Canada’s population continues to grow and evolve, with significant differences across its provinces and territories. In 2025, the demographic landscape reveals both long-standing trends and new shifts that are reshaping regional balances. Ontario and Quebec remain the most populous provinces, while territories like Nunavut and Yukon show modest numbers but unique growth patterns.
This article presents the full breakdown of Canada’s population by province and territory in 2025, based on the latest available data. Whether you’re a researcher, student, policymaker, or simply curious about Canadian demographics, here you’ll find an up-to-date and detailed overview of how Canada’s 38+ million people are distributed across the country.
Canada Population by Province and Territory in 2025: Latest Data
As of the first quarter of 2025, Canada’s population continues to grow, with notable differences across provinces and territories. The country now exceeds 38 million residents, and population distribution remains highly uneven—concentrated in just a few regions while vast areas remain sparsely populated.
Ontario remains Canada’s demographic giant, with over 16.1 million inhabitants. It alone accounts for more than 40% of the national total. Quebec follows with 9.1 million people, reinforcing its role as a central pillar in Canada’s demographic and economic structure. Western Canada also maintains strong numbers, with British Columbia reaching over 5.7 million residents and Alberta nearing the 5 million mark.
In contrast, the Prairie provinces and Atlantic Canada show more modest populations. Manitoba and Saskatchewan both remain around 1.5 and 1.25 million respectively, while Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador continue to hover under 1.1 million each. Prince Edward Island, although the smallest province, still shows steady growth with around 179,000 residents.
The territories—Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut—collectively account for less than 135,000 people. Nunavut, the youngest and most northern territory, records a population just above 41,000, while Yukon and the Northwest Territories are close behind.
These figures confirm a long-standing trend: Canada’s population is heavily concentrated in urban areas, especially in the Windsor–Quebec corridor and along the Pacific coast. Meanwhile, remote and rural regions face continued demographic stagnation or decline, raising concerns about service delivery, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability.
Visual Map of Canada’s Population by Province and Territory
Canada’s population has undergone significant transformation since Confederation in 1867. In the first national census of 1871, the country counted just over 3.6 million residents, concentrated primarily in Ontario and Quebec. Over the next 150 years, Canada experienced waves of immigration, western expansion, urbanization, and economic growth that reshaped its demographic map.
The post-war boom of the 20th century accelerated urban growth, particularly in major cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. By the early 2000s, Alberta and British Columbia had emerged as key population hubs, thanks to economic opportunities and internal migration.
More recently, immigration has become the primary driver of population growth. Between 2016 and 2024, Canada welcomed hundreds of thousands of newcomers each year, significantly contributing to increases in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. At the same time, some provinces and rural areas have struggled with population stagnation or decline, prompting concerns over aging demographics and labour shortages.
From just 3.6 million in 1871 to over 38 million in 2025, Canada’s population story is one of expansion, diversity, and regional imbalance—a trend that will continue to shape the country’s future in profound ways.
Read more: https://statisticsanddata.org/data/canada-population-2022/
Canada Population by Province and Territory Over Time (1871 to 2025) video: https://youtu.be/Nx3wXR9esMM
