rdwyer@fastmail.com · junk-mail

Why did the Canadian cross the border?

Tue Aug 11, 2026 · 02:01 AM EDT

From: "USAFacts" <info@usafacts.org>
To: <rdwyer@fastmail.com>

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[USAFacts](usafacts.org/)

Canadian border crossings are down nearly 65%

Why did the Canadian cross the border? This isn=E2=80=99t a setup to a joke=
=E2=80=94 thanks to survey data, we know that most Canadian visitors are c=
oming for vacation.

But fewer people =E2=80=94 both Canadian and other visitors =E2=80=94 are c=
rossing the northern border than they used to. Legal crossings from Canada =
over the land border into the US were down 65.4% last year from their 1996 =
peak. The [data tells the details](usafacts.org/articles/border-cro=
ssings-into-the-us-from-canada-declined-in-2025/?utm_content=3Dsection1_tex=
t) on how they=E2=80=99re making the trip.=E2=80=AF

In 1996, 105.7 million people crossed into the US from Canada by land. In 2=
025, that number was 36.6 million and, outside of the three years when the =
pandemic restricted travel, it was one of the lowest totals in three decade=
s. (Note: This data covers legal crossings, not unauthorized entries.)
=C2=A0

Most crossings happen in personal vehicles: an average of 94.9% since 1996.=
Bus passengers account for an average of 3.9% crossings a year, pedestrian=
s 0.8%, and train passengers 0.4%.=E2=80=AF

[Land border crossings into the US from Canada](usafacts.org/articl=
es/border-crossings-into-the-us-from-canada-declined-in-2025/?utm_content=
=3Dsection1_chart)

While train travel doesn=E2=80=99t account for many crossings, it=E2=80=99s=
the only mode of transportation with a growing number of border crossers: =
up 40% since 1996.
=C2=A0

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics identified two events that have led=
to fewer crossings. One was the post-9/11 security measures authorized by =
the USA Patriot Act. The other was the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted =
entry to essential travel. (Crossings hit an overall low in 2021: 6.5 milli=
on.)=E2=80=AF
=C2=A0

No matter how visitors cross the northern border, most Canadians come for l=
eisure. A separate 2022 International Trade Administration survey found tha=
t 75.2% of Canadian visitors who entered by land and stayed overnight were =
on vacation. Another 19.3% were visiting friends or relatives, and 5.4% cro=
ssed for business, education, or medical treatment.

[See the data](usafacts.org/articles/border-crossings…-the-us-f=
rom-canada-declined-in-2025/?utm_content=3Dsection1_button)

[USAFacts](usafacts.org/)

Measles cases outpacing every year since elimination

Measles infections have been rare in the US for decades, but some people ar=
e infected every year, often when they=E2=80=99re exposed while traveling i=
nternationally. Measles was eliminated in the US in 2000, meaning it no lon=
ger spread continuously within the country. Annual case counts have stayed =
quite low since then, but data from the Centers for Disease Control and Pre=
vention [shows that cases ticked back up](usafacts.org/answers/how-=
many-measles-cases-are-there-in-the-us/country/united-states/?utm_content=
=3Dsection2_text) starting in 2025.

The US confirmed 2,371 measles cases from January 1 through July 30, 2026. =
That=E2=80=99s more than all of 2025 (2,289 cases), and the largest annual =
count since elimination. Cases in the first 31 weeks of the year were up 87=
% compared to the same period in 2025.
=C2=A0

There have been no reported measles deaths this year, though 7% of cases ha=
ve required hospitalization. Measles led to three deaths in 2025, and 11% o=
f cases required hospitalization.
=C2=A0

Of confirmed cases through July 30, 93% of patients were either unvaccinate=
d or had unknown vaccination status. And 69% of all patients were 19 years =
old or younger.
=C2=A0

South Carolina has had the most cases this year: 670. Utah is the only othe=
r state that=E2=80=99s had more than 500 cases (524, to be exact).

[Annual confirmed measles cases](usafacts.org/answers/how-many-meas=
les-cases-are-there-in-the-us/country/united-states/?utm_content=3Dsection2=
_chart)

Outbreaks, which are three or more related cases in an area, have been link=
ed to 94% of reported cases this year. There have been 37 outbreaks so far =
in 2026.
=C2=A0

As for measles being eliminated 26 years ago...elimination doesn=E2=80=99t =
mean zero new infections =E2=80=94 the US had 85 reported measles cases in =
2000. But that was 99.9% fewer than the 763,000 reported cases in 1958, fiv=
e years before the measles vaccine.

[See the data](usafacts.org/answers/how-many-measles-…-are-ther=
e-in-the-us/country/united-states/?utm_content=3Dsection2_button)

[USAFacts](usafacts.org/)

Data behind the news

Gross domestic product grew at a slower rate (1.5%) in the second quarter o=
f this year than in the quarter prior (2.1% growth). Still, GDP is [up over=
this time last year](usafacts.org/answers/what-is-the-gross-domest=
ic-product-gdp/country/united-states/?utm_content=3Ddbtn_text).

Sharpen your (digital) pencil, because it=E2=80=99s time for the [weekly fa=
ct quiz](usafacts.org/weekly-fact-quiz/?utm_con…Ddbtn_text).

[USAFacts](usafacts.org/)

One last fact

[What are the most common disasters in the US?](usafacts.org/answer=
s/how-many-disasters-are-declared-in-the-us/country/united-states/?utm_cont=
ent=3Donelastfact_chart)

Fires have accounted for 1,698 (38.1%) of all [disaster declarations](https=
://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-disasters-are-declared-in-the-us/country/u=
nited-states/?utm_content=3Donelastfact_text) since 1980, the most of any d=
isaster type. Severe storms are the second-most common, accounting for 24.7=
%.

[USAFacts](usafacts.org/)

[Economy](usafacts.org/economy/)

[Crime](usafacts.org/crime/)

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