Population of Canada by year
The historical growth of Canada's population is complex and has been influenced by several factors, such as indigenous populations, expansion of territory, and human migration. Being a new world country, Canada has been predisposed to be a very open society with regards to immigration, which has been the most important factor in its historical population growth.[1] Canadians make up 0.5% of the world's total population.[2]
Despite the fact that Canada's population density is low, many regions in the south such as Southern Ontario, have population densities higher than several European countries. The large size of Canada's north which is not arable, and thus cannot support large human populations, significantly lowers the carrying capacity. Therefore the population density of the habitable land in Canada can be modest to high depending on the region.
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Historical population overview [edit]
The Aboriginal population in what is now Canada, during the late 15th century is estimated to have been between 200,000[3] and two million,[4] with a figure of 500,000 currently accepted by Canada's Royal Commission on Aboriginal Health.[5] Repeated outbreaks of European infectious diseases such as influenza, measles and smallpox (to which they had no natural immunity), combined with other effects of European contact, resulted in a twenty-five percent to eighty percent Aboriginal population decrease post-contact.[3] From 1605 to 1867 (prior to Canadian confederation) population counts reflected only the former colonies and settlements and not the country to be as a whole or Aboriginal nations.[6] The 1666 census of New France was the first census conducted in Canada (and indeed in North America).[7] It was organized by Jean Talon, the first Intendant of New France, between 1665 and 1666.[7] According to Talon's census there were 3,215 people in New France, comprising 538 separate families.[8] The census showed a great difference in the number of men at 2,034 versus 1,181 women.[8] New France, and subsequently the British colonies notoriously faced dwindling or stagnant population.[9]
The population has consistently risen every year since the establishment of the Dominion of Canada in 1867; however the population of Newfoundland and Labrador had not been included in post-confederation tallies prior to its entry into confederation as Canada's tenth province in 1949.[9][10] The first national census of the country was taken in 1871, with a population count around 3,689,000.[11] The year with the least population growth (in real terms) was 1882–1883, when only 30,000 new individuals were enumerated.[10] The 1911 census was a detailed enumeration of the population showing a count of 7,206,643 individuals.[12] This was an increase of 34% over the 1901 census of 5,371,315.[13] The year with the most population growth was during the peak of the Post-World War II baby boom in 1956–1957, when the population grew by over 529,000, in a single twelve-month period.[10] The Canadian baby boom defined from 1947 to 1966, saw more than 400,000 babies born.[14] The 1996 census attempted to count every person in the country, totaling a population count of 28,846,761.[15] This was a 5.7% increase over the 1991 census of 27,296,859.[15] The 2001 census had a total population count of 30,007,094.[16] In contrast, the official Statistics Canada population estimate for 2001 was 31,021,300.[17] Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897.[18] This count was lower than the official 1 July 2006 population estimate of 32,623,490 people.[18] Ninety-percent of the population growth between 2001 and 2006 was concentrated in the main metropolitan areas.[19] The 2011 census was the fifteenth decennial census with a total population count of 33,476,688 up 5.9% from 2006. On average, censuses have been taken every five years since 1905. Censuses are required to be taken at least every ten years as mandated in section 8 of the Constitution Act, 1867.[20]
Components of population growth [edit]
Canada's current annual population growth rate is 1.238%, or a daily increase of 1,137 individuals.[10] Between 1867 and 2009 Canada's population grew by 979%.[10] It will have taken 144 years to do so. Canada had the highest net migration rate (0.61%) of all G-8 member countries between 1994 and 2004.[10] Natural growth accounts for an annual increase of 137,626 persons, at a yearly rate of 0.413%.[10] Between 2001 and 2006, there were 1,446,080 immigrants and 237,418 emigrants, resulting in a net migration of just over 1.2 million persons.[10]
Population by years [edit]
Information obtained from Statistics Canada [Note 1]
Former colonies and territories 1605 — 1866 [edit]
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Since confederation 1867 — present [edit]
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By census [edit]
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1871 | 3,689,257 | — |
| 1881 | 4,324,810 | +17.2% |
| 1891 | 4,833,239 | +11.8% |
| 1901 | 5,371,315 | +11.1% |
| 1911 | 7,206,643 | +34.2% |
| 1921 | 8,787,949 | +21.9% |
| 1931 | 10,374,196 | +18.1% |
| 1941 | 11,506,655 | +10.9% |
| 1951 | 14,009,429 | +21.8% |
| 1961 | 18,238,247 | +30.2% |
| 1971 | 21,568,311 | +18.3% |
| 1976 | 22,992,604 | +6.6% |
| 1981 | 24,343,181 | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 25,309,331 | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 27,296,859 | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 28,846,761 | +5.7% |
| 2001 | 30,007,094 | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 31,612,897 | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 33,476,688 | +5.9% |
| [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] | ||
See also [edit]
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- Census in Canada
- Demographics of Canada
- History of immigration to Canada
- Population history of indigenous peoples of the Americas
- List of the 100 largest municipalities in Canada by area
- List of the 100 largest municipalities in Canada by population
- List of the 100 largest urban areas in Canada by population
- List of metropolitan areas in Canada
- List of Canadian provinces and territories by population
- List of largest Canadian cities by census
Notes [edit]
- ^ Census information prior to 1867 are from documentation of the period and have been amalgamated by Statistics Canada for accuracy. Census information after 1871 counts the population at a time period prior to the end of the calendar year, numbers displayed reflect the end of the calendar year and have been adjusted by Statistics Canada to be accurate.
