List of the largest population centres in Canada

Last updated

Canada population density map (2014) Population density statistics canada.gif
Canada population density map (2014)

A population centre, in the context of a Canadian census, is a populated place, or a cluster of interrelated populated places, which meets the demographic characteristics of an urban area, having a population of at least 1,000 people and a population density of no fewer than 400 people per square km2. [1]

Contents

The term was introduced in the Canada 2011 Census; prior to that, Statistics Canada used the term urban area. [1]

Statistics Canada listed 944 population centres in its 2011 census data; 513 of them, 54 per cent of all population centres in Canada, were located in Ontario or Quebec, the two most populous provinces.

History

The term "population centre" was chosen in order to better reflect the fact that urban vs. rural is not a strict division, but rather a continuum within which several distinct settlement patterns, and several competing interpretations of the distinction, may exist. [1] For example, a community may fit a strictly statistical definition of an urban area, but may not be commonly thought of as "urban" because it has a smaller population, or because it functions socially and economically as a suburb of another urban area rather than as a self-contained urban entity, or because it is geographically remote from other urban communities. Municipal boundaries are ignored in determining population centres and they are focused entirely on their geographic and built-up nature.

Accordingly, the new definition set out three distinct types of population centres: small (population 1,000 to 29,999), medium (population 30,000 to 99,999) and large (population 100,000 or greater). [1] Despite the change in terminology, however, the demographic definition of a population centre remains unchanged from that of an urban area: a population of at least 1,000 people where the density is no fewer than 400 persons per square kilometre.

Characteristics

A population centre does not necessarily correspond to the boundaries of a municipality or of a census division. For example, a less densely populated area within a city's municipal boundaries may not be included as part of its population centre, while areas outside the city limits that directly continue a city's urban core population may be included.

Canada population density map Canada Population Density, 2000 (5457618262).jpg
Canada population density map

For example, the population centre of Toronto extends into neighbouring Peel Region, Halton Region, Durham Region and York Region, encompassing places such as Oakville, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Newmarket, Pickering and Ajax. Despite this, numerous other communities which are considered part of the Greater Toronto Area for political purposes are not part of the population centre of Toronto; because more rural areas separate them geographically from the primary zone of urban settlement, communities such as Milton, Georgetown, Caledon East, Bolton, Nobleton, and Stouffville instead form their own separate small or medium population centres, [2] and even a portion of the city of Toronto itself, to the north and east of the Toronto Zoo in Scarborough, is excluded from the population centre as it is much less densely populated than the rest of the city.

However, the Statistics Canada definition of a population centre is that it does not cross the boundaries of a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA); even though the band of continuous urban development emanating outward from downtown Toronto along the shore of Lake Ontario extends even further into Hamilton and Oshawa, these two cities are both considered separate CMAs by Statistics Canada rather than being part of Toronto's, and accordingly each is also considered a distinct population centre.

Conversely, a single municipality may also contain more than one distinct population centre, if less densely populated or undeveloped regions separate more urbanized areas from one another. For example, Ottawa has seven distinct population centres (Ottawa-Gatineau, Constance Bay, Kanata, Richmond, Osgoode, Manotick and Metcalfe), [3] the neighbouring city of Gatineau has a secondary population centre at Buckingham in addition to its primary urban core forming part of Ottawa-Gatineau, and Greater Sudbury has eight distinct population centres (Sudbury, Azilda, Capreol, Chelmsford, Coniston, Dowling, Lively and Valley East). [4]

For actual "city limits" populations, see List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, and for metropolitan area populations, see List of metropolitan areas in Canada.

