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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) maintains an up-to-date record of the number of candidates in the Express Entry pool and their respective CRS score. 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).

Key Takeaways: A Snapshot of Active Profiles in the Pool.

  • As of October 22, 2024, there are 211,780 Express Entry profiles in the pool. This is an increase of 1888 candidates from the last update on October 9, 2024. 
  • October was a slow month for Express Entry draws, with only 5,961 invitations issued.

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 profile with others leaving due to expiry or a change in eligibility.

How Many Express Entry Profiles Are Currently in the Pool?

The last IRCC update on the number of profiles in the pool was October 22, 2024 just 2 small draws selecting 400 Canadian Experience Class applicants and 1,800 applicants with applicable trade work  experience. At this time, there were 211,780 profiles in the pool. 

Key insights from October 2024 CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry Pool

Overall Pool Size

  • October 7, 2024: 209,892 candidates
  • October 22, 2024:  211,780 candidates
  • Change: An increase of 1,888 candidates.

601-1200 Range

  • October 7, 2024: 1,656 candidates
  • October 22, 2024: 124 candidates
  • Change: A decrease of 1532 candidates.

501-600 Range

  • October 7, 2024: 11,800 candidates
  • October 22, 2024: 13,430 candidates
  • Change: An increase of 1630 candidates

451-500 Range

  • October 7, 2024: 62,853 candidates
  • October 22, 2024: 63,285 candidates
  • Change: An increase of 432 candidates

401-450 Range

  • October 7, 2024: 54,313 candidates
  • October 22, 2024: 55,503 candidates
  • Change: An increase of 1,159 candidates

351-400 Range

  • October 7, 2024: 50,741 candidates
  • October 22, 2024: 51,048 candidates
  • Change: An increase of 309 candidates

301-350 Range

  • October 7, 2024: 23,155 candidates
  • October 22, 2024: 22,928 candidates
  • Change: A decrease of 277 candidates

0-300 Range

  • October 7, 2024: 5,375 candidates
  • October 22, 2024: 5,462 candidate
  • Change: An increase of 88 candidates.

 

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 determine that your CRS is not competitive enough, forcing you to look at ways to increase your score or explore Express Entry alternatives. 

There is a current breakdown of the CRS score range and the number of candidates in the pool. 

CRS score rangeNumber of candidates
601-12001,656
501-60011,800
451-50062,853
491-50011,815
481-49012,236
471-48014,729
461-47012,818
451-46011,255
401-45054,313
441-45010,858
431-44011,804
421-43010,340
411-42010,707
401-41010,617
351-40050,741
301-35023,155
0-3005,374
Total209,892

Is Your CRS Score Competitive? 

Your competitiveness within the Express Entry pool is based on your CRS score. 

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. 

If your projected CRS score is less than 300

You should consider alternative ways to move to Canada. Express Entry might not be for you, because it’s going to be tough — though not impossible — to get enough points to secure an invitation to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry. If you have a CRS score of less than 300, chances are you will need to do many things to boost your chances of receiving an ITA. Follow our ways to increase your CRS score guide for pointers. 

If your projected CRS score is between 300 and 400

A CRS score in this range is not very competitive, however, there are ways to boost your points total. To get from the 300’s into the competitive range would probably require you to secure a provincial nomination, get a job offer and/ or show both French and English language ability.

If you qualify for the French Category Based Draws, a CRS score above 360 may be all that is needed. If you do not possess any French language ability, consider taking this up. In a year, you may have enough proficiency to claim French points and an ITA in the French draws. 

If your projected CRS score is between 400 and 500

This score may be competitive, depending on the trend in recent draws (the lowest cut-off score ever for an all-program draw was 413 points however recent trends are more around the 540 mark). Candidates in this range can shoot up the rankings with some seemingly minor improvements that can have a big effect, especially when it comes to proving language ability. There may also be additional PNP options for candidates in this range.

If your projected CRS score is between 500 and 550

This is a competitive score, with a decent chance of being sufficient to receive an ITA, especially if you are eligible for a Category-Based Draw. Candidates should still explore any opportunities to increase their scores to make their profile as competitive as possible.

If your projected CRS score is above 550

This is a super competitive CRS score and will likely be sufficient to receive an ITA in an upcoming draw.

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

About the author

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Rebecca Major

She/Her
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Rebecca Major is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (R511564) with nearly 15 years of licenced Canadian Immigration experience, gained after graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in the UK. She specializes in Canadian immigration at Moving2Canada.
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Citation "The Current State of the Express Entry Pool: An In-Depth Analysis." Moving2Canada. . Copy for Citation