Chart source 1: "Estimated population of Canada, 1605 to 2009"., Statistics Canada
Chart source 2: Early French settlements (1605 to 1691), Statistics Canada
2010 source: "Canada's population estimates". The Daily (Statistics Canada).
2011 source: "2011 Census Profile". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
Additional source: "Summaries of census information from 1605 to 1871" (PDF).
The population count appearing from 2007 to 2010 may differ from the official totals as data displayed is as a rough estimate - Detailed explanation - Statistics Canada
Current Canadian population. Source: "Canada's population clock". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2011–05-8.
References [edit]
- ^ "Canadians in Context — Population Size and Growth". Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- ^ "Environment — Greenhouse Gases (Greenhouse Gas Emissions per Person)". Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ a b Wilson, Donna M; Northcott, Herbert C (2008). Dying and Death in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp. 25–27. ISBN 978-1-55111-873-4. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ^ Thornton, Russell (2000). "Population history of Native North Americans". In Michael R. Haines, Richard Hall Steckel. A population history of North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 13. ISBN 0-521-49666-7. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ^ Bailey, Garrick Alan (2008). Handbook of North American Indians: Indians in contemporary society. Government Printing Office. p. 285. ISBN 0-16-080388-8. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ "Summaries of census information from 1605 to 1871" (PDF). Statistics of Canada. 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ a b "North America's First Census". Statistics Canada. 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Ttables of census data collected in 1665 and 1666 by Jean Talon". Statistics Canada. 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Estimated population of Canada, 1605 to present". Statistics Canada. 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Canadians in Context — Population Size and Growth". Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ "History of the Census of Canada". Statistics Canada. 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ^ "OGSPI 1911 Census Menu". The Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS). 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ "Canadian Immigration – Early 1900s". British immigrants in Montreal. 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ "By definition: Boom, bust, X and why". Globe and Mail. 2006 -2009. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Census of Canada, A population and dwelling counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. 1997. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ^ "2001 Census facts: did you know..." (PDF). Statistics Canada. 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ "Population estimates". Statistics Canada. 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Differences between Statistics Canada’s census counts and population estimates" (PDF). Statistics Canada. 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts A portrait of the Canadian population". Statistics Canada. 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ^ "The Constitution Act, 1867". The Solon Law Archive. 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ 91.pdf, Canada Year Book 1932
- ^ 135.pdf, Canada Year Book 1955
- ^ 184.pdf, Canada Year Book 1967
- ^ [1], Population and private dwellings occupied by usual residents and intercensal growth for Canada, 1971 to 2011
- ^ [2], Manitoba (Canada): Province & Major Cities - Statistics & Maps on City Population
- ^ [3], 1996 Census of Canada: Electronic Area Profiles
- ^ [4], Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2006 and 2001 censuses
- ^ [5], Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2011 and 2006 censuses
Further reading [edit]
- Roderic P. Beaujot; Don Kerr (April 2007). The changing face of Canada: essential readings in population. Canadian Scholars' Press. ISBN 978-1-55130-322-2.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Demographics of Canada |
- Population and Dwelling Count, 2011 Census – Statistics Canada
- Population estimates and projections, 2010 – 2036 – Statistics Canada
- Historical population and migration statistical data – Statistics Canada (Archived)
- Population Institute of Canada
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