Canada’s Express Entry Candidate Pool: What Percentile Is Your CRS Score In?
According to the latest figures from Canada’s immigration department, the Express Entry candidate pool declined by just 186 profiles overall between 16 and 30 August 2026 — despite a drop of nearly 1,800 profiles in the 351-400 CRS band. At the same time, the number of top-scoring profiles (501+) grew from 19,096 to 20,101, driven largely by growth in the 501-600 band.
Pool Composition: 30 August vs. 16 August
| CRS score range | August 30 | August 16 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-300 | 7,735 | 7,709 | +26 |
| 301-350 | 17,495 | 17,269 | +226 |
| 351-400 | 46,824 | 48,600 | −1,776 |
| 401-410 | 10,723 | 10,688 | +35 |
| 411-420 | 11,183 | 11,269 | −86 |
| 421-430 | 11,811 | 11,890 | −79 |
| 431-440 | 13,233 | 13,229 | +4 |
| 441-450 | 13,463 | 13,555 | −92 |
| 451-460 | 14,800 | 14,814 | −14 |
| 461-470 | 16,099 | 16,133 | −34 |
| 471-480 | 16,981 | 16,626 | +355 |
| 481-490 | 13,273 | 13,066 | +207 |
| 491-500 | 12,952 | 12,915 | +37 |
| 501-600 | 19,542 | 18,657 | +885 |
| 601-1200 | 559 | 439 | +120 |
| Total | 226,673 | 226,859 | −186 |
Where Does Your CRS Score Actually Rank?
Based on the 30 August data, here’s the number of candidates, cumulative count, and percentile rank for each score range — a clear picture of exactly where your CRS score sits within the pool:
| CRS score range | Candidates | Cumulative | Percentile range | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-300 | 7,735 | 7,735 | 0%-3.41% | 3.41% |
| 301-350 | 17,495 | 25,230 | 3.41%-11.13% | 7.72% |
| 351-400 | 46,824 | 72,054 | 11.13%-31.79% | 20.66% |
| 401-410 | 10,723 | 82,777 | 31.79%-36.52% | 4.73% |
| 411-420 | 11,183 | 93,960 | 36.52%-41.45% | 4.93% |
| 421-430 | 11,811 | 105,771 | 41.45%-46.66% | 5.21% |
| 431-440 | 13,233 | 119,004 | 46.66%-52.50% | 5.84% |
| 441-450 | 13,463 | 132,467 | 52.50%-58.44% | 5.94% |
| 451-460 | 14,800 | 147,267 | 58.44%-64.97% | 6.53% |
| 461-470 | 16,099 | 163,366 | 64.97%-72.07% | 7.10% |
| 471-480 | 16,981 | 180,347 | 72.07%-79.56% | 7.49% |
| 481-490 | 13,273 | 193,620 | 79.56%-85.42% | 5.86% |
| 491-500 | 12,952 | 206,572 | 85.42%-91.13% | 5.71% |
| 501-600 | 19,542 | 226,114 | 91.13%-99.75% | 8.62% |
| 601-1200 | 559 | 226,673 | 99.75%-100% | 0.25% |
How to read this: the percentile reflects the share of the pool scoring at or below the upper limit of each band. A candidate with a CRS score of 481, for instance, sits at roughly the 79.56th percentile — meaning around 80% of candidates score the same or lower. The 351-400 band alone accounts for over 20% of the entire pool, making it the most crowded score range — and correspondingly the most competitive.
Two Draws Not Yet Reflected in the 30 August Snapshot
IRCC’s 30 August snapshot of the pool doesn’t yet account for two subsequent draws on 31 August and 1 September, which together issued 2,562 ITAs:
| Date | Draw | Invitations | CRS cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 August | PNP | 562 | 697 |
| 1 September | CEC | 2,000 | 521 |
Factoring in these two draws, IRCC has issued a total of 117,427 ITAs through Express Entry over the course of 2026 so far. The largest share of this year’s invitations went to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, at 43.6%.
What Drove the Pool Changes Between 16 and 30 August
Between 16 and 30 August, IRCC held 2 draws, issuing a combined 6,442 ITAs:
| Date | Draw | Invitations | CRS cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August | PNP | 442 | 760 |
| 18 August | CEC | 1,000 | 523 |
| 19 August | French | 5,000 | 382 |
Notably, the 18 August CEC draw recorded the highest cutoff of any CEC draw held this year. The overall pool shrank by just 186 profiles over the period — a considerably smaller drop than recent months have typically seen.
Express Entry: The Basics
Express Entry is Canada’s flagship application management system for selecting skilled workers for permanent residence outside Quebec. Foreign nationals must be eligible for at least one of three economic immigration programs to enter the pool:
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Each profile receives a CRS score, with points assigned for age, education, official-language skills, and work experience. IRCC periodically holds invitation rounds, selecting candidates from the pool to invite for a permanent residence application.
The department also uses category-based selection, prioritizing candidates matching specific economic or labour-market objectives — these draws typically carry substantially lower CRS cutoffs than other draw types. There are currently 10 Express Entry categories, including French-language proficiency and occupation-based categories such as healthcare and social services, education, transport, and trades.
This year’s results show a stark contrast: healthcare and social services cutoffs have stayed between 467-475 points, while CEC draws have ranged from 507-523.
Candidates who receive an invitation have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application before it expires. Express Entry applications have historically been finalized in about 6 months; Base PNP applications, by comparison, have generally taken 12 to 20 months over the past year or so. Successful applicants receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), enabling them to complete landing and obtain permanent resident status.
What This Means for Hong Kong Applicants
This score breakdown gives Hong Kong applicants planning skilled migration to Canada a concrete way to self-assess:
- A CRS score in the 471-480 range (7.49% of the pool, 72.07th-79.56th percentile) means roughly 70-80% of candidates score the same or lower — though this band hasn’t seen a dedicated draw this year, so actual invitation odds still depend on trends in specific categories.
- A CRS score of 501 or above places you in the most competitive 8.62% of the entire pool — and this band grew fastest over the past two weeks (+885), reflecting a rising number of high-scoring candidates entering the pool.
- The 351-400 band accounts for over 20% of the pool — if your score falls here, it’s worth knowing this is the most crowded segment, making an invitation through general draws comparatively harder to secure.
To explore the full range of Canadian skilled immigration pathways, see an overview of Canadian skilled immigration; for the latest on the physician-specific draw, see Canada’s September Express Entry Draw for Physicians: 229 ITAs, CRS Cutoff 198; for guidance on preparing for upcoming Express Entry reform, see Canada’s Express Entry Reform Is Coming — How Applicants Can Prepare Early.
Outcomes, processing times, and follow-on status arrangements vary by applicant background, case specifics, documentation completeness, and official approval requirements. The above is for reference only and does not constitute a guarantee of approval or investment advice.
John Hu Migration Consulting has spent 17 years helping more than 6,000 families successfully immigrate to Canada and other developed countries, and stays closely on top of Express Entry pool trends and CRS scoring strategy.
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