Lists

By population rank

RankPopulation centre [5] Province [5] Size group [5] Population (2021) [5] Population (2016) [5] Change [5] Land area (km2) [5] Population density (/km2) [5]
1 Toronto Ontario Large urban5,647,6565,433,590+3.9%1,829.05
2 Montreal Quebec Large urban3,675,2193,528,651+4.2%1,382.47
3 Vancouver British Columbia Large urban2,426,1602,268,864+6.9%911.64
4 Calgary Alberta Large urban1,305,5501,240,413+5.3%621.72
5 Edmonton Alberta Large urban1,151,6351,070,998+7.5%627.2
6 Ottawa–Gatineau Ontario / Quebec Large urban1,068,821994,576+7.5%549.49
7 Winnipeg Manitoba Large urban758,515712,858+6.4%356.99
8 Quebec City Quebec Large urban733,156708,280+3.5%442.85
9 Hamilton Ontario Large urban729,560693,362+5.2%356.03
10 Kitchener Ontario Large urban522,888473,230+10.5%296.45
11 London Ontario Large urban423,369384,784+10.0%244.97
12 Victoria British Columbia Large urban363,222337,235+7.7%222.71
13 Halifax Nova Scotia Large urban348,634317,334+9.9%238.29
14 Oshawa Ontario Large urban335,949309,759+8.5%159.79
15 Windsor Ontario Large urban306,519288,363+6.3%184.96
16 Saskatoon Saskatchewan Large urban264,637245,904+7.6%134.63
17 St. CatharinesNiagara Falls Ontario Large urban242,460229,776+5.5%140.59
18 Regina Saskatchewan Large urban224,996214,664+4.8%105.61
19 St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador Large urban185,565181,955+2.0%178
20 Kelowna British Columbia Large urban181,380160,095+13.3%168.92
21 Barrie Ontario Large urban154,676146,394+5.7%95.33
22 Sherbrooke Quebec Large urban151,157140,300+7.7%102.61
23 Guelph Ontario Large urban144,356132,705+8.8%79.57
24 Kanata Ontario Large urban137,118118,308+15.9%62.35
25 Abbotsford British Columbia Large urban132,300122,163+8.3%71.2
26 Trois-Rivières Quebec Large urban128,057124,158+3.1%98.58
27 Kingston Ontario Large urban127,943119,061+7.5%83.43
28 Milton Ontario Large urban124,579101,885+22.3%45.2
29 Moncton New Brunswick Large urban119,785109,075+9.8%110.73
30 White Rock British Columbia Large urban109,16793,811+16.4%54.23
31 Nanaimo British Columbia Large urban106,07996,415+10.0%86.76
32 Brantford Ontario Large urban104,41398,250+6.3%62.13
33 ChicoutimiJonquière Quebec Large urban103,934104,741−0.8%94.56
34 Saint-Jérôme Quebec Large urban100,85991,205+10.6%96.97
35 Red Deer Alberta Medium99,84699,773+0.1%65.93
36 Thunder Bay Ontario Medium95,26694,767+0.5%76.03
37 Lethbridge Alberta Medium92,56389,309+3.6%64
38 Kamloops British Columbia Medium92,44285,702+7.9%74.35
39 Sudbury Ontario Medium92,09388,155+4.5%75.79
40 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Quebec Medium88,08385,022+3.6%53.8
41 Peterborough Ontario Medium84,79382,149+3.2%54.58
42 Chilliwack British Columbia Medium81,62273,171+11.5%56.02
43 Châteauguay Quebec Medium75,89171,164+6.6%50.48
44 Belleville Ontario Medium75,05268,859+9.0%89.48
45 Sarnia Ontario Medium73,94473,403+0.7%60.53
46 Airdrie Alberta Medium73,57861,082+20.5%33.03
47 Drummondville Quebec Medium72,08968,634+5.0%52.3
48 WellandPelham Ontario Medium69,30263,011+10.0%57.21
49 Fort McMurray Alberta Medium68,00267,123+1.3%52.17
50 Prince George British Columbia Medium67,33966,315+1.5%73.9
51 Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Medium64,92366,313−2.1%52.97
52 Fredericton New Brunswick Medium64,61461,014+5.9%89.6
53 Saint John New Brunswick Medium63,44761,152+3.8%70.05
54 Medicine Hat Alberta Medium63,38263,111+0.4%53.2
55 Grande Prairie Alberta Medium63,17262,382+1.3%49.74
56 Granby Quebec Medium62,62459,706+4.9%48.39
57 BowmanvilleNewcastle Ontario Medium56,74248,929+16.0%31.23
58 Beloeil Quebec Medium52,95951,132+3.6%26.5
59 Charlottetown Prince Edward Island Medium52,39048,054+9.0%57.56
60 Vernon British Columbia Medium51,89648,425+7.2%51.16
61 North Bay Ontario Medium51,43350,396+2.1%64.91
62 Saint-Hyacinthe Quebec Medium50,61650,104+1.0%30.8
63 Brandon Manitoba Medium50,53248,345+4.5%28.73
64 Joliette Quebec Medium49,24646,277+6.4%39.03
65 Courtenay British Columbia Medium48,91745,314+8.0%56.58
66 Cornwall Ontario Medium47,28646,114+2.5%32.4
67 Victoriaville Quebec Medium46,32244,735+3.5%35.27
68 Woodstock Ontario Medium46,29640,614+14.0%34.41
69 St. Thomas Ontario Medium45,73241,834+9.3%28.1
70 Chatham Ontario Medium45,17143,550+3.7%31.21
71 Georgetown Ontario Medium44,05842,326+4.1%25.7
72 Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Quebec Medium41,65539,655+5.0%33.93
73 Spruce Grove Alberta Medium39,34836,279+8.5%29.76
74 Shawinigan Quebec Medium38,93038,695+0.6%31.77
75 Rimouski Quebec Medium38,70838,478+0.6%27.79
76 Bradford Ontario Medium38,12830,765+23.9%16.1
77 Campbell River British Columbia Medium38,10835,440+7.5%33
78 Penticton British Columbia Medium36,89333,899+8.8%25.84
79 Prince Albert Saskatchewan Medium36,76835,102+4.7%21.37
80 Stouffville Ontario Medium36,75332,634+12.6%14.17
81 Sorel Quebec Medium36,65036,365+0.8%30.61
82 Mission British Columbia Medium36,19333,713+7.4%27.23
83 Leamington Ontario Medium35,73033,049+8.1%31.77
84 Orangeville Ontario Medium34,17732,318+5.8%19.77
85 Leduc Alberta Medium33,50529,561+13.3%67.43
86 Orillia Ontario Medium33,37931,128+7.2%22.68
87 Stratford Ontario Medium32,87831,094+5.7%23.3
88 Moose Jaw Saskatchewan Medium32,81332,993−0.5%22.14
89 Cochrane Alberta Medium31,63825,501+24.1%23.71
90 Lloydminster Alberta / Saskatchewan Medium31,58231,400+0.6%24.43
91 Cape BretonSydney Nova Scotia Medium30,96030,170+2.6%30.91
92 Okotoks Alberta Medium30,21428,833+4.8%17.23
93 Innisfil Ontario Small29,46424,277+21.4%23.71
94 Timmins Ontario Small28,87429,331−1.6%18.49
95 Saint-Georges Quebec Small27,40227,103+1.1%27.09
96 Parksville British Columbia Small27,33025,364+7.8%27.45
97 KeswickElmhurst Beach Ontario Small27,14526,999+0.5%16.56
98 Fort Saskatchewan Alberta Small26,83123,944+12.1%21.85
99 Bolton Ontario Small26,79526,378+1.6%20.71
100 Midland Ontario Small26,24624,443+7.4%27.41

