List of largest Canadian cities by census explained
This is a list of the largest cities in Canada by census starting with the 1871 census of Canada, the first national census. Only communities that were incorporated as cities (defined by Statistics Canada as CY, as compared to larger census metropolitan areas (CMA) or census agglomerations (CA) aroundand includingthese CYs) at the time of each census are presented. Therefore, this list does not include any incorporated towns (T) that may have been larger than any incorporated cities at each census.
1871
Rank | City | Province | Population[1] | Notes |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 107,225 | Ranked #2 in 2016. |
align=center | 2 | | Quebec | align=right | 59,699 | Ranked #11 in 2016. |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 56,092 | Ranked #1 in 2016. |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 29,582 | Ranked #14 in 2016 as a regional municipality. |
align=center | 5 | | | align=right | 28,805 | Saint John was incorporated in 1785 to become Canada's first incorporated city.[2] Ranked #83 in 2016. |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 26,716 | Ranked #10 in 2016. |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 21,545 | Ranked #4 in 2016. |
align=center | 8 | | Ontario | align=right | 15,826 | Ranked #15 in 2016. |
align=center | 9 | | New Brunswick | align=right | 12,520 | Portland was a city until 1889, when it amalgamated with Saint John.[3] |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 12,407 | Ranked #43 in 2016. | |
1881
Rank | City | Province | Population[4] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 140,747 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 86,415 |
align=center | 3 | | Quebec | align=right | 62,446 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 36,054 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 35,961 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 27,412 |
align=center | 7 | | | align=right | 26,127 |
align=center | 8 | | Ontario | align=right | 19,746 |
align=center | 9 | | New Brunswick | align=right | 15,226 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 14,091 | |
1891
Winnipeg, Manitoba, becomes the first city in Western Canada to appear on the Top 10 list, cutting The Maritimes from three spots on the liston both (all) of the previous censusesto two.
Rank | City | Province | Population[5] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 216,650 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 181,220 |
align=center | 3 | | Quebec | align=right | 63,090 |
align=center | 4 | | Ontario | align=right | 48,980 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 44,154 |
align=center | 6 | | | align=right | 39,179 |
align=center | 7 | | | align=right | 38,556 |
align=center | 8 | | Ontario | align=right | 31,977 |
align=center | 9 | | | align=right | 25,642 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 19,264 | |
1901
Vancouver, British Columbia, becomes the second city in Western Canada to appear on the Top 10 list, cutting Ontario from five spots on the liston all three previous censusesto four.
Rank | City | Province | Population[6] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 267,730 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 208,040 |
align=center | 3 | | Quebec | align=right | 68,840 |
align=center | 4 | | Ontario | align=right | 59,928 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 52,634 |
align=center | 6 | | | align=right | 42,340 |
align=center | 7 | | | align=right | 40,832 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 40,711 |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 37,981 |
align=center | 10 | | | align=right | 26,133 | |
1911
Calgary, Alberta, becomes the third city in Western Canada to appear on the Top 10 list, cutting The Maritimes from two spots on the liston the two most recent previous censusesto one.
Rank | City | Province | Population[7] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 470,480 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 378,538 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 136,035 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 100,401 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 87,701 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 81,969 |
align=center | 7 | | Quebec | align=right | 78,710 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 46,619 |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 46,300 |
align=center | 10 | | | align=right | 43,704 | |
1921
Edmonton, Alberta, becomes the fourth city in Western Canada to appear on the Top 10 list, removing all cities in The Maritimes from the list for the first time as of this sixth national census; The Maritimes have never again placed a city in the Top 10 list. Western Canada's four most populous citiesVancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeghave remained in the Top 10 since 1921, joined briefly in 2001 (only) by Surrey, British Columbia.
