While we might imagine Canada as a land of vast, empty wilderness, the numbers tell a surprising story of dynamic growth, as the nation's population recently surged past 40 million for the first time in 2023, fueled by record-breaking immigration and shifting the country's demographic landscape.
Key Takeaways
- Canada's population reached 40,097,761 on July 1, 2023, reflecting a quarterly growth of 0.6% or 240,618 people
- In 2023, Canada's annual population growth rate was 3.2%, the highest since 1957, driven mainly by international migration
- Canada's population density is 4.24 people per square kilometer as of 2023
- Canada's median age in 2023 was 41.1 years, indicating an aging population
- In 2021 Census, 19.4% of Canadians were aged 65 and over, totaling 7,410,705 people
- Children under 15 made up 15.7% of Canada's population in 2021, about 5,902,295 individuals
- South Asian origins were reported by 2,571,400 people or 7.1% in 2021 Census
- English origins totaled 14,355,555 or 39.6% in 2021 Census
- Indigenous peoples comprised 5.0% or 1,902,605 in 2021 Census
- Ontario holds 38.6% of Canada's population with 14,223,942 residents in 2021 Census
- Quebec's population was 8,501,833 or 23.3% in 2021 Census
- British Columbia had 5,000,879 people, 13.7% of total in 2021
- Net international migration contributed 1,051,405 to population growth from 2022-2023
- Permanent residents admitted: 437,539 in 2022, highest on record
- Crude birth rate was 9.64 per 1,000 in 2022
Canada's population hit a record 40 million in 2023 through rapid growth fueled by immigration.
Age Structure
- Canada's median age in 2023 was 41.1 years, indicating an aging population
- In 2021 Census, 19.4% of Canadians were aged 65 and over, totaling 7,410,705 people
- Children under 15 made up 15.7% of Canada's population in 2021, about 5,902,295 individuals
- The 0-14 age group in Canada numbered 6,066,498 in 2022, representing 15.5% of total population
- Working-age population (15-64) comprised 66.5% or 25,817,568 people in 2021 Census
- Females aged 85+ numbered 257,425 in 2021, 2.1 times more than males at 121,950
- Life expectancy at birth for females was 82.1 years in 2022, for males 78.0 years
- 26.0% of Canada's population was between 20-39 years old in 2023 estimates
- Seniors (65+) grew from 16.9% in 2016 to 19.0% in 2021 Census
- Youth (15-24) dependency ratio was 12.5% in 2021
- In 2021, 5.8 million Canadians were aged 0-14, adjusted for undercount
- Canada's old-age dependency ratio reached 29.7% in 2023
- Age 0-4: 1,704,270 males, 1,626,705 females in 2021
- 5-9 years: 1,760,110 males, 1,675,210 females in 2021 Census
- 10-14: 1,740,785 males, 1,654,660 females in 2021
- 15-19: 1,725,915 males, 1,645,385 females
- 20-24: 1,705,195 males, 1,640,670 females in 2021
- 65-69: 1,315,655 males, 1,477,740 females in 2021 Census
- 70-74: 1,017,670 males, 1,224,580 females
- 75-79: 635,580 males, 849,095 females in 2021
- 80-84: 380,745 males, 570,740 females
- Proportion 65+ expected to rise to 23% by 2030
Age Structure Interpretation
Canada's demographic story is becoming a tale of two populations: a steadily graying majority that now comfortably outnumbers the youth, setting the stage for future generations to carry an increasingly weighty social and economic responsibility on their shoulders.
Ethnic Composition
- South Asian origins were reported by 2,571,400 people or 7.1% in 2021 Census
- English origins totaled 14,355,555 or 39.6% in 2021 Census
- Indigenous peoples comprised 5.0% or 1,902,605 in 2021 Census
- Chinese origins were 1,715,770 or 4.7% in 2021
- Visible minorities made up 26.5% of population in 2021 Census, totaling 9,639,730
- Scottish origins reported by 4,799,005 or 13.2% in 2021
- Black population was 1,547,870 or 4.3% in 2021 Census
- Filipino origins numbered 957,355 or 2.6% in 2021
- Irish origins totaled 4,627,000 or 12.8% in 2021 Census
- French origins were 4,467,385 or 12.3% in 2021
- Indian origins: 1,858,755 or 5.1% in 2021 Census
- German origins: 3,032,410 or 8.4%
- Dutch origins: 1,190,195 or 3.3% in 2021
- Ukrainian: 1,334,710 or 3.7%
- Italian: 1,508,870 or 4.2% in 2021 Census
- First Nations: 1,048,405 or 2.9% of total population in 2021
- Métis: 624,220 or 1.7%
- Inuit: 70,545 or 0.2% in 2021 Census
- Arab origins: 694,015 or 1.9%
- Latin American: 580,235 or 1.6% in 2021
Ethnic Composition Interpretation
The 2021 census paints Canada as a complex, unfinished mosaic where the largest pieces are unmistakably English and Scottish, yet the brilliant and growing diversity of colors—from South Asian and Chinese to Black and Indigenous—proves the portrait is becoming far more interesting and vibrant by the decade.
