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 ...).

Historical dataset showing total population for Canada by year from 1950 to 2025.

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.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Toronto, Canada metro area from 1950 to 2025.

This table contains 4095 series, with data for years 1921 - 1971 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). 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 ...) Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Females; Males ...) Age group (105 items: All ages; 1 year; 2 years; 0 years ...).

This table contains 3 series, with data for years 1871 - 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 (1 items: Canada ...) Population (3 items: Total population; Urban population; Rural population ...).

Key information about Canada population

• The Canada population reached 41.7 million people in Jun 2025, compared with the previously reported figure of 41.3 million people in Jun 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 369.3 million people in Feb 1992 and a record low of -7.6 million people in May 2016

*This indicator will be no longer available from March 2026, 4th onwards. CEIC has a plan to remove the non-standard frequency indicator after the standard frequency indicator has been added and be available on this table. CEIC extends history for annual Population. Statistics Canada provides Mid-year Population. Postcensal estimates, which are based on the latest Census counts adjusted for Census Net Undercoverage (CNU), including adjustment for Incompletely Enumerated Indian Reserves (IEIR) and the components of demographic growth that occurred since that census. Intercensal estimates are produced using counts from two consecutive censuses adjusted for CNU (including (IEIR) and postcensal estimates) Population prior to 1971 is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population is in annual frequency, ending in June of each year.


Further information about Canada population data

• In the latest reports, Canada Unemployment Rate dropped to 6.9 % in Oct 2025
• Monthly earnings of the Canada population was 3,808.3 USD in Sep 2025
• Canada Labour Force Participation Rate remained the same rate at 65.0 % in Oct 2025

Graph and download economic data for Population for Canada (POPTTLCAA148NRUG) from 1950 to 2019 about Canada and population.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Vancouver, Canada metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Calgary, Canada metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Halifax, Canada metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Winnipeg, Canada metro area from 1950 to 2025.

This statistic displays the age-standardized suicide rate in Canada from 1950 to 2009. In 1950, the suicide rate in the country reached *** per 100,000 population for both sexes. Many people who have committed suicide have some form of depression, a serious mood disorder that can impact one's occupation, social life, education, and other parts of their lives.

This table contains 21 series, with data for years 1871 - 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 (1 items: Canada ...) Religious denominations (21 items: Total religious denominations; Baptist; Congregationalist; Anglican ...).

This is an administrative survey that collects demographic and medical (cause of death) information monthly from all provincial and territorial vital statistics registries on all deaths in Canada.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Edmonton, Canada metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Kanadas Bevölkerung belief sich im 2025 auf 41.7 Person mn. Dies stellt einen Anstieg im Vergleich zu den vorherigen Zahlen von 41.3 Person mn für 2024 dar. Kanadas Bevölkerung werden jährlich aktualisiert, mit einem Durchschnitt von 6.9 Person mn von 1950 bis 2025, mit 76 Beobachtungen. Die Daten erreichten ein Allzeithoch in Höhe von 369.3 Person mn im 1992 und ein Rekordtief in Höhe von -7.6 Person mn im 2016. Kanadas Bevölkerung Daten behalten den Aktiv-Status in CEIC und werden von CEIC Data gemeldet. Die Daten werden unter World Trend Pluss Global Economic Monitor – Table: Population: Annual kategorisiert.

Os dados de População do Canadá foram registrados em 41.3 Pessoa mn em 2024. Este é um registro de um aumento com relação aos números anteriores de 40.1 Pessoa mn em 2023. Os dados de População do Canadá são atualizados anualmente, com uma média de 26.4 Pessoa mn em 1950 até 2024, com 75 observações. Os dados alcançaram um alto recorde de 41.3 Pessoa mn em 2024 e um baixo recorde de 14.0 Pessoa mn em 1950. Os dados de População do Canadá permanecem com status ativo na CEIC e são reportados pela fonte: CEIC Data. Os dados são classificados sob o World Trend Plus’ Global Economic Monitor – Table: Population: Annual.

Ce tableau contient 13 séries, avec des données pour les années 1926 - 1960 (il n'y a pas nécessairement de données pour toutes les années pour l'ensemble des combinaisons), et sa dernière date de diffusion remonte au 2000-02-18. Ce tableau contient des données telles que décrites par les dimensions suivantes (les combinaisons ne sont pas toutes disponibles) : Géographie (13 éléments : Canada; Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; Nouvelle-Écosse; Île-du-Prince-Édouard ...).

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the London, Canada metro area from 1950 to 2025.