Draw

Overall Express Entry Pool Size Changes

Overall Pool Size

January

The pool grew from 227,763 candidates on January 8 to 232,924 on January 23—a net increase of about 5,161 candidates in just over two weeks. This strong growth shows that more candidates are entering the system, likely as they become eligible for an Express Entry program.

Ongoing Growth into February

By February 5, the total had reached 234,052. This steady rise underscores sustained interest in Express Entry as a pathway to Canadian immigration.

Growth Rebounds Strongly in March

After a temporary dip in early March, the Express Entry pool saw a strong rebound. The total number of candidates fell to 227,822 on March 3, likely the result of significant draw activity in late February. However, by March 16, the pool had grown to 236,909 candidates—an increase of 9,087 candidates in just under two weeks, and the highest total recorded in 2025 so far.

This surge reflects a renewed wave of interest in Express Entry, particularly from highly competitive candidates. The 451–500 and 501–600 CRS ranges added more than 5,700 candidates combined, suggesting many individuals are improving their profiles or newly entering the pool with strong scores. At the same time, the drop in candidates in the 601–1200 range indicates that recent draws have targeted and removed top-scoring applicants.

The March numbers confirm that interest in Express Entry remains high, and that the system is becoming more competitive, especially for those with mid-to-high CRS scores.

April Sees Significant Redistribution in CRS Scores

In April, the Express Entry pool reached a new peak of 244,282 candidates—the highest number this year. This increase followed a month-long pause in draws and a significant policy change that removed points for arranged employment (LMIA-based job offers). As a result, thousands of candidates were reclassified into lower CRS bands, particularly the 451–500 and 401–450 ranges, both of which grew substantially. Notably, the 501–600 range shrank by more than 5,700 candidates, while the 400s bands absorbed the majority of this shift.

The pause also appears to have encouraged new entrants with mid-to-low CRS scores, leading to an unexpected surge in the 0–300 and 351–400 ranges. Together, these changes mark a turning point in the pool’s composition, flattening the CRS distribution and broadening the field of competition heading into the second quarter of 2025.

Other Trends in The Express Entry Pool

1. The Pool is Growing Faster

Since January 8, the pool has added over 15,000 candidates, with most of the growth concentrated in the 451–600 range. This segment has become even more crowded, making it more competitive to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

2. Significant Decrease at the 501+ Range

The number of candidates in this range dropped from 25,522 to 19,782 (–5,740). This confirms the impact of the LMIA points removal, as many candidates previously in the 500+ range were reclassified.

3. Surge in the Lower Ranges

The 351–400 range added 1,677 candidates, while the 0–300 range jumped by over 2,500—an unusually large increase. This suggests that more people are entering the pool despite lower scores, perhaps aiming for PNPs or future opportunities.

How Does Your CRS Score Compare?

Determining how your CRS score compares to others in the pool is a necessary component to a successful immigration strategy.

If you have a strong CRS score in comparison to others in the pool, your chances of receiving an ITA in an upcoming Express Entry draw are high therefore you may just need to wait for the next draw.

On the other hand, you may find that your CRS is not competitive enough, forcing you to look at ways to increase your score or explore Express Entry alternatives. 

• Note that IRCC has removed points for a valid job offer, effective March 25, 2025.

Can You Get PR With Your Current Express Entry CRS? 

Whether or not you’re invited to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system depends on: 

• If you’re eligible for the program or category chosen by IRCC for invitations in that round. (ie. IRCC may invite Canadian Experience Class candidates, so you won’t receive an invitation if you’re only eligible for the Skilled Trades program).
• If your CRS score is above the cut-off; and
• If you meet other criteria, like the tiebreaker date if your score is equal to the score just drawn.

Once you have submitted your Express Entry profile, you will receive your CRS score. Bear in mind that this score may change due to factors like age therefore it is important to keep a note of your CRS and competitiveness. 

• To find detailed information about your chances of receiving an invitation based on your current CRS score, check out our analysis of CRS competitiveness. You’ll learn if you can get PR with a score of 300+, 400+, 500+ and find out what to do if your score isn’t competitive.

Staying informed about immigration in Canada can help you prepare for your Express Entry journey. A free Moving2Canada account can help. You’ll receive free access to our newsletters, immigration checklists, and a host of other settlement resources — all tailored to your immigration journey. Sign up here.