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What Was the Population of Canada Throughout Its History?
L. S. Wynn
L. S. Wynn
The population of Canada has continued to increase for the last 150 years. Currently, the Canadian census is conducted every five years, but we have posted the historical populations at the beginning of each decade dating back to 1861. The population in Canada is expected to continue growing, but at a slower rate, as shown by the projections for 2011 and 2021.
Canada's population growth is attributable to immigration and to the birth rate exceeding the death rate. In the most recent Census, for example, the difference between the birth and death rates (natural increase) was 653,000 and the difference between immigration and emigration (net international migration) was 781,000. These two factors combined for an increase of almost 1.5 million new Canadian inhabitants between 1996 and 2001.
| year | population | |
| 2021 | 35,382,000 |  |
| 2011 | 33,362,000 | |
| 2001 | 31,111,000 |  |
| 1991 | 28,031,000 | |
| 1981 | 24,820,000 | |
| 1971 | 21,568,000 | |
| 1961 | 18,238,000 | |
| 1951 | 13,648,000 | |
| 1941 | 11,507,000 | |
| 1931 | 10,377,000 | |
| 1921 | 8,788,000 | |
| 1911 | 7,207,000 | |
| 1901 | 5,371,000 | |
| 1891 | 4,833,000 | |
| 1881 | 4,325,000 | |
| 1871 | 3,689,000 | |
| 1861 | 3,230,000 | |
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![As of 2011, Canada had a population of 33 million people.]()
By: AnnaAs of 2011, Canada had a population of 33 million people.
Discussion Comments
Cool. Anyone know the population of New France in the 1640s?
Of course. Most of the population lives along the southern border. Similarly, Australia is huge but has a huge desert as its interior. Most of the population lives on or near the coast.
Canada is a country of vast distances. It is the second largest country in the world. It must be the extreme cold that keeps the population relatively low for such a large country.
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