Population Distribution, 2001

View this map

Abstract

The Census counted 30 007 094 people on May 15, 2001, compared with 28 846 761 on May 14, 1996. Urbanization continued in 2001, 79.4% of Canadians lived in an urban centre of 10 000 people or more, compared with 78.5% in 1996. Outside the urban centres, the population of rural and small-town areas declined 0.4%.

In 2001, just over 64% of the nation's population, or about 19 297 000 people, lived in the 27 census metropolitan areas (CMAs), up slightly from 63% in 1996. Seven of these 27 CMAs saw their populations grow at a rate of at least double the national average of 4%. The strongest rise, by far, occurred in Calgary.

From 1996 to 2001, the nation's population further concentrated in four broad urban regions: the extended Golden Horseshoe in southern Ontario; Montréal and environs; British Columbia's Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island; and the Calgary-Edmonton corridor. In 2001, 51% of Canada's population lived in these regions, compared with 49% in 1996.

Source: Adapted from Statistics Canada, Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions, Census Subdivisions (Municipalities) and Designated Places, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% data, Catalogue number 93F0050XDB01003.

The Daily is Statistics Canada's official release bulletin. The Daily for March 12, 2002, marked the public release of this census variable. Highlight tables allowing users to perform simple rank and sort functions with the data at various levels of geography are available for this variable here: Population and Dwelling Counts: Highlight Tables, 2001 Census. Technical notes for this variable can be found at 2001 Census Technical Reports and User Guides.

The text was adapted from Statistics Canada, A profile of the Canadian Population: where we live, Catalogue number 96F00030XIE2001001. Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the wide range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from the Statistic Canada’s Regional Offices, its World Wide Web site at: www.statcan.ca, and its toll-free access number 1-800-263-1136.

Please refer to the following Data and Mapping Notes for information on how the map was derived.