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

Canada's largest metropolitan area is Toronto, in Ontario. In 2022. Over 6.6 million people were living in the Toronto metropolitan area. Montréal, in Quebec, followed with about 4.4 million inhabitants, while Vancouver, in Britsh Columbia, counted 2.8 million people as of 2022.

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.

This statistic shows the ten biggest cities in Canada in 2020, by number of inhabitants. In 2020, approximately 2.73 million people lived in Toronto, making it the biggest city in Canada.

This table presents the 2021 and 2016 population and dwelling counts, land area, population density and population ranking for census metropolitan areas or census agglomerations. It also shows the percentage change in the population and dwelling counts between 2016 and 2021.

There are two types of boundary files: cartographic and digital. Cartographic boundary files portray the geographic areas using only the major land mass of Canada and its coastal islands. Digital boundary files portray the full extent of the geographic areas, including the coastal water area.

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

Actual value and historical data chart for Canada Urban Population Percent Of Total

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.

The statistic shows the total population in Canada from 2020 to 2024, with projections up until 2030. In 2024, the total population in Canada amounted to about 41.14 million inhabitants. Population of Canada Canada ranks second among the largest countries in the world in terms of area size, right behind Russia, despite having a relatively low total population. The reason for this is that most of Canada remains uninhabited due to inhospitable conditions. Approximately 90 percent of all Canadians live within about 160 km of the U.S. border because of better living conditions and larger cities. On a year to year basis, Canada’s total population has continued to increase, although not dramatically. Population growth as of 2012 has amounted to its highest values in the past decade, reaching a peak in 2009, but was unstable and constantly fluctuating. Simultaneously, Canada’s fertility rate dropped slightly between 2009 and 2011, after experiencing a decade high birth rate in 2008. Standard of living in Canada has remained stable and has kept the country as one of the top 20 countries with the highest Human Development Index rating. The Human Development Index (HDI) measures quality of life based on several indicators, such as life expectancy at birth, literacy rate, education levels and gross national income per capita. Canada has a relatively high life expectancy compared to many other international countries, earning a spot in the top 20 countries and beating out countries such as the United States and the UK. From an economic standpoint, Canada has been slowly recovering from the 2008 financial crisis. Unemployment has gradually decreased, after reaching a decade high in 2009. Additionally, GDP has dramatically increased since 2009 and is expected to continue to increase for the next several years.

The data package provides demographics for Canadian population groups according to multiple location categories: Forward Sortation Areas (FSAs), Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and Census Agglomerations (CAs), Federal Electoral Districts (FEDs), Health Regions (HRs) and provinces.

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

Canada CA: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 3.067 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.933 % for 2022. Canada CA: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 1.319 % from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2023, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.523 % in 1971 and a record low of 0.665 % in 2021. Canada CA: Urban Population Growth 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. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.;World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.;Weighted average;

This table contains 2288 series, with data for years 1971 - 2016 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (176 items: Canada; Maritime provinces (major drainage area); Saint John and Southern Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick (sub-drainage area); Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northern Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick (sub-drainage area); ...); Population characteristics (13 items: Total population; Population in population centres; Population in rural areas; Total population density; ...).

This table presents the 2021 and 2016 population and dwelling counts, land area, population density and population ranking for census metropolitan areas or census agglomerations. It also shows the percentage change in the population and dwelling counts between 2016 and 2021.

Health characteristics, two-year period estimates, by age group and sex, Canada, provinces, territories, census metropolitan areas and population centres.

Health characteristics, two-year period estimates, by age group and sex, Canada, provinces, territories, census metropolitan areas and population centres.

This table shows the 2021 population and dwelling counts for reported forward sortation areas.

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

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.