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Canada Provinces Population

Canada is home to ten provinces and three territories, together housing over 41.6 million people as of 2025. But population growth isn’t evenly spread across the country — some regions are booming while others grow at a much slower pace. This guide breaks down the population of every Canadian province and territory, compares 2025 figures against 2022 data, and highlights the fastest-growing regions in the country.

Canada Total Population

As of 2025, Canada’s population stands at 41,651,653, up from 38,950,132 in 2022 — a national increase of roughly 6.9% in just three years. This growth has been driven largely by immigration, interprovincial migration, and natural population increase, though the rate varies significantly by region.

Data source: City Population

Ontario: Canada’s Most Populous Province

Ontario remains Canada’s population heavyweight, home to 16,258,260 people in 2025 — nearly 39% of the entire country’s population. As the province containing Toronto, Ottawa, and much of Canada’s financial and government infrastructure, Ontario continues to attract both international immigrants and interprovincial migrants at a steady pace, growing 7.3% since 2022.

Québec: Canada’s Second-Largest Province

Québec holds steady as the second most populous province, with 9,058,297 residents in 2025. Its growth rate of 4.5% is notably slower than the national average, reflecting more modest immigration intake and internal migration patterns compared to western provinces.

Alberta: The Fastest-Growing Major Province

Alberta stands out with the highest growth rate among large provinces, expanding by 11.4% between 2022 and 2025 — from 4,512,731 to 5,029,346 residents. This surge is widely attributed to interprovincial migration, as Albertans and newcomers alike are drawn by relatively lower housing costs, a strong job market, and no provincial sales tax.

British Columbia: Steady Western Growth

British Columbia’s population reached 5,697,536 in 2025, growing 6.3% since 2022. As Canada’s gateway to the Pacific and a major immigration hub, BC continues to see consistent population inflows, particularly into the Metro Vancouver region.

Prairie Provinces: Manitoba and Saskatchewan

• Manitoba grew from 1,413,498 to 1,509,702 (+6.8%), supported by strong immigration programs targeting skilled workers.
• Saskatchewan posted one of the higher growth rates at +7.5%, rising to 1,266,959 residents, driven by its Provincial Nominee Program and agricultural economy.

Atlantic Canada: Smaller Provinces, Notable Growth

Atlantic Canada’s provinces are smaller in absolute population but have shown encouraging growth trends:

• Nova Scotia: 1,093,245 (+6.8%)
• New Brunswick: 869,682 (+7.5%)
• Newfoundland and Labrador: 549,911 (+3.5%)
• Prince Edward Island: 182,657 (+9.2%) — the fastest-growing Atlantic province

PEI’s growth rate is particularly striking for such a small province, driven by targeted immigration initiatives and its comparatively affordable cost of living.

Canada’s Three Territories

Canada’s three northern territories remain sparsely populated but are seeing meaningful percentage growth:

• Yukon: 48,278 (+10.0%) — the fastest-growing territory
• Northwest Territories: 45,950 (+3.0%)
• Nunavut: 41,830 (+3.0%)

Despite strong percentage gains in Yukon, all three territories combined account for less than 0.35% of Canada’s total population.

Key Takeaways

1. Ontario and Québec dominate in raw population, together accounting for over 60% of Canada’s residents.
2. Alberta is growing the fastest among major provinces, fueled by interprovincial migration.
3. Prince Edward Island and Yukon post surprisingly high growth rates relative to their small population base.
4. Atlantic Canada is experiencing a modest but real population renaissance after decades of slower growth.
5. National growth of 6.9% since 2022 reflects Canada’s continued reliance on immigration as a primary driver of population expansion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most populous province in Canada? Ontario is the most populous province, with 16,258,260 residents in 2025.

Which province has the fastest population growth? Among major provinces, Alberta has the fastest growth rate at 11.4% between 2022 and 2025.

What is the total population of Canada in 2025? Canada’s total population in 2025 is 41,651,653.

Which Canadian territory has the smallest population? Nunavut has the smallest population among Canada’s three territories, at 41,830 in 2025.

Source:

Data compiled from City Population. Figures represent estimates and are subject to revision by Statistics Canada.