2016 Census: Everything you need to know about Canada's population change
Population data from Canada’s 2016 Census has been released today, highlighting just how much the country has grown since 2011.
All data being released is up to date as of Census Day, May 10, 2016.
Since 2011, the population of Canada has increased by 1.7 million (5%) with a total number of 35,151,728 Canadians counted in the Census.
Stats Can
That’s 10 times what the country’s population was in 1871, when the first Census after confederation took place and counted 3.5 million Canadians. It’s also just over 15 million more people than there were in 1966, just as the country was about to celebrate our centennial anniversary with 20 million Canadians across the country.
Two-thirds of Canada’s growth over the past five years can be attributed to migratory increase (the difference between the number of immigrants and emigrants) while the remaining third is the result of natural increase (the difference between the number of births and deaths).
Here are the 20 census metropolitan areas (CMAs) with the highest population growth rate in Canada between 2011 and 2016:
Stat Can
2016 Census Fast Facts:
- Nunavut was the fastest growing province or territory in the country, while Alberta was a close second
- Nearly one-third of Canadians live in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia
- Three in five Canadians live in Quebec and Ontario
- Canada had the fastest growing population of any G7 country between 2011 and 2016
- 66% of Canadians live within 100 kilometres of the southern Canada–US border
- According to population projections, Canada could reach 40 million people by 2031
- Population growth in Canada over the past 5 years tended to be higher in Western Canada and lower in Eastern Canada
- More than one-third of all Canadians live in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver
And here you’ll find the population size and growth rate in Canada and the provinces and territories between 2011 and 2016:
Stats Can