Quick facts
Canada population overview
Canada is the 3rd most populous of 41 countries and territories in North America. The United Nations put the population at 40,307,882 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +0.8% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 872 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 358,740 births (8.9 per 1,000 people) and 330,525 deaths (8.2 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 290,217 people. The infant mortality rate is 3.8 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 17,909,356 in 1960 to 41,651,653 in 2025 — a change of +132.6%, or +1.3% per year on average. It peaked at 41,651,653 in 2025 and has declined 2.6% since.
Demographically, the median age is 40.8 years; life expectancy at birth is 83.1 years; women have on average 1.3 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 15% of residents are under 15 and 20.3% are 65 or older (2025); 82.9% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Ottawa. Canada covers 15,634,410 km², giving a population density of about 2.6 people per km². GDP was $2.32T in 2025 — about $55,698 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
Canada population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #38 of 238 → | 40,562,765 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 40,307,882 |
| World rank | #38 of 238 |
| Rank in North America | #3 of 41 |
| Share of world population | 0.5% |
| Annual growth rate #114 of 238 → | +0.8% |
| Births per year est. | 358,740 |
| Deaths per year est. | 330,525 |
| Net migration per year est. · #16 of 238 → | +290,217 |
| Birth rate #173 of 216 → | 8.9 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #83 of 216 → | 8.2 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #182 of 238 → | 3.8 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #111 of 238 → | 98.6 males per 100 females |
| Median age #56 of 238 → | 40.8 years |
| Life expectancy #34 of 216 → | 83.1 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #191 of 216 → | 1.3 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #51 of 216 → | 82.9% |
| Surface area 2023 · #2 of 215 → | 15,634,410 km² |
| Population density #213 of 215 → | 2.6 per km² |
| Capital | Ottawa |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #10 of 212 → | $2.32T |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #29 of 212 → | $55,698 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
Canada population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 40,562,765 | – | – |
| 2025 | 41,651,653 | +389,324 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 41,262,329 | +1,213,241 | +3% |
| 2023 | 40,049,088 | +1,098,956 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 38,950,132 | +710,268 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 38,239,864 | +211,226 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 38,028,638 | +2,324,140 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 35,704,498 | +1,698,596 | +1% |
| 2010 | 34,005,902 | +1,763,170 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 32,242,732 | +1,557,002 | +1% |
| 2000 | 30,685,730 | +1,383,419 | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 29,302,311 | +1,611,173 | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 27,691,138 | +1,849,022 | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 25,842,116 | +1,326,449 | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 24,515,667 | +1,372,392 | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 23,143,275 | +1,819,275 | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 21,324,000 | +1,646,000 | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 19,678,000 | +1,768,644 | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 17,909,356 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Canada
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto | 2,794,356 | 6.9% |
| 2 | Montréal | 1,762,949 | 4.3% |
| 3 | Calgary | 1,306,784 | 3.2% |
| 4 | Ottawa Capital | 1,017,449 | 2.5% |
| 5 | Edmonton | 1,010,899 | 2.5% |
| 6 | Winnipeg | 749,607 | 1.8% |
| 7 | Mississauga | 717,961 | 1.8% |
| 8 | Vancouver | 662,248 | 1.6% |
Toronto is the largest city with 2,794,356 people; the capital, Ottawa, has 1,017,449. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Canada cities →
About Canada
Population over time
- From 17,909,356 in 1960 to 40,562,765 today — up 126.5%.
- Population peaked at 41,651,653 in 2025 and is down 2.6% since.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +1.6% per year.
- World rank: Population #38 of 238 · Population growth rate #114 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 82.1 years (2024), up 11 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.3 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #34 of 216 · Fertility rate #191 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 8.9 births vs 7.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 1 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #173 of 216 · Death rate #83 of 216.
Age structure
- 15% of the population is under 15 and 20.3% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 7.6% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #180 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #36 of 216 · Median age #56 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 578 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 612.6 Mt in 2018 — down 5.7% since.
- Per person: 14.01 t in 2024, vs 16.8 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #11 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #13 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 7,160.7 kg of oil equivalent per person (2024), down 6.3% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 23.8% of final energy in 2021 (+1.2 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #8 of 150 · Renewable energy share #96 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 39.5% of land area (2023).
- Net afforestation: cover grew from 38.8% to 39.5% since 1990 — roughly 96,339 km² of forest gained.
- World rank: Forest area #78 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 82.9% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 69% in 1960 (+13.8 points).
- Majority-urban for the whole period covered.
- World rank: Urban population #51 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low — freshwater withdrawals are 1.3% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 73,170 m³ in 2022, down 53.1% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #6 of 183 · Water stress #146 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $2.32T in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 49% since 2015.
- That works out to $55,698 per person.
- World rank: GDP #10 of 212 · GDP per capita #29 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 6.9% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 2.1% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #63 of 186 · Inflation rate #131 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 94.4% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 94.1 per 100 people (2024).
- World rank: Internet users #36 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #151 of 210.
Canada in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Canada in 2026?
As of October 2026, Canada has an estimated population of 40,562,765. The United Nations estimated 40,307,882 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +0.8% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Canada growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +0.8% per year — roughly 872 more people every day. Each year there are about 358,740 births and 330,525 deaths, with net migration of +290,217.
What is the population density of Canada?
About 2.6 people per square kilometre: 40,562,765 people living on 15,634,410 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Canada?
The median age is 40.8 years, and life expectancy at birth is 83.1 years. 15% of the population is under 15 and 20.3% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Canada rank by population?
Canada is the 38th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 3rd in North America, with 0.5% of the global population.
How has the population of Canada changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 17,909,356; by 2025 it had grown to 41,651,653 (+132.6%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). Canada Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/canada/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/canada/">Canada Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+0.8%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.