Abstract

The Census counted 30 007 094 people on May 15, 2001, compared with 28 846 761 on May 14, 1996. Urbanization continued in 2001, 79.4% of Canadians lived in an urban centre of 10 000 people or more, compared with 78.5% in 1996. Outside the urban centres, the population of rural and small-town areas declined 0.4%.

In 2001, just over 64% of the nation's population, or about 19 297 000 people, lived in the 27 census metropolitan areas (CMAs), up slightly from 63% in 1996. Seven of these 27 CMAs saw their populations grow at a rate of at least double the national average of 4%. The strongest rise, by far, occurred in Calgary.

From 1996 to 2001, the nation's population further concentrated in four broad urban regions: the extended Golden Horseshoe in southern Ontario; Montréal and environs; British Columbia's Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island; and the Calgary-Edmonton corridor. In 2001, 51% of Canada's population lived in these regions, compared with 49% in 1996.

Source: Adapted from Statistics Canada, Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions, Census Subdivisions (Municipalities) and Designated Places, 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% data, Catalogue number 93F0050XDB01003.