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 March 16, 2025, there are 236,909 profiles in the Express Entry pool.
• This is an increase of over 9,000 candidates since March 3, 2025.

• After a temporary dip in early March (likely due to large draws), the pool has rebounded sharply. The March 17 total is the highest Express Entry pool size recorded in 2025 so far.

• Want to know how competitive your CRS score is compared to the Express Entry pool? Check out our online Express Entry CRS points calculator.

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 3: 807

March 16: 693

Change: -114 candidates (following Express Entry draw #340)

501-600 Range

March 3: 23,075

March 16: 25,522

Change: +2,447 candidates

The largest gain of any range occurred here. This surge reflects a wave of candidates improving their scores, pushing them into the highly competitive 500+ territory (so long as those gains weren’t related to a valid job offer, since those points have been removed).

451-500 Range

March 3: 66,792

March 16: 70,055

Change: +3,263 candidates

Subrange changes:

• 491–500: +537 (13,174 → 13,711)

• 481–490: +613 (12,730 → 13,343)

• 471–480: +820 (15,213 → 16,033)

• 461–470: +655 (13,377 → 14,032)

• 451–460: +638 (12,298 → 12,936)

401-450 Range

March 3: 61,383

March 16: 61,487

Change: +104 candidates

351-400 Range

March 3: 49,555

March 16: 51,802

Change: +2,247 candidates

301-350 Range

March 3: 20,573

March 16: 21,303

Change: +730 candidate

0-300 Range

March 3: 5,637

March 16: 6,047

Change: +410 candidates

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.

Other Trends in The Express Entry Pool

1. The Pool is Growing Faster

Since January 8, the pool has added over 9,100 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. Improved Profiles Are Pushing Scores Up

The sharp increases in the 501–600 and 451–500 ranges suggest many candidates are actively updating language results, ECA reports, or gaining additional experience, raising their scores into more competitive territory.

3. Draw Pressure Is Mounting

Despite recent draws, the mid-to-high ranges keep growing. This is why we don’t think the CRS cut-offs for the Canadian Experience Class draws will decrease significantly despite points being removed for a valid job offer. (We would love to be wrong on this one though, trust us!)

4. Lower Ranges Still Growing

Even with the focus on higher CRS scores, there’s consistent growth in the 300–400 range, showing long-term interest from candidates planning to build up their qualifications.

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.