Total population (thousands) in Canada
Canada: Total population (thousands) was 39,946 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
39,946 thousands
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
38th
of 233 countries
All-time high
39,946 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
21,186 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Canada, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in Canada is 39,946 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Canada peaked at 39,946 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 21,186 thousands, in 1970.
Canada ranks 38th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Canada, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 21,186 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 21,694 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 22,098 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 22,364 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 22,660 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 22,988 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 23,310 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 23,601 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 23,859 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 24,098 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 24,376 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 24,691 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 24,999 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 25,282 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 25,544 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 25,797 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 26,058 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 26,364 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 26,718 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 27,138 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 27,594 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 27,985 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 28,329 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 28,671 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 28,990 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 29,304 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 29,614 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 29,921 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 30,198 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 30,462 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 30,736 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 31,047 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 31,380 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 31,691 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 31,982 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 32,284 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 32,597 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 32,922 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 33,263 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 33,635 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 34,017 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 34,376 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 34,734 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 35,110 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 35,476 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 35,792 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 36,132 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 36,574 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 37,043 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 37,547 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 38,018 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 38,325 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 38,583 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 39,060 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 39,538 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 39,946 thousands | +1.0% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 39,946 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 13.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22,786 thousands | 21,186 thousands | 24,098 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 25,697 thousands | 24,376 thousands | 27,138 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 29,107 thousands | 27,594 thousands | 30,462 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 32,154 thousands | 30,736 thousands | 33,635 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 35,680 thousands | 34,017 thousands | 37,547 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 38,912 thousands | 38,018 thousands | 39,946 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More population data for Canada
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2634 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 45,891 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7644 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.3863 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Population density 6.1 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.33 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Canada?
- Total population in Canada was 39,946 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 39,946 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,186 thousands in 1970.
- How does Canada rank for total population?
- Canada ranks 38th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release