Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Canada
Canada: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 82.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Canada, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Canada stood at 82.9%. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Canada peaked at 82.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 62.2%, in 1950.
Canada ranks 61st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 65.5% | 62.2% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 72.4% | 69.0% | 75.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 75.8% | 75.5% | 76.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 76.2% | 75.7% | 76.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.5% | 76.6% | 78.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.8% | 78.6% | 80.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.3% | 81.0% | 81.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.4% | 82.0% | 82.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 58 New Zealand 84.0% compare
- 59 Norway 83.6% compare
- 60 United Kingdom 83.3% compare
- 62 Germany 82.1% compare
- 63 Falkland Islands 81.5% compare
- 64 Bahamas 81.3% compare
More population data for Canada
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.25 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 269,496 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.25 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.25 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.1% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.35 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Canada?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Canada was 82.9% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 82.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.2% in 1950.
- How does Canada rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Canada ranks 61st out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.