Contained within the 3rd Edition (1957) of the Atlas of Canada is a map consisting of two condensed maps showing the distribution of rural population according to the 1951 census of Canada. The term 'rural population' embraces all persons residing outside the census metropolitan areas and cities, towns and villages of 1000 inhabitants and over, whether such cities, towns and villages were incorporated or not. The distribution is shown according to the two divisions of rural population commonly made, namely, rural farm and rural non-farm. The rural farm population comprises all people residing on a farm regardless of occupation. A farm for such purposes is defined as a land holding of over three acres in size on which agricultural operations are carried out, or a land holding from one to three acres in size, which in 1950 accounted for an agricultural production amounting to $250 or more. All other persons classed as rural population come under the rural non-farm division. The northern parts of Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories are not included on the rural non-farm map although there are some rural non-farm dwellers in these areas. In 1951, Canada's rural population was 52.5% rural farm, and 47.5% rural non-farm.

Number of employees and unemployment rate by population centre and rural area, sex and age group, last 5 years.

Rural population (% of total population) in Canada was reported at 18.02 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Canada CA: Rural Land Area data was reported at 9,197,138.473 sq km in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9,198,346.026 sq km for 2000. Canada CA: Rural Land Area data is updated yearly, averaging 9,198,346.026 sq km from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,199,344.420 sq km in 1990 and a record low of 9,197,138.473 sq km in 2015. Canada CA: Rural Land Area 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: Environmental: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Rural land area in square kilometers, derived from urban extent grids which distinguish urban and rural areas based on a combination of population counts (persons), settlement points, and the presence of Nighttime Lights. Areas are defined as urban where contiguous lighted cells from the Nighttime Lights or approximated urban extents based on buffered settlement points for which the total population is greater than 5,000 persons.;Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)/Columbia University. 2013. Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates Version 2. Palisades, NY: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/lecz-urban-rural-population-land-area-estimates-v2.;Sum;

This table presents the 2021 population counts for census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, and their population centres and rural areas.

Historical chart and dataset showing Canada rural population by year from 1960 to 2023.

Housing starts, all rural areas, Canada and provinces, 6-month moving average and seasonally adjusted at annual rates

Canada CA: Rural Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 18.138 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.248 % for 2022. Canada CA: Rural Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 23.246 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.939 % in 1960 and a record low of 18.138 % in 2023. Canada CA: Rural Population: % of Total 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.;World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.;Weighted average;

This table contains 137088 series, with data for years 2000 - 2000 (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 ...) Urban-rural status (3 items: Total; urban-rural status; Rural; Urban ...) Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Females; Males ...) Health profile (144 items: Total population for the variable self-rated health; Excellent self-rated health; Very good self-rated health; Very good or excellent self-rated health ...) Characteristics (8 items: Number of persons; Coefficient of variation for number of persons; High 95% confidence interval; number of persons; Low 95% confidence interval; number of persons ...).

Rural population growth (annual %) in Canada was reported at 2.3276 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Rural population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Contained within the 3rd Edition (1957) of the Atlas of Canada is a map that shows the location and extent of rural municipalities in Eastern Canada circa late 1950s. County, township and other rural municipalities are indicated. Key tables for numbered municipalities are included.

Access to electricity, rural (% of rural population) in Canada was reported at 100 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Access to electricity, rural (% of rural population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2023, there were roughly 90 thousand physicians in urban areas across Canada and around seven thousand in rural areas. Since 1980, the physician headcount has nearly tripled in urban areas, while nearly doubling in rural areas.

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 ...).

Canada CA: Rural Population data was reported at 7,272,932.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,105,599.000 Person for 2022. Canada CA: Rural Population data is updated yearly, averaging 6,322,948.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,272,932.000 Person in 2023 and a record low of 5,191,541.000 Person in 1970. Canada CA: Rural 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.;World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.;Sum;

This table shows the distribution of the population by population centre size groups and the residual rural areas, for census divisions.

This bar chart displays rural population (people) by region using the aggregation sum in Canada. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

This table shows the distribution of the population by population centre size groups and the residual rural areas, for census divisions.

This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (13 items: Canada; Prince Edward Island; Newfoundland and Labrador; Atlantic provinces ...).

Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road, total rural population, total rural area, etc., 2023, in support of the Sustainable Development Goals - Indicator 9.1.1.