Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Canada
Canada: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 52.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Canada, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Canada recorded 52.1% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Canada peaked at 52.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 18.1%, in 1950.
Canada ranks 51st of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 18.1% | — |
| 1955 | 20.4% | +12.8% |
| 1960 | 22.2% | +9.0% |
| 1965 | 24.3% | +9.2% |
| 1970 | 26.7% | +10.1% |
| 1975 | 27.5% | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 29.2% | +6.4% |
| 1985 | 33.4% | +14.2% |
| 1990 | 37.6% | +12.8% |
| 1995 | 40.1% | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 43.1% | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 47.0% | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 49.7% | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 51.2% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 52.1% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 19.2% | 18.1% | 20.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 23.2% | 22.2% | 24.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 27.1% | 26.7% | 27.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 31.3% | 29.2% | 33.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 38.9% | 37.6% | 40.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 45.1% | 43.1% | 47.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 50.4% | 49.7% | 51.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 52.1% | 52.1% | 52.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More population data for Canada
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2634 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.33 million people (2100)
- Population density 6.1 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.3863 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7644 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Canada?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Canada was 52.1% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 52.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.1% in 1950.
- How does Canada rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Canada ranks 51st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.