Ontario Population 2024

Ontario is a Province of Canada located in Central Canada. It is bordered by the province of Manitoba to the west, Hudson Bay and James Bay to the north, and Quebec to the east and northeast, and the south by the U.S. states of (from west to east) Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and is the fourth-largest province by area. As per the Canada Census Bureau, the population of Ontario in 2021 is 14,223,942 (14.2 million) and the Population of Ontario in 2024 Q2 is 15,996,989 (16 million)

also read about the Religion in Ontario

Demography 2016-