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.

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

The total population in Canada was estimated at 41.5 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Canada Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Canada Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 12.500 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.500 % for 2018. Canada Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 14.700 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2019, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.000 % in 1971 and a record low of 12.500 % in 2019. Canada Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population 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: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2017 U.S. dollars and defined as max($2.15, $1.15 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $2.15. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

This table contains 2016 series, with data for years 2003 - 2005 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (14 items: Canada; Newfoundland and Labrador; Prince Edward Island; Nova Scotia ...) Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Females; Males ...) Contact with telephone health line (4 items: Total population for the variable contact with telephone health line; Contact with telephone health line in past 12 months; not stated; Contact with telephone health line in past 12 months; No contact with telephone health line in past 12 months ...) Characteristics (12 items: Number of persons; High 95% confidence interval; number of persons; Low 95% confidence interval; number of persons; Coefficient of variation for number of persons ...).

This table contains 16128 series, with data for years 2003 - 2005 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (14 items: Canada; Newfoundland and Labrador ...), Age group (12 items: Total; 15 years and over;15 to 19 years;20 to 24 years;20 to 34 years ...), Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Females; Males ...), Contact with telephone health line (4 items: Total population for the variable contact with telephone health line; Contact with telephone health line in the past 12 months; No contact with telephone health line in the past 12 months; Contact with telephone health line in the past 12 months; not stated ...), Characteristics (8 items: Number of persons; Low 95% confidence interval; number of persons; High 95% confidence interval; number of persons; Coefficient of variation for number of persons ...).

This table contains 2016 series, with data for years 2003 - 2005 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (14 items: Canada; Newfoundland and Labrador; Prince Edward Island; Nova Scotia ...) Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Females; Males ...) Contact with telephone health line (4 items: Total population for the variable contact with telephone health line; Contact with telephone health line in past 12 months; not stated; Contact with telephone health line in past 12 months; No contact with telephone health line in past 12 months ...) Characteristics (12 items: Number of persons; High 95% confidence interval; number of persons; Low 95% confidence interval; number of persons; Coefficient of variation for number of persons ...).

This line chart displays urban population (people) by date using the aggregation sum in Canada. The data is about countries per year.

This line chart displays male population (people) by date using the aggregation sum in Canada. The data is about countries per year.

In 2022, 9.9 percent of all Canadians were living in low income. Between 2000 and 2022, the percentage of population with low income experienced a decrease, reaching the lowest value in 2020. The highest share of Canadians with low income was recorded in 2015, with 14.5 percent of the total population.

Low Income Measures

The low income measures (LIMs) were developed by Statistics Canada in the 1990s. They, along with the low income cut-offs (LICOs) and the market basket measure (MBM), were created in order to measure and track the low income population of Canada. With low income measures, individuals are classified as being in low income if their income falls below fifty percent of the median adjusted household income. The median income is adjusted in order to reflect the differing financial needs of households based on the number of its members. The low income measures are a useful tool to compare low income populations between countries as they do not rely on an arbitrary standard of what constitutes the threshold for poverty. Statistics Canada insists that the low income measures are not meant to be representative of a poverty rate. The department has no measure which they define as a measurement of poverty in Canada. Latest data and trends In 2022, around 2.1 million people were living in low income families in Canada. This figure has been fluctuating over the years, both in absolute numbers and in proportion over the total population. More women than men were living in low income families in 2022, though the number of men in low income has risen at twice the rate as that of women. One of the more drastic changes has been the rise in the number of single individuals living in low income, increasing by more than 60 percent since 2000.

The 1986 Census was the first mid-decade census to undertake detailed enumeration. Data on demographic, social and economic characteristics, as well as on dwellings, were collected from Canadians. The information is recorded on two data bases, the 100% data base and the 20% sample data base. The 100% data bases includes general demographic, dwelling and household data (for example: age, sex, marital status, mother tongue and structural type of dwelling) collected from the entire population. The 20% sample data base includes the general demographic data, detailed socio-economic data (for example: ethnic origin, labour force activity, schooling, income and dwellings information) collected from one-fifth of the population. The range of the 1986 Census products and services differs somewhat from the 1981 Census. The major changes are: A 40% reduction in the number of publications The replacement of the 1981 Census Summary Tapes program by the Basic Summary Cross-Tabulations Improvements in the Custom Tabulations Service The implementation of a new Semi-Custom product line Focus series is the aggregate statistics (multi-variate cross-tabulations) at census subdivision, census tract, and enumeration area levels. These 7 tables do not correspond to the print Focus series print publications. At present, EA-level tables are available on CD-ROM only.

This table contains 1512 series, with data for years 2003 - 2005 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (14 items: Canada; Prince Edward Island; Nova Scotia; Newfoundland and Labrador ...) Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Females; Males ...) Patient satisfaction, telephone health line services (3 items: Used telephone health line services in past 12 months; Quality of telephone health line services used rated as excellent or good; Very or somewhat satisfied with telephone health line services ...) Characteristics (12 items: Number of persons; High 95% confidence interval; number of persons; Low 95% confidence interval; number of persons; Coefficient of variation for number of persons ...).

Canada CA: Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 50% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data was reported at 0.912 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.774 % for 2007. Canada CA: Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 50% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data is updated yearly, averaging 0.680 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2010, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.912 % in 2010 and a record low of 0.445 % in 2000. Canada CA: Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 50% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % 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: Social: Poverty and Inequality. Proportion of population pushed below the 50% median consumption poverty line by out-of-pocket health care expenditure, expressed as a percentage of a total population of a country; ; Wagstaff et al. Progress on Impoverishing Health Spending: Results for 122 Countries. A Retrospective Observational Study, Lancet Global Health 2017; Weighted Average;

This line chart displays urban population living in areas where elevation is below 5 meters (% of total population) by date using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Canada. The data is about countries per year.