By province or territory

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan area</span> Administrative unit of a dense urban core and its satellite cities

A metropolitan area or metro is a region consisting of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories which share industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metropolitan area usually comprises multiple principal cities, jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships, boroughs, cities, towns, exurbs, suburbs, counties, districts and even states and nations in areas like the eurodistricts. As social, economic and political institutions have changed, metropolitan areas have become key economic and political regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gatineau</span> City in Quebec, Canada

Gatineau is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the northern bank of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario. Gatineau is the largest city in the Outaouais administrative region of Quebec and is also part of Canada's National Capital Region. As of 2021, Gatineau is the fourth-largest city in Quebec with a population of 291,041, and it is part of the Ottawa-Gatineau census metropolitan area with a population of 1,488,307 making it the fourth largest in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Ontario</span> Primary Region in Ontario, Canada

Northern Ontario is a primary geographic and quasi-administrative region of the Canadian province of Ontario, the other primary region being Southern Ontario. Most of the core geographic region is located on part of the Superior Geological Province of the Canadian Shield, a vast rocky plateau located mainly north of Lake Huron, the French River, Lake Nipissing, and the Mattawa River. The statistical region extends south of the Mattawa River to include all of the District of Nipissing. The southern section of this district lies on part of the Grenville Geological Province of the Shield which occupies the transitional area between Northern and Southern Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conurbation</span> Group of settlements linked by continuous urban area

A conurbation is a region comprising a number of metropolises, cities, large towns, and other urban areas which, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban or industrially developed area. In most cases, a conurbation is a polycentric urbanised area in which transportation has developed to link areas. They create a single urban labour market or travel to work area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Toronto Area</span> Metropolitan area in Ontario, Canada

