It is presumed that the first humans migrated from Siberia to North America approximately twelve thousand years ago, where they then moved southwards to warmer lands. It was not until many centuries later that humans returned to the north and began to settle regions that are now part of Canada. Despite a few short-lived Viking settlements on Newfoundland around the turn of the first millennium CE, the Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot), became the first European to explore the coast of North America in the late 1400s. The French and British crowns both made claims to areas of Canada throughout the sixteenth century, but real colonization and settlement did not begin until the early seventeenth century. Over the next 150 years, France and Britain competed to take control of the booming fur and fishing trade, and to expand their overseas empires. In the Seven Year's War, Britain eventually defeated the French colonists in North America, through superior numbers and a stronger agriculture resources in the southern colonies, and the outcome of the war saw France cede practically all of it's colonies in North America to the British.

Increased migration and declining native populations

The early 1800s saw a large influx of migrants into Canada, with the Irish Potato Famine bringing the first wave of mass-migration to the country, with further migration coming from Scandinavia and Northern Europe. It is estimated that the region received just shy of one million migrants from the British Isles alone, between 1815 and 1850, which helped the population grow to 2.5 million in the mid-1800s and 5.5 million in 1900. It is also estimated that infectious diseases killed around 25 to 33 percent of all Europeans who migrated to Canada before 1891, and around a third of the Canadian population is estimated to have emigrated southwards to the United States in the 1871-1896 period. From the time of European colonization until the mid-nineteenth century, the native population of Canada dropped from roughly 500,000 (some estimates put it as high as two million) to just over 100,000; this was due to a mixture of disease, starvation and warfare, instigated by European migration to the region. The native population was generally segregated and oppressed until the second half of the 1900s; Native Canadians were given the vote in 1960, and, despite their complicated and difficult history, the Canadian government has made significant progress in trying to include indigenous cultures in the country's national identity in recent years. As of 2020, Indigenous Canadians make up more than five percent of the total Canadian population, and a higher birth rate means that this share of the population is expected to grow in the coming decades.

Independence and modern Canada

Canadian independence was finally acknowledged in 1931 by the Statute of Westminster, putting it on equal terms with the United Kingdom within the Commonwealth; virtually granting independence and sovereignty until the Canada Act of 1982 formalized it. Over the past century, Canada has had a relatively stable political system and economy (although it was hit particularly badly by the Wall Street Crash of 1929). Canada entered the First World War with Britain, and as an independent Allied Power in the Second World War; Canadian forces played pivotal roles in a number of campaigns, notably Canada's Hundred Days in WWI, and the country lost more than 100,000 men across both conflicts. The economy boomed in the aftermath of the Second World War, and a stream of socially democratic programs such as universal health care and the Canadian pension plan were introduced, which contributed to a rise in the standard of living. The post war period also saw various territories deciding to join Canada, with Newfoundland joining in 1949, and Nunavut in 1999. Today Canada is among the most highly ranked in countries in terms of civil liberties, quality of life and economic growth. It promotes and welcomes immigrants from all over the world and, as a result, it has one of the most ethnically diverse and multicultural populations of any country in the world. As of 2020, Canada's population stands at around 38 million people, and continues to grow due to high migration levels and life expectancy, and a steady birth rate.

This table contains 13 series, with data for years 1926 - 1960 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and was last released on 2000-02-18. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (13 items: Canada; Newfoundland and Labrador; Prince Edward Island; Nova Scotia ...).

Contained within the 2nd Edition (1915) of the Atlas of Canada is a plate that shows two maps. The first map shows the origin of the population in Ontario and western Quebec, circa 1911. The second map shows the origin of the population in Eastern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, circa 1911. A varying number of ethnic groups are shown, but always included are: English, Scotch [Scottish], Irish, French and German. People of British origin predominate in all provinces, except Quebec, where the French predominate. The areas of Carleton county down to Kingston is predominated with Irish settlers. Counties and major railway systems displayed, extending into the U.S.

Contained within the 2nd Edition (1915) of the Atlas of Canada is a plate that shows two maps. The first map shows the density of population per square mile for every township in British Columbia and Alberta, circa 1911. The second map shows the density of population per square mile for every township in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, circa 1911. Communities with a population greater than 5000 people are shown as proportional dots on the map. In addition, major railway systems displayed. The map displays the rectangular survey system which records the land that is available to the public. This grid like system is divided into sections, townships, range, and meridian from mid-Manitoba to Alberta.

Rank, number of deaths, percentage of deaths, and age-specific mortality rates for the leading causes of death, by age group and sex, 2000 to most recent year.

Contained within the 2nd Edition (1915) of the Atlas of Canada is a plate that shows two maps. The first map shows the density of population per square mile for every township in the Maritime Provinces and Quebec, circa 1911. The second map shows the density of population per square mile for every township in Quebec and Ontario, circa 1911. Communities with a population greater than 5000 people are shown as proportional dots on the map. In addition, major railway systems displayed.

Contained within the 2nd Edition (1915) of the Atlas of Canada is a plate map that shows 2 maps. The first map shows the origin of the population in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, circa 1911. The second map shows the origin of the population in British Columbia and Alberta, circa 1911A varying number of ethnic groups are shown, but always included are: English, Scotch [Scottish], Irish, French and German. People of British origin predominate in all provinces, except Quebec, where the French predominate. There is a cosmopolitan population due to immigration from Great Britain and Europe, but British are the predominating people in British Columbia and Alberta. Major railway systems are displayed, which extend into the U.S. The map presents the rectangular survey system, which records the land that is available to the public. This grid like system is divided into sections, townships, range, and meridian from mid-Manitoba to Alberta.

Life expectancy in Canada was just below forty in the year 1800, and over the course of the next 220 years, it is expected to have increased by more than double to 82.2 by the year 2020. Throughout this time, life expectancy in Canada progressed at a steady rate, with the most noticeable changes coming during the interwar period, where the rate of increase was affected by the Spanish Flu epidemic and both World Wars.

Unemployment rate, participation rate, and employment rate by educational attainment, gender and age group, annual.

La deuxième édition de l’Atlas du Canada (1915) comprend une planche contenant deux cartes. La première représente la densité de la population, par mil carré, de tous les cantons de la Colombie-Britannique et de l’Alberta vers 1911. La seconde carte représente la densité de la population, par mil carré, de tous les cantons du Manitoba et de la Saskatchewan vers 1911. Les communautés de plus de 5000 habitants sont représentées à l’aide de points noirs proportionnels. De plus, la carte indique les systèmes de chemins de fer principaux et le système rectangulaire d’arpentage des terres disponible pour le public. Le quadrillage est divisé en sections, en villages, en rangs et en méridiens du milieu du Manitoba à l’Alberta.

La deuxième édition de l’Atlas du Canada (1915) comprend une planche contenant deux cartes. La première carte représente les origines de la population de l’Ontario et de l’Est du Québec vers 1911. La deuxième carte représente les origines de la population des provinces Maritimes et du Québec vers 1911. La carte indique une variété de groupes ethniques. Sont toujours présents : Anglais, Écossais, Irlandais, Français et Allemands. Les habitants d’origine anglaise sont prédominants dans toutes les provinces sauf au Québec où les habitants d’origine française prédominent. Les habitants d’origine irlandaise prédominent dans les régions des comtés de Carleton à Kingston. La carte comprend les comtés et les systèmes principaux de chemins de fer qui s’étendent aux États-Unis.