Rank | City | Province | Population |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 618,506 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 521,893 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 179,087 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 163,220 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 114,151 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 107,843 |
align=center | 7 | | Quebec | align=right | 95,193 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 63,305 |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 60,959 |
align=center | 10 | | Alberta | align=right | 58,821 | |
1931
Rank | City | Province | Population[8] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 818,517 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 631,207 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 246,593 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 218,784 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 155,547 |
align=center | 6 | | Quebec | align=right | 130,594 |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 126,872 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 83,761 |
align=center | 9 | | Alberta | align=right | 79,197 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 71,148 | |
1941
Rank | City | Province | Population |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 903,007 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 667,567 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 275,353 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 221,960 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 166,337 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 154,951 |
align=center | 7 | | Quebec | align=right | 150,757 |
align=center | 8 | | Ontario | align=right | 105,311 |
align=center | 9 | | | align=right | 93,817 |
align=center | 10 | | Alberta | align=right | 88,904 | |
1951
Rank | City | Province | Population[9] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 1,021,520 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 675,754 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 344,843 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 235,710 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 208,321 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 202,045 |
align=center | 7 | | Quebec | align=right | 164,016 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 159,631 |
align=center | 9 | | Alberta | align=right | 129,060 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 120,040 | |
1956
Rank | City | Province | Population[10] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 1,109,439 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 667,706 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 364,844 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 255,093 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 239,625 |
align=center | 6 | | | align=right | 226,002 |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 222,129 |
align=center | 8 | | Alberta | align=right | 181,780 |
align=center | 9 | | Quebec | align=right | 170,703 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 121,980 | |
1961
Rank | City | Province | Population[11] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 1,191,062 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 672,407 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 384,522 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 281,022 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 273,991 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 268,206 |
align=center | 7 | | | align=right | 265,429 |
align=center | 8 | | Alberta | align=right | 249,632 |
align=center | 9 | | Quebec | align=right | 171,979 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 169,569 | |
1966
Rank | City | Province | Population[12] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 1,225,255 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 664,584 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 410,375 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 376,925 |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 330,575 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 298,121 |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 290,741 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 257,005 |
align=center | 9 | | Quebec | align=right | 196,088 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 194,416 | |
1971
Rank | City | Province | Population[13] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 1,214,351 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 712,786 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 438,152 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 426,256 |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 403,319 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 309,173 |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 302,241 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 246,246 |
align=center | 9 | | Quebec | align=right | 228,010 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 223,222 | |
1976
Rank | City | Province | Population[14] | Notes |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 1,080,546 | |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 633,318 | |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 560,874 | Winnipeg's population more than doubled from 1971, in large part to amalgamation of its surrounding municipalities |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 469,917 | |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 461,361 | |
align=center | 6 | | | align=right | 410,188 | |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 312,003 | |
align=center | 8 | | Ontario | align=right | 304,462 | |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 250,017 | |
align=center | 10 | | Quebec | align=right | 246,243 | | |
1981
After holding two spots on the Top 10 list in all 14 previous censuses, Quebec is reduced to one city on the list. It will briefly return to two positions, in 1996 (19th census) and 2006 (20th census).
Through the 1970s, while a number of Canadian cities suffered population losses, the three Canadian Prairies cities on the Top 10 listCalgary, Edmonton and Winnipegsaw significant growth: the two Alberta cities primarily through consistent net migration, with Winnipeg primarily boosted by amalgamation of its surrounding municipalities prior to the 1976 census.
Rank | City | Province | Population[15] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 980,354 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 599,217 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 592,743 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 564,473 |
align=center | 5 | | Ontario | align=right | 559,521 |
align=center | 6 | | Alberta | align=right | 532,246 |
align=center | 7 | | | align=right | 414,281 |
align=center | 8 | | Ontario | align=right | 315,056 |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 306,434 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 295,033 | |
1986
Rank | City | Province | Population[16] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 1,015,420 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 636,104 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 612,289 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 594,551 |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 573,982 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 556,297 |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 484,676 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 431,147 |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 374,005 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 306,728 | |
1991
Rank | City | Province | Population[17] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 1,017,666 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 710,677 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 635,395 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 616,790 |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 616,741 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 563,270 |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 524,598 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 471,844 |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 463,388 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 318,499 | |
1996
Rank | City | Province | Population[18] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 1,016,376 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 768,082 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 653,734 |
align=center | 4 | | | align=right | 618,477 |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 616,306 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 589,653 |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 558,960 |
align=center | 8 | | Ontario | align=right | 544,382 |
align=center | 9 | | | align=right | 514,008 |
align=center | 10 | | Quebec | align=right | 330,393 | |
2001
Numerous amalgamations took place in Ontario during the 1990s and 2000s that affected city population figures.
