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
Driven primarily by robust immigration policies, Canada's population is projected to surpass 43 million by 2026, continuing its trajectory as one of the fastest-growing nations in the developed world.
Age Structure
1Canada's median age in 2023 was 41.1 years, indicating an aging population
Verified2In 2021 Census, 19.4% of Canadians were aged 65 and over, totaling 7,410,705 people
Verified3Children under 15 made up 15.7% of Canada's population in 2021, about 5,902,295 individuals
Verified4The 0-14 age group in Canada numbered 6,066,498 in 2022, representing 15.5% of total population
Directional5Working-age population (15-64) comprised 66.5% or 25,817,568 people in 2021 Census
Single source6Females aged 85+ numbered 257,425 in 2021, 2.1 times more than males at 121,950
Verified7Life expectancy at birth for females was 82.1 years in 2022, for males 78.0 years
Verified826.0% of Canada's population was between 20-39 years old in 2023 estimates
Verified9Seniors (65+) grew from 16.9% in 2016 to 19.0% in 2021 Census
Directional10Youth (15-24) dependency ratio was 12.5% in 2021
Single source11In 2021, 5.8 million Canadians were aged 0-14, adjusted for undercount
Verified12Canada's old-age dependency ratio reached 29.7% in 2023
Verified13Age 0-4: 1,704,270 males, 1,626,705 females in 2021
Verified145-9 years: 1,760,110 males, 1,675,210 females in 2021 Census
Directional1510-14: 1,740,785 males, 1,654,660 females in 2021
Single source1615-19: 1,725,915 males, 1,645,385 females
Verified1720-24: 1,705,195 males, 1,640,670 females in 2021
Verified1865-69: 1,315,655 males, 1,477,740 females in 2021 Census
Verified1970-74: 1,017,670 males, 1,224,580 females
Directional2075-79: 635,580 males, 849,095 females in 2021
Single source2180-84: 380,745 males, 570,740 females
Verified22Proportion 65+ expected to rise to 23% by 2030
VerifiedAge 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
1South Asian origins were reported by 2,571,400 people or 7.1% in 2021 Census
Verified2English origins totaled 14,355,555 or 39.6% in 2021 Census
Verified3Indigenous peoples comprised 5.0% or 1,902,605 in 2021 Census
Verified4Chinese origins were 1,715,770 or 4.7% in 2021
Directional5Visible minorities made up 26.5% of population in 2021 Census, totaling 9,639,730
Single source6Scottish origins reported by 4,799,005 or 13.2% in 2021
Verified7Black population was 1,547,870 or 4.3% in 2021 Census
Verified8Filipino origins numbered 957,355 or 2.6% in 2021
Verified9Irish origins totaled 4,627,000 or 12.8% in 2021 Census
Directional10French origins were 4,467,385 or 12.3% in 2021
Single source11Indian origins: 1,858,755 or 5.1% in 2021 Census
Verified12German origins: 3,032,410 or 8.4%
Verified13Dutch origins: 1,190,195 or 3.3% in 2021
Verified14Ukrainian: 1,334,710 or 3.7%
Directional15Italian: 1,508,870 or 4.2% in 2021 Census
Single source16First Nations: 1,048,405 or 2.9% of total population in 2021
Verified17Métis: 624,220 or 1.7%
Verified18Inuit: 70,545 or 0.2% in 2021 Census
Verified19Arab origins: 694,015 or 1.9%
Directional20Latin American: 580,235 or 1.6% in 2021
Single sourceEthnic 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
1Ontario holds 38.6% of Canada's population with 14,223,942 residents in 2021 Census
Verified2Quebec's population was 8,501,833 or 23.3% in 2021 Census
Verified3British Columbia had 5,000,879 people, 13.7% of total in 2021
Verified4Alberta's population reached 4,262,635 or 11.7% in 2021 Census
Directional5Urban population in Canada is 81.9% or about 32,000,000 in 2023
Single source6Toronto CMA population was 6,202,225 in 2021 Census, largest in Canada
