Contained within the Atlas of Canada Poster Map Series, is a poster showing population density across Canada. There is a relief base to the map on top of which is shown all populated areas of Canada where the population density is great than 0.4 persons per square kilometer. This area is then divided into five colour classes of population density based on Statistics Canada's census divisions.

In 2022, Canada had a population density of about 4.43 people per square kilometer. The country has one of the lowest population densities in the world, as the total population is very small in relation to the dimensions of the land. Canada has a relatively stable population size, consistently with a growth of around one percent compared to the previous year. A small population in a large territory In terms of total area, Canada is the second largest country in the world. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Pacific to the Atlantic and northward to the Arctic Ocean, and this in total covers about 9.9 million square miles. The most densely populated area of Canada is what’s known as the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Canada has a degree of urbanization of around 81 percent, because most Canadians prefer to live in cities where opportunities for work and leisure are in close proximity to each other and conditions are less rough.

This table presents the 2021 and 2016 population and dwelling counts, land area and population density for Canada, the provinces and the territories. It also shows the percentage change in the population and dwelling counts between 2016 and 2021.

The Population of Canada, 10km Gridded national scale datasets display the distribution and areal extent of rural, urban and total populations across Canada for both 2011 and 2016. The 10km gridded framework is the same 10km gridded framework used within the Biomass Inventory Mapping and Analysis Tool. This data was created for AAFC by Statistics Canada using AAFC’s 10km gridded framework. The purpose of this data is to display the distribution of rural and urban populations across a 10km x 10km grid of Canada.

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Canada was reported at 4.4302 sq. Km in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Contained within the 5th Edition (1978 to 1995) of the National Atlas of Canada is a map that shows the density of population in continuously settled area of Canada using ten density classes based on 1976 Census data.

Historical dataset showing Canada population density by year from 1961 to 2022.

Contained within the 3rd Edition (1957) of the Atlas of Canada is a plate that shows the distribution of population in what is now Canada circa 1851, 1871, 1901, 1921 and 1941. The five maps display the boundaries of the various colonies, provinces and territories for each date. Also shown on these five maps are the locations of principal cities and settlements. These places are shown on all of the maps for reference purposes even though they may not have been in existence in the earlier years. Each map is accompanied by a pie chart providing the percentage distribution of Canadian population by province and territory corresponding to the date the map is based on. It should be noted that the pie chart entitled Percentage Distribution of Total Population, 1851, refers to the whole of what was then British North America. The name Canada in this chart refers to the province of Canada which entered confederation in 1867 as Ontario and Quebec. The other pie charts, however, show only percentage distribution of population in what was Canada at the date indicated. Three additional graphs are included on this plate and show changes in the distribution of the population of Canada from 1867 to 1951, changes in the percentage distribution of the population of Canada by provinces and territories from 1867 to 1951 and elements in the growth of the population of Canada for each ten-year period from 1891 to 1951.

This table presents the 2021 population and dwelling counts, land area and population density for dissemination areas by a selected province or territory.

Canada CA: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 4.350 Person/sq km in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.239 Person/sq km for 2020. Canada CA: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 3.127 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2021, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.350 Person/sq km in 2021 and a record low of 2.038 Person/sq km in 1961. Canada CA: Population Density: People per Square Km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.;Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.;Weighted average;

Contained within the 3rd Edition (1957) of the Atlas of Canada is a map that shows the density of the Canadian population for 1951. The first map display Western provinces, while the second map concentrates on southern Ontario and the Maritimes. Only the most populous areas are covered. Population density is illustrated by denoting the number of inhabitants per square mile. It shows a significant difference in the population distribution across Canada, mainly in urban and metropolitan areas. The cities with greater inhabitants are clusters within Capital cities, and a even larger concentration south, near the U.S. border, in particular along ocean or inland coastlines.

This table contains 173 series, with data for years 1996 - 1996 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and is no longer being released. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (173 items: Canada; Newfoundland and Labrador; Health and Community Services St. John's Region, Newfoundland and Labrador; Health and Community Services Eastern Region, Newfoundland and Labrador; ...).

This table contains 26 series, with data for years 1851 - 1971 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Unit of measure (1 items: Persons ...) Geography (13 items: Canada; Newfoundland and Labrador; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island ...) Estimates (2 items: Population; Population density per square mile ...).

Population density of Canada went up by 1.82% from 4.4 people per sq. km in 2021 to 4.4 people per sq. km in 2022. Since the 1.09% improve in 2012, population density jumped by 14.42% in 2022. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers.

Estimated number of persons by quarter of a year and by year, Canada, provinces and territories.

The majority of the Canadian population, about 60% is concentrated within a thin belt of land representing 2.2% of the land between Windsor, Ontario and Quebec City. Even though Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of land area, it only ranks 33rd in terms of population. The agricultural areas in the Prairies and eastern Canada have higher population densities than the sparsely populated North, but not as high as southern Ontario or southern Quebec.

Canada, with 3.3 people per square kilometre, has one of the lowest population densities in the world. In 2001, most of Canada's population of 30 million lived within 200 kilometres of the United States. In fact, the inhabitants of our three biggest cities — Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver — can drive to the border in less than two hours. Thousands of kilometres to the north, our polar region — the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut — is relatively empty, embracing 41% of our land mass but only 0.3% of our population. Human habitation in the solitary north clings largely to scattered settlements: villages among vast expanses of virgin ice, snow, tundra and taiga.

Author: J Trygestad, educator, Minnesota Alliance for Geographic EducationGrade/Audience: grade 8Resource type: lessonSubject topic(s): population, physical geography, migrationRegion: north americaStandards: Minnesota Social Studies Standards

Standard 5. The characteristics, distribution and migration of human populations on the earth’s surface influence human systems (cultural, economic and political systems). Objectives: Students will be able to:

1. Describe Canada’s population distribution, density and growth.
2. Describe how Canada’s physical geography affects the location and size of its population centers.
3. Describe the patterns of Canada’s recent immigration and migration.
4. Describe the diversity of Canada’s population as a culture mosaic.Summary: Students describe the distribution, density and growth of Canada’s population based on patterns of current and historic settlement and physical features. Students also describe Canada’s culture mosaic addressing current immigration, migration, and culture patterns.

The majority of the Canadian population, about 60% is concentrated within a thin belt of land representing 2.2% of the land between Windsor, Ontario and Quebec City. Even though Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of land area, it only ranks 33rd in terms of population. The agricultural areas in the Prairies and eastern Canada have higher population densities than the sparsely populated North, but not as high as southern Ontario or southern Quebec.

[ARCHIVED] Community Counts data is retained for archival purposes only, such as research, reference and record-keeping. This data has not been maintained or updated. Users looking for the latest information should refer to Statistics Canada’s Census Program (https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/index-eng.cfm?MM=1) for the latest data, including detailed results about Nova Scotia. This table reports population density. This data is sourced from the Census of Population. Geographies available: provinces, counties, communities, municipalities, district health authorities, community health boards, economic regions, police districts, school boards, municipal electoral districts, provincial electoral districts, federal electoral districts, regional development authorities, watersheds