Canada’s population in 2020 is 37.74 million. Its population ranks 39th among all countries. In the last 10 years, there has been a steady population growth rate of 0.8% to 1.2% annually and it is projected that the total population will be 50 million by 2070. Migration was the biggest contributor to Canada’s population growth rate. Despite having a population that reaches almost 40 million, Canada is considered an underpopulated country with only 3 cities that reaches the millions in population (Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary). There are many jobs that need to be filled in Canada and the increase in population will be beneficial to the Canadian economy (World Population Review, n.d.). Migrants that fill those vacant jobs in Canada will lead to economic growth and prosperity in the long term.
Figure 16.
Canadian flag depicted by vast population (Immigration.ca, 2019)
| Demographics in Canada | |
| Gender* | 50.4% Female, 49.6% Male |
| Age** | 66.5% 15 to 64, 16.9% 65+, 16.6% 0 to 14 |
| Ethnic Origin** | 57.1% European, 33.7% North American, 17.7% Asian, 6.2% Aboriginal, 3.1% African, 2.2% Caribbean, 2% Latin American |
| Education** | 28.5% University Baccalaureate Degree Level or Above, 23.7% High School Diploma, 22.4% University Certificate or Diploma, 11.5% No Degree or Diploma or Certificate, 10.8% Apprenticeship or Trade Certificate, 3.1% University Certificate or Diploma Below Baccalaureate |
| Marital Status** | 45.7% Married, 28.2% Never Married, 12% Living Common Law, 8.7% Separated or Divorced, 5.6% Widowed |
| Household Income** | Median income $70,336 (CAD) ~$51,709 (USD) |
| Languages** | 63.7% English, 20% French, 11.5% Other |
*Data retrieved from Country Meters
**Data retrieved from Statistics Canada
| Demographics in Toronto, Canada | |
| Gender* | 51.9%% Female, 48.1% Male |
| Age** | 68.9% 15 to 64, 16.6% 0 to 14, 14.5% 65+ |
| Ethnic Origin** | 47.1% European, 41.6% Asian, 13.4% North American, 5.9% Caribbean, 4.5% African, 3.6% Latin American, 1.3% Aboriginal |
| Education** | 40.9% University Baccalaureate Degree Level or Above, 21.9% High School Diploma, 20.1% University Certificate or Diploma, 9.6% No Degree or Diploma or Certificate, 4.5% Apprenticeship or Trade Certificate, 3.1% University Certificate or Diploma Below Baccalaureate |
| Marital Status** | 49.9% Married, 31.1% Never Married, 5.9% Living Common Law, 8.1% Separated or Divorced, 5% Widowed |
| Household Income** | Median Income $78,373 (CAD) ~$57,618 (USD) |
| Languages** | 65.2% English, 24.7% Other, 0.5% French |
*Data retrieved from Toronto.ca
**Data retrieved from Statistics Canada
The overall demographics of Canada and Toronto are strikingly similar in terms of Gender, Age, and Marital Status. However, the differences lie in the Ethnic Origin, Education, Household Income, and Languages. Despite Canada’s total population only having 17.7% from Asian origins, 41.6% of Toronto’s population are of Asian origins. While people of North American origins make up 33.7% of Canada’s population, only 13.7% make up Toronto’s. This shows that while Canada’s population is mainly of European and North American descent, the majority of the population that are of Asian descent live in Canada’s most populous city, Toronto. The population in Toronto is also more educated as a lot more people have a university baccalaureate degree level or above at 40.9% in comparison to Canada’s population at 28.5%. The household income reflects the difference in the level of education as Toronto’s median income is $8,000 CAD ($5,900 USD) in comparison to Canada. As Canada’s second most spoken language is French, Toronto’s population only has 0.5% French speakers. This factor is most likely due to the large Asian population in Toronto as 24.7% of the Toronto population speak languages other than English and French.