GapMaps GIS data for USA and Canada sourced from Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS) includes an extensive range of the highest quality demographic and lifestyle segmentation products. All databases are derived from superior source data and the most sophisticated, refined, and proven methodologies.

GIS Data attributes include:

1. Latest Estimates and Projections The estimates and projections database includes a wide range of core demographic data variables for the current year and 5- year projections, covering five broad topic areas: population, households, income, labor force, and dwellings.

2. Crime Risk Crime Risk is the result of an extensive analysis of a rolling seven years of FBI crime statistics. Based on detailed modeling of the relationships between crime and demographics, Crime Risk provides an accurate view of the relative risk of specific crime types (personal, property and total) at the block and block group level.

3. Panorama Segmentation AGS has created a segmentation system for the United States called Panorama. Panorama has been coded with the MRI Survey data to bring you Consumer Behavior profiles associated with this segmentation system.

4. Business Counts Business Counts is a geographic summary database of business establishments, employment, occupation and retail sales.

5. Non-Resident Population The AGS non-resident population estimates utilize a wide range of data sources to model the factors which drive tourists to particular locations, and to match that demand with the supply of available accommodations.

6. Consumer Expenditures AGS provides current year and 5-year projected expenditures for over 390 individual categories that collectively cover almost 95% of household spending.

7. Retail Potential This tabulation utilizes the Census of Retail Trade tables which cross-tabulate store type by merchandise line.

8. Environmental Risk The environmental suite of data consists of several separate database components including: -Weather Risks -Seismological Risks -Wildfire Risk -Climate -Air Quality -Elevation and terrain

Primary Use Cases for GapMaps GIS Data:

1. Retail (eg. Fast Food/ QSR, Cafe, Fitness, Supermarket/Grocery)
2. Customer Profiling: get a detailed understanding of the demographic & segmentation profile of your customers, where they work and their spending potential
3. Analyse your trade areas at a granular census block level using all the key metrics
4. Site Selection: Identify optimal locations for future expansion and benchmark performance across existing locations.
5. Target Marketing: Develop effective marketing strategies to acquire more customers.

6. Integrate AGS demographic data with your existing GIS or BI platform to generate powerful visualizations.

7. Finance / Insurance (eg. Hedge Funds, Investment Advisors, Investment Research, REITs, Private Equity, VC)

8. Network Planning

9. Customer (Risk) Profiling for insurance/loan approvals

10. Target Marketing

11. Competitive Analysis

12. Market Optimization

13. Commercial Real-Estate (Brokers, Developers, Investors, Single & Multi-tenant O/O)

14. Tenant Recruitment

15. Target Marketing

16. Market Potential / Gap Analysis

17. Marketing / Advertising (Billboards/OOH, Marketing Agencies, Indoor Screens)

18. Customer Profiling

19. Target Marketing

20. Market Share Analysis

This line chart displays female population (people) by date using the aggregation sum in Canada. The data is about countries per year.

Canada’s appeal as an immigration destination has been increasing over the past two decades, with a total of 464,265 people immigrating to the country in 2024. This figure is an increase from 2000-2001, when approximately 252,527 immigrants came to Canada. Immigration to the Great White North Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, there were an estimated 199,297 immigrants to Ontario, making it the most popular immigration destination out of any province. While the number of immigrants has been increasing over the years, in 2024 over half of surveyed Canadians believed that there were too many immigrants in the country. However, in 2017, the Canadian government announced its aim to significantly increase the number of permanent residents to Canada in order to combat an aging workforce and the decline of working-age adults. Profiles of immigrants to Canada The gender of immigrants to Canada in 2023 was just about an even split, with 234,279 male immigrants and 234,538 female immigrants. In addition, most foreign-born individuals in Canada came from India, followed by China and the Philippines. The United States was the fifth most common origin country for foreign-born residents in Canada.

Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Canadian County, OK was 8.60% in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Canadian County, OK reached a record high of 8.60 in January of 2023 and a record low of 7.00 in January of 2013. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Canadian County, OK - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

This presentation looks at different issues surrounding the 2006 Census: Census major releases; strategy and schedule; overall strategy of the 2006 Census dissemination program; some general directions; proposed new initiatives in regard to the product line; discussion & next steps; and feedback from 2001 Census users.

Canada Proportion of Population Pushed Below the $2.15: Poverty Line by Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: 2017 PPP: % data was reported at 0.200 % in 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.100 % for 2017. Canada Proportion of Population Pushed Below the $2.15: Poverty Line by Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: 2017 PPP: % data is updated yearly, averaging 0.100 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2019, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.200 % in 2019 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2014. Canada Proportion of Population Pushed Below the $2.15: Poverty Line by Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: 2017 PPP: % 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: Social: Poverty and Inequality. This indicator shows the fraction of a country’s population experiencing out-of-pocket health impoverishing expenditures, defined as expenditures without which the household they live in would have been above the $ 2.15 poverty line, but because of the expenditures is below the poverty line. Out-of-pocket health expenditure is defined as any spending incurred by a household when any member uses a health good or service to receive any type of care (preventive, curative, rehabilitative, long-term or palliative care); provided by any type of provider; for any type of disease, illness or health condition; in any type of setting (outpatient, inpatient, at home).;Global Health Observatory. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. (https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/financial-protection);Weighted average;This indicator is related to Sustainable Development Goal 3.8.2 [https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/].