The Greater Toronto Area, commonly referred to as the GTA, includes the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel, and York. In total, the region contains 25 urban, suburban, and rural municipalities. The Greater Toronto Area begins in Burlington in Halton Region to the west, and extends along Lake Ontario past downtown Toronto eastward to Clarington in Durham Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Canada</span> Region of Eastern Canada

Central Canada is a Canadian region consisting of Ontario and Quebec, the largest and most populous provinces of the country. Geographically, they are not at the centre of Canada but instead overlap with Eastern Canada toward the east. Because of their large populations, Ontario and Quebec have traditionally held a significant amount of political power in Canada, leading to some amount of resentment from other regions of the country. Before Confederation, the term "Canada" specifically referred to Central Canada. Today, the term "Central Canada" is less often used than the names of the individual provinces.

A regional municipality is a type of Canadian municipal government similar to and at the same municipal government level as a county, although the specific structure and servicing responsibilities may vary from place to place. Regional municipalities were formed in highly populated areas where it was considered more efficient to provide certain services, such as water, emergency services, and waste management over an area encompassing more than one local municipality. For this reason, regions may be involved in providing services to residents and businesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Ontario</span> Primary region in Ontario, Canada

Southern Ontario is a primary region of the Canadian province of Ontario. It is the most densely populated and southernmost region in Canada, with approximately 13.5 million people, approximately 36% of Canada's population of 37 million. The region lies south of the province's other primary region, Northern Ontario, although the exact northern boundary of Southern Ontario is disputed. However, its core region is situated south of Algonquin Park, the latter being in an area of transition between coniferous forest north of the French and Mattawa Rivers and southern deciduous forest. It covers between 14 and 15% of the province, depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts which also lie in the transitional area between northern and southern forest regions. Southern Ontario differs greatly from Northern Ontario, having a much higher population density, a different climate, and a different culture than its northern counterpart. It is broken into smaller subregions, including Central Ontario, Eastern Ontario, the Golden Horseshoe, and Southwestern Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Census geographic units of Canada</span> Term used in Canada

The census geographic units of Canada are the census subdivisions defined and used by Canada's federal government statistics bureau Statistics Canada to conduct the country's quinquennial census. These areas exist solely for the purposes of statistical analysis and presentation; they have no government of their own. They exist on four levels: the top-level (first-level) divisions are Canada's provinces and territories; these are divided into second-level census divisions, which in turn are divided into third-level census subdivisions and fourth-level dissemination areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capreol</span> Community in Ontario, Canada

Capreol is a community in the Ontario city of Greater Sudbury. Situated on the Vermilion River, Capreol is the city's northernmost populated area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urban area</span> Human settlement with high population density and infrastructure of built environment

An urban area is a human settlement with a high population density and an infrastructure of built environment. This is the core of a metropolitan statistical area in the United States, if it contains a population of more than 50,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Capital Region (Canada)</span> Metropolitan area in Canada

The National Capital Region (NCR), also known as Canada's Capital Region and Ottawa–Gatineau, is an official federal designation encompassing the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario, the adjacent city of Gatineau, Quebec, and surrounding suburban and exurban areas. Despite its designation, the NCR is not a separate political or administrative entity and falls within the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quebec City–Windsor Corridor</span> Region in Canada

The Quebec City–Windsor Corridor is the most densely populated and heavily industrialized region of Canada. As its name suggests, the 1,150 km (710 mi)-long region extends from Quebec City in the northeast and Windsor, Ontario in the southwest. With more than 18 million people, it contains about half of the country's population and seven of Canada's 12 largest metropolitan areas, 3 of which are in the top 4. Its relative importance to Canada's economic and political infrastructure renders it akin to the Northeast megalopolis in the United States. The name was first popularized by Via Rail, which runs frequent passenger rail service in the region in its service area known as "The Corridor".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "From urban areas to population centres". Statistics Canada. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  2. "Map: Toronto (Population Centre), Ontario". Statistics Canada, February 1, 2012.
  3. Map: Ottawa - Gatineau (Population Centre), Ontario. Statistics Canada, February 1, 2012.
  4. Map: Sudbury (Population Centre), Ontario. Statistics Canada, February 1, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.