A significant change is that, after holding the position of largest city in Canada on all 19 previous censuses, covering the first 129 years of the nation of Canada, Montreal drops to second place on the list, displaced by Toronto. These two cities have maintained the same top two positions on all subsequent censuses.
Rank | City | Province | Population[19] | Notes |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 2,481,494 | Toronto amalgamated with five surrounding municipalities on January 1, 1998.[20] |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 1,039,534 | |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 879,003 | |
align=center | 4 | | Ontario | align=right | 774,072 | Ottawa amalgamated with 11 surrounding municipalities on January 1, 2001. |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 666,104 | |
align=center | 6 | | | align=right | 619,544 | |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 612,000 | |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 545,671 | |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 490,268 | Hamilton amalgamated with six surrounding municipalities on January 1, 2001. |
align=center | 10 | | British Columbia | align=right | 347,825 | | |
2006
A wave of amalgamations took place in Quebec since the previous census, affecting city population figures. In particular, in 2002, both Montreal and Quebec City combined with a number of smaller surrounding cities, though some later chose to leave the amalgamations.
Rank | City | Province | Population[21] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 2,503,281 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 1,620,693 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 988,193 |
align=center | 4 | | Ontario | align=right | 812,129 |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 730,372 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 668,549 |
align=center | 7 | | | align=right | 633,451 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 578,041 |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 504,559 |
align=center | 10 | | Quebec | align=right | 491,452 | |
2011
Rank | City | Province | Population |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 2,615,060 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 1,649,519 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 1,096,833 |
align=center | 4 | | Ontario | align=right | 883,391 |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 821,201 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 713,443 |
align=center | 7 | | | align=right | 663,617 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 603,502 |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 523,911 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 519,949 | |
2016
Rank | City | Province | Population[22] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 2,731,571 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 1,704,694 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 1,239,220 |
align=center | 4 | | Ontario | align=right | 934,243 |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 932,546 |
align=center | 6 | | Ontario | align=right | 721,599 |
align=center | 7 | | | align=right | 705,244 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 631,486 |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 593,638 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 536,917 | |
2021
Rank | City | Province | Population[23] |
---|
align=center | 1 | | | align=right | 2,794,356 |
align=center | 2 | | | align=right | 1,762,949 |
align=center | 3 | | | align=right | 1,306,784 |
align=center | 4 | | Ontario | align=right | 1,017,449 |
align=center | 5 | | Alberta | align=right | 1,010,899 |
align=center | 6 | | | align=right | 749,607 |
align=center | 7 | | Ontario | align=right | 717,961 |
align=center | 8 | | | align=right | 662,248 |
align=center | 9 | | Ontario | align=right | 656,480 |
align=center | 10 | | Ontario | align=right | 569,353 | |
See also
Notes and References
- Book: Census of Canada, 1880-81 . I . Government of Canada . Ottawa . 1882.
- Web site: History of Saint John . City of Saint John . April 3, 2014.
- Web site: Canada's Historic Places: W. A. Chesley Residence . Parks Canada . April 3, 2014.
- Canada Statistical Abstract and Record 1886 . . MacLean, Roger & Co. (as Queen's Printer) . Ottawa . 1886 . Chapter II - Population . 71–75 . 2023-08-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122064306/https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/11-202/CS11-202-1885-eng.pdf . 2022-11-22 . live . [note: each province and territory has its own table, giving Census 1871 and Census 1881 population, broken out by individual "Cities and Towns" and collective "Rural Population"].
- The Statistical Year-Book of Canada for 1892 . George (Statistician) . Johnson . . . Ottawa . June 1893 . Chapter II - Population and Vital Statistics Section - Census of 1891 Population of Cities and Towns in Canada of 5,000 Inhabitants and Upwards, 1881 and 1891 . 97 . 2023-08-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122071542/https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/11-202/CS11-202-1892-eng.pdf . 2022-11-22 . live . [note: Do not use for 1881 data as...] The population in the 1881 column includes the same boundaries as in the 1891 column and consequently differs in these cases, where annexations have taken place since 1881, from the population as given by the Census of 1881.