Geographic Distribution
- Ontario holds 38.6% of Canada's population with 14,223,942 residents in 2021 Census
- Quebec's population was 8,501,833 or 23.3% in 2021 Census
- British Columbia had 5,000,879 people, 13.7% of total in 2021
- Alberta's population reached 4,262,635 or 11.7% in 2021 Census
- Urban population in Canada is 81.9% or about 32,000,000 in 2023
- Toronto CMA population was 6,202,225 in 2021 Census, largest in Canada
- Montreal CMA had 4,291,732 residents in 2021
- Vancouver CMA population 2,642,825 in 2021 Census
- Rural population is 18.1% or roughly 7,200,000 in 2023 estimates
- Calgary CMA grew to 1,481,806 in 2021
- Manitoba population: 1,342,153 or 3.7% in 2021 Census
- Saskatchewan: 1,132,505 or 3.1%
- Nova Scotia: 969,383 or 2.7%
- New Brunswick: 775,610 or 2.1%
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 510,550 or 1.4%
- Prince Edward Island: 154,331 or 0.4%
- Northwest Territories: 41,070 or 0.1%
- Yukon: 40,232 or 0.1%
- Nunavut: 36,858 or 0.1% in 2021 Census
- Ottawa-Gatineau CMA: 1,488,307 in 2021
- Edmonton CMA: 1,418,118 in 2021 Census
Geographic Distribution Interpretation
Canada is a nation decisively of big cities, where nearly everyone is apparently trying to crowd into Ontario or argue with Montrealers, while the rest of the country enjoys vast, beautiful, and sparsely populated space.
Migration and Vital Statistics
- Net international migration contributed 1,051,405 to population growth from 2022-2023
- Permanent residents admitted: 437,539 in 2022, highest on record
- Crude birth rate was 9.64 per 1,000 in 2022
- Total fertility rate dropped to 1.33 children per woman in 2022
- Crude death rate was 7.45 per 1,000 population in 2022
- Immigrants accounted for 23.0% of population in 2021 Census, 8,361,505 people
- Non-permanent residents surged to 2,283,815 by Q1 2024
- Natural increase (births minus deaths) was 98,598 in 2022
- 405,303 permanent residents targeted for 2021-2023 immigration levels
- Net migration to Ontario: 144,226 in 2022-2023
- Births totaled 351,679 in 2022, down 3.7% from 2021
- Deaths: 307,133 in 2022, up 10.9% from prior year
- Infant mortality rate: 4.4 per 1,000 live births in 2022
- Refugees resettled: 23,911 in 2022
- Emigrants: 84,665 in 2022
- Interprovincial migrants: 353,000 in 2022, net to AB +35,000
- Population projection to 42.9 million by 2041 under medium growth
- Temporary residents: 2,031,132 as of Jan 1, 2023
Migration and Vital Statistics Interpretation
Canada's population story is one of vibrant, policy-driven international infusion gracefully compensating for a domestic cradle that's becoming increasingly economical.
Population Size and Growth
- Canada's population reached 40,097,761 on July 1, 2023, reflecting a quarterly growth of 0.6% or 240,618 people
- In 2023, Canada's annual population growth rate was 3.2%, the highest since 1957, driven mainly by international migration
- Canada's population density is 4.24 people per square kilometer as of 2023
- From 2022 to 2023, Canada's population grew by 1,272,609 people, reaching 40,097,761
- Canada's population in 1960 was 17,992,000, growing to 38,781,291 by 2022 at an average annual rate of 1.3%
- As of 2024 estimates, Canada's population is approximately 40,769,890
- Canada's population growth from 2018 to 2023 averaged 1.8% annually
- In Q4 2022, Canada's population increased by 172,351 to 39,566,248
- Canada's population on January 1, 2024, was 40,769,890, up 616,129 from previous year
- Population growth rate peaked at 3.23% in 2023
- From 1971 to 2021, population doubled from 21.6 million to 38.2 million (adjusted)
- Q1 2024 quarterly growth was 0.6%, adding 240,000 people
- Projected population to reach 41 million by mid-2024
- 1991 population was 28,120,085
- Growth from non-permanent residents alone was 419,446 in 2023
- Total population in 2001 Census: 30,007,094
- 2016 Census population: 35,151,728
- 2011 Census: 33,476,688 residents
Population Size and Growth Interpretation
Canada's population is growing at a pace not seen since the 1950s, proving that the national pastime is no longer hockey but rather enthusiastically rolling out the welcome mat.
Sources & References
- Reference 1STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 2WORLDPOPULATIONREVIEWworldpopulationreview.comVisit source
- Reference 3MACROTRENDSmacrotrends.netVisit source
- Reference 4WORLDOMETERSworldometers.infoVisit source
- Reference 5STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 6STATCANwww12.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 7STATCANstatcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 8POPULATION-PYRAMIDpopulation-pyramid.netVisit source
- Reference 9DATAdata.worldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 10INDEXMUNDIindexmundi.comVisit source
- Reference 11CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 12UNHCRunhcr.orgVisit source