Verified7Montreal CMA had 4,291,732 residents in 2021
Verified8Vancouver CMA population 2,642,825 in 2021 Census
Verified9Rural population is 18.1% or roughly 7,200,000 in 2023 estimates
Directional10Calgary CMA grew to 1,481,806 in 2021
Single source11Manitoba population: 1,342,153 or 3.7% in 2021 Census
Verified12Saskatchewan: 1,132,505 or 3.1%
Verified13Nova Scotia: 969,383 or 2.7%
Verified14New Brunswick: 775,610 or 2.1%
Directional15Newfoundland and Labrador: 510,550 or 1.4%
Single source16Prince Edward Island: 154,331 or 0.4%
Verified17Northwest Territories: 41,070 or 0.1%
Verified18Yukon: 40,232 or 0.1%
Verified19Nunavut: 36,858 or 0.1% in 2021 Census
Directional20Ottawa-Gatineau CMA: 1,488,307 in 2021
Single source21Edmonton CMA: 1,418,118 in 2021 Census
VerifiedGeographic 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
1Net international migration contributed 1,051,405 to population growth from 2022-2023
Verified2Permanent residents admitted: 437,539 in 2022, highest on record
Verified3Crude birth rate was 9.64 per 1,000 in 2022
Verified4Total fertility rate dropped to 1.33 children per woman in 2022
Directional5Crude death rate was 7.45 per 1,000 population in 2022
Single source6Immigrants accounted for 23.0% of population in 2021 Census, 8,361,505 people
Verified7Non-permanent residents surged to 2,283,815 by Q1 2024
Verified8Natural increase (births minus deaths) was 98,598 in 2022
Verified9405,303 permanent residents targeted for 2021-2023 immigration levels
Directional10Net migration to Ontario: 144,226 in 2022-2023
Single source11Births totaled 351,679 in 2022, down 3.7% from 2021
Verified12Deaths: 307,133 in 2022, up 10.9% from prior year
Verified13Infant mortality rate: 4.4 per 1,000 live births in 2022
Verified14Refugees resettled: 23,911 in 2022
Directional15Emigrants: 84,665 in 2022
Single source16Interprovincial migrants: 353,000 in 2022, net to AB +35,000
Verified17Population projection to 42.9 million by 2041 under medium growth
Verified18Temporary residents: 2,031,132 as of Jan 1, 2023
VerifiedMigration 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
1Canada's population reached 40,097,761 on July 1, 2023, reflecting a quarterly growth of 0.6% or 240,618 people
Verified2In 2023, Canada's annual population growth rate was 3.2%, the highest since 1957, driven mainly by international migration
Verified3Canada's population density is 4.24 people per square kilometer as of 2023
Verified4From 2022 to 2023, Canada's population grew by 1,272,609 people, reaching 40,097,761
Directional5Canada's population in 1960 was 17,992,000, growing to 38,781,291 by 2022 at an average annual rate of 1.3%
Single source6As of 2024 estimates, Canada's population is approximately 40,769,890
Verified7Canada's population growth from 2018 to 2023 averaged 1.8% annually
Verified8In Q4 2022, Canada's population increased by 172,351 to 39,566,248
Verified9Canada's population on January 1, 2024, was 40,769,890, up 616,129 from previous year
Directional10Population growth rate peaked at 3.23% in 2023
Single source11From 1971 to 2021, population doubled from 21.6 million to 38.2 million (adjusted)
Verified12Q1 2024 quarterly growth was 0.6%, adding 240,000 people
Verified13Projected population to reach 41 million by mid-2024
Verified141991 population was 28,120,085
Directional15Growth from non-permanent residents alone was 419,446 in 2023
Single source16Total population in 2001 Census: 30,007,094
Verified172016 Census population: 35,151,728
Verified182011 Census: 33,476,688 residents
VerifiedPopulation 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