- The Statistical Year-Book of Canada for 1902 . George (Statistician) . Johnson . . . Ottawa . April 1903 . Census Population of Cities and Towns of 5,000 and above . 87–88 . 2023-08-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122065237/https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/11-202/CS11-202-1902-eng.pdf . 2022-11-22 . live . The following are the cities and towns of the Dominion of Canada having, according to the census of 1901, a population of 5,000 and upwards..
- The Canada Year Book 1912 . . . Ottawa . 1913-07-16 . Chapter III — Production Section 5 - Manufacturers Table 87 – Value of Products of Manufactures, 1890, 1900 and 1910 for Cities and Towns of 10,000 persons and over . 90 . 2023-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122032726/https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/11-202/CS11-202-1912-eng.pdf . 2022-11-22 . live . [note: table is ranked by the displayed population data of the cities].
- The Canada Year Book 1932 . . . Ottawa . 1932 . Chapter IV — Population Section 2 - Rural and Urban Population Table 11 — Populations of Cities and Towns having over 5,000 Inhabitants in 1931, Compared with 1871-81-91-1901-11-31 . 103 . 2023-08-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180919111634/http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1932-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1932/193201410103_p.%20103.pdf . 2018-09-19 . live.
- The Canada Year Book 1955 . . . Ottawa . 1955 . Chapter III — Population Section 6 — Population of Incorporated Urban Centres Table 6 — Incorporated Cities with Populations of over 30,000 at the 1951 Census and Comparable Data for 1941 . 139 . 2023-08-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122023700/https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/11-202/CS11-202-1955-eng.pdf . 2022-11-22 . live.
- Canada Year Book 1957–58 . . . Ottawa . 1958 . Chapter III — Population Section 8 — Population of Incorporated Urban Centres Table 7 — Incorporated Cities with Populations of over 30,000 at the 1956 Census and Comparable Data for 1951 . 125 . 2023-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122023019/https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/11-202/CS11-202-1958-eng.pdf . 2022-11-22 . live.
- Canada Year Book 1967 . . . Ottawa . 1967 . Chapter III — Population Section 1 - Census of Population Subsection 4 — Populations of Incorporated Cities, Towns and Villages and of Metropolitan Areas Table 7 — Incorporated Cities with Populations of Over 50,000 at the 1961 Census, with Comparable Data for 1951 and 1956 . 188 . 2023-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122015752/https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/11-202/CS11-202-1967-eng.pdf . 2022-11-22 . live.
- 1966 Census of Canada - Population . . Ottawa . 1966.
- Canada Year Book 1972 . . Ottawa . 1972.
- 1976 Census of Canada - Population . . Ottawa . 1976.
- Canada Year Book 1988 . . Ottawa . 1988.
- Census Divisions and Subdivisions Population . Table 3: Census Subdivisions in Decreasing Population Order, for Canada, 1986 . 3-1 . 1987 . Ottawa . . 0-660-53450-9 . 2023-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172531/https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/statcan/rh-hc/CS92-101-1987.pdf . 2022-09-20 . live.
- Community Profiles: Census 1991 . . Ottawa . 1991.
- http://datalib.chass.utoronto.ca/inventory/1000/1891.htm#doc
- Web site: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data . 2012-07-04 . . 2014-04-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220527041913/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-N.cfm?T=1&SR=1&S=3&O=D . 2022-05-27 . live . [Note: do not use updated 1996 data from this 2001 table, as it uses adjusted figures due to boundary changes in Ontario done after 1996].
- Web site: Municipal Restructuring Activity Summary Table . 2015-01-24 . 2, 4, 5 . . Ontario . 2023-08-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190719183929/http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=6212 . 2019-07-19 . Approval Type: Fewer Municipal Politicians Act, 1999 (all 3 - was a yet unpassed "Bill" at time of Toronto amalgamation); City of Toronto Act, 1997 (Toronto); Direct Democracy Through Municipal Referendums Act, 2000 (Hamilton and Ottawa).
- Community Profiles: Census 2006 . . Ottawa . 2006.
- Web site: Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data . . February 8, 2017 . February 19, 2017.
- Web site: Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories . . February 9, 2022 . February 9, 2022 .