Canada Population
Population Distribution
As of 2023, the latest population of Canada is 37,694,085, based on our calculation of the current data from UN (United Nations).
| Total population | 37,694,085 |
| Population growth rate | 0.81% |
| Birth rate | 10.30 births per 1,000 people |
| Life expectancy | |
| Overall | 81.57 years |
| Men | 78.98 years |
| Women | 84.31 years |
| Age structure | |
| 0-14 years | 15.43% |
| 15-64 years | 65.48% |
| 65 years and above | 19.08% |
| Median age | 41.80 years |
| Gender ratio (Male to Female) | 0.99 |
| Population density | 3.78 residents per km² |
| Urbanization | 80.40% |
| Ethnicities | |
| 32% Canadian, 20% English, 16% French, 14% Scottish, 14% Irish, 10% German, 6% indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), 5% Italian, 5% Chinese descent and others | |
| Religions | |
| Catholics (Roman Catholic) 46%, Protestants 36%, others 18% (Census 1991) | |
| Human Development Index (HDI) | 0.922 |
| HDI ranking | 13th out of 194 |
People in Canada
Canada has 37 million people. With an area of almost 10 million square kilometers – the size of Europe – that means very sparse settlement. Canada has one of the lowest population densities in the world. It is 3.6 residents per square kilometer.
The population is very unevenly distributed. The north is partly almost uninhabited, while most of the residents live in the southeast, in the provinces of Ontario and Québec. This area is also known as the Québec-Windsor Corridor.
82 percent of Canadians live in cities. The largest metropolitan areas are Toronto and Montreal in the southeast, followed by Vancouver in the southwest. The most sparsely populated are the Yukon and Nunavut territories.
39 percent of Canadians are Catholics and 20 percent are Protestants. 24 percent said they did not belong to any religion. Minorities are Orthodox, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists or Jews.
A country of immigration
Canada is considered a classic immigration country. Much of the population immigrated from other countries in the last few centuries. Most of the people came from the UK, France and Germany. Other countries of origin are Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Ukraine and Poland. Canada is still a country of immigration today. The population is growing due to immigration.
The original population
Only 4 percent of the population still belong to the original population. There are three groups in Canada: The indigenous population is called First Nations (“first nations”). There are more than 600 state-recognized Indian tribes. The Inuit live in the Arctic. With around 60,000 people, they make up the smallest proportion of the population. You can find out more about the Inuit here. After all, Métis are common descendants of Europeans and Indians.
Languages in Canada
Canada has two official languages: English and French. 60 percent have English as their mother tongue, French 20 percent. On the map you can see where French (brown) and where English is spoken (yellow). Most people speak both languages in the light brown areas.
A further 20 percent of the population, however, state neither one nor the other as their language. For example, you have Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, German or Italian as your mother tongue. The Inuit in Nunavut speak their own language, the Inuktitut. The First Nations, the Indians, also speak their own languages. Most of the speakers are in the Cree language.
Two languages
English and French are official languages with equal status. The state has to ensure that this is implemented. For example, laws are always published in both languages. The Official Language Act came into force in 1969. This made French on a national level on an equal footing with English. Since 1974, packaging has always had to have labels in both languages.
Of the ten provinces, however, only New Brunswick is officially bilingual and Québec is officially monolingual with French as the official language. Because the provinces are still free to decide which languages they use. Incidentally, the French spoken in Canada is different from the French spoken in France. There are also differences within Canada. The French in Québec sounds quite different from that in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. For example, there are expressions that are out of date in France but have survived in Canada. Or there are borrowings from English.
Religions in Canada
67 percent of Canadians are Christians. Of these, 39 percent say they are Catholic. The 28 percent Protestants are divided into different churches, for example the United Church of Canada, the Anglicans and Baptists. 24 percent of Canadians do not belong to any church. Minorities are Muslims and Hindus.
Canada Overview
Canada, situated in North America, is famous for its stunning natural landscapes, multicultural society, and progressive values. The country is renowned for its vast wilderness areas, including the Rocky Mountains, Niagara Falls, and the pristine lakes of Banff and Jasper National Parks. Canada’s cities, such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, are celebrated for their cultural diversity, vibrant arts scenes, and culinary delights. With a commitment to environmental sustainability, universal healthcare, and social welfare, Canada is often hailed as one of the world’s best places to live and visit.
- Capital City: Ottawa
- Population: Approximately 38 million
- Area: 9,984,670 square kilometers
- Full Country Name: Canada
- Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Language: English, French
- ISO Country Codes: CA, CAN
Bordering Countries of Canada
Canada is bordered by three countries: the United States of America to the south and Alaska to the northwest, and by Greenland to the northeast. Canada also shares maritime borders with France’s overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, as well as with Denmark’s autonomous country of Greenland in Davis Strait.
The Canada-United States boundary is 8,891 km (5,525 mi) long and is one of the longest international boundaries in the world. It stretches from Alaska’s Beaufort Sea in the northwest to Maine’s Atlantic Ocean coast in the east. The border between these two countries is highly regulated with an extensive system of ports of entry which includes airports, seaports and land checkpoints for travelers crossing between both nations.
The Canada-Greenland boundary runs for 1,209 km (750 mi), stretching from Ellesmere Island in Nunavut province to Cape Chidley on Labrador Island. This boundary was established through an agreement between Denmark & Canada during World War II era when Danish sovereignty over Greenland was transferred to Canadian control.
The Canada-Saint Pierre & Miquelon boundary consists of a small maritime border that runs for 14 km (8 mi). It stretches from Saint Pierre Island at its western end to Miquelon Island at its eastern end near Newfoundland & Labrador’s coast. This boundary has been subject to several disputes since it was established but has remained largely unchanged since 1993 when both countries signed a treaty confirming their respective rights & obligations over this maritime border area.
