Canada’s population exceeded 40 million in 2023, growing at its fastest annual rate since 1957. This growth is uneven, concentrated in major cities and driven primarily by international migration.
Key Takeaways
- Canada's median age in 2023 was 41.1 years, indicating an aging population
- South Asian origins were reported by 2,571,400 people or 7.1% in 2021 Census
- Ontario holds 38.6% of Canada's population with 14,223,942 residents in 2021 Census
- Net international migration contributed 1,051,405 to population growth from 2022-2023
- Canada's population reached 40,097,761 on July 1, 2023, reflecting a quarterly growth of 0.6% or 240,618 people
Canada’s population is steadily growing, driven by immigration and contributing to a younger demographic profile.
Related reading
01 · Category
Age Structure22 stats
01
Canada's median age in 2023 was 41.1 years, indicating an aging population
02
In 2021 Census, 19.4% of Canadians were aged 65 and over, totaling 7,410,705 people
03
Children under 15 made up 15.7% of Canada's population in 2021, about 5,902,295 individuals
04
The 0-14 age group in Canada numbered 6,066,498 in 2022, representing 15.5% of total population
05
Working-age population (15-64) comprised 66.5% or 25,817,568 people in 2021 Census
06
Females aged 85+ numbered 257,425 in 2021, 2.1 times more than males at 121,950
07
Life expectancy at birth for females was 82.1 years in 2022, for males 78.0 years
08
26.0% of Canada's population was between 20-39 years old in 2023 estimates
09
Seniors (65+) grew from 16.9% in 2016 to 19.0% in 2021 Census
10
Youth (15-24) dependency ratio was 12.5% in 2021
11
In 2021, 5.8 million Canadians were aged 0-14, adjusted for undercount
12
Canada's old-age dependency ratio reached 29.7% in 2023
13
Age 0-4: 1,704,270 males, 1,626,705 females in 2021
14
5-9 years: 1,760,110 males, 1,675,210 females in 2021 Census
15
10-14: 1,740,785 males, 1,654,660 females in 2021
16
15-19: 1,725,915 males, 1,645,385 females
17
20-24: 1,705,195 males, 1,640,670 females in 2021
18
65-69: 1,315,655 males, 1,477,740 females in 2021 Census
19
70-74: 1,017,670 males, 1,224,580 females
20
75-79: 635,580 males, 849,095 females in 2021
21
80-84: 380,745 males, 570,740 females
22
Proportion 65+ expected to rise to 23% by 2030
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Ethnic Composition20 stats
01
South Asian origins were reported by 2,571,400 people or 7.1% in 2021 Census
02
English origins totaled 14,355,555 or 39.6% in 2021 Census
03
Indigenous peoples comprised 5.0% or 1,902,605 in 2021 Census
04
Chinese origins were 1,715,770 or 4.7% in 2021
05
Visible minorities made up 26.5% of population in 2021 Census, totaling 9,639,730
06
Scottish origins reported by 4,799,005 or 13.2% in 2021
07
Black population was 1,547,870 or 4.3% in 2021 Census
08
Filipino origins numbered 957,355 or 2.6% in 2021
09
Irish origins totaled 4,627,000 or 12.8% in 2021 Census
10
French origins were 4,467,385 or 12.3% in 2021
11
Indian origins: 1,858,755 or 5.1% in 2021 Census
12
German origins: 3,032,410 or 8.4%
13
Dutch origins: 1,190,195 or 3.3% in 2021
14
Ukrainian: 1,334,710 or 3.7%
15
Italian: 1,508,870 or 4.2% in 2021 Census
16
First Nations: 1,048,405 or 2.9% of total population in 2021
17
Métis: 624,220 or 1.7%
18
Inuit: 70,545 or 0.2% in 2021 Census
19
Arab origins: 694,015 or 1.9%
20
Latin American: 580,235 or 1.6% in 2021
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Geographic Distribution21 stats
01
Ontario holds 38.6% of Canada's population with 14,223,942 residents in 2021 Census
02
Quebec's population was 8,501,833 or 23.3% in 2021 Census
03
British Columbia had 5,000,879 people, 13.7% of total in 2021
04
Alberta's population reached 4,262,635 or 11.7% in 2021 Census
05
Urban population in Canada is 81.9% or about 32,000,000 in 2023
06
Toronto CMA population was 6,202,225 in 2021 Census, largest in Canada
07
Montreal CMA had 4,291,732 residents in 2021
08
Vancouver CMA population 2,642,825 in 2021 Census
09
Rural population is 18.1% or roughly 7,200,000 in 2023 estimates
10
Calgary CMA grew to 1,481,806 in 2021
11
Manitoba population: 1,342,153 or 3.7% in 2021 Census
12
Saskatchewan: 1,132,505 or 3.1%
13
Nova Scotia: 969,383 or 2.7%
14
New Brunswick: 775,610 or 2.1%
15
Newfoundland and Labrador: 510,550 or 1.4%
16
Prince Edward Island: 154,331 or 0.4%
17
Northwest Territories: 41,070 or 0.1%
18
Yukon: 40,232 or 0.1%
19
Nunavut: 36,858 or 0.1% in 2021 Census
20
Ottawa-Gatineau CMA: 1,488,307 in 2021
21
Edmonton CMA: 1,418,118 in 2021 Census
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Migration and Vital Statistics18 stats
01
Net international migration contributed 1,051,405 to population growth from 2022-2023
02
Permanent residents admitted: 437,539 in 2022, highest on record
03
Crude birth rate was 9.64 per 1,000 in 2022
04
Total fertility rate dropped to 1.33 children per woman in 2022
05
Crude death rate was 7.45 per 1,000 population in 2022
06
Immigrants accounted for 23.0% of population in 2021 Census, 8,361,505 people
07
Non-permanent residents surged to 2,283,815 by Q1 2024
08
Natural increase (births minus deaths) was 98,598 in 2022
09
405,303 permanent residents targeted for 2021-2023 immigration levels
10
Net migration to Ontario: 144,226 in 2022-2023
11
Births totaled 351,679 in 2022, down 3.7% from 2021
12
Deaths: 307,133 in 2022, up 10.9% from prior year
13
Infant mortality rate: 4.4 per 1,000 live births in 2022
14
Refugees resettled: 23,911 in 2022
15
Emigrants: 84,665 in 2022
16
Interprovincial migrants: 353,000 in 2022, net to AB +35,000
17
Population projection to 42.9 million by 2041 under medium growth
18
Temporary residents: 2,031,132 as of Jan 1, 2023
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Population Size and Growth18 stats
01
Canada's population reached 40,097,761 on July 1, 2023, reflecting a quarterly growth of 0.6% or 240,618 people
02
In 2023, Canada's annual population growth rate was 3.2%, the highest since 1957, driven mainly by international migration
03
Canada's population density is 4.24 people per square kilometer as of 2023
04
From 2022 to 2023, Canada's population grew by 1,272,609 people, reaching 40,097,761
05
Canada's population in 1960 was 17,992,000, growing to 38,781,291 by 2022 at an average annual rate of 1.3%
06
As of 2024 estimates, Canada's population is approximately 40,769,890
07
Canada's population growth from 2018 to 2023 averaged 1.8% annually
08
In Q4 2022, Canada's population increased by 172,351 to 39,566,248
09
Canada's population on January 1, 2024, was 40,769,890, up 616,129 from previous year
10
Population growth rate peaked at 3.23% in 2023
11
From 1971 to 2021, population doubled from 21.6 million to 38.2 million (adjusted)
12
Q1 2024 quarterly growth was 0.6%, adding 240,000 people
13
Projected population to reach 41 million by mid-2024
14
1991 population was 28,120,085
15
Growth from non-permanent residents alone was 419,446 in 2023
16
Total population in 2001 Census: 30,007,094
17
2016 Census population: 35,151,728
18
2011 Census: 33,476,688 residents
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Canada Population Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canada-population-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Canada Population Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/canada-population-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Canada Population Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canada-population-statistics.
Sources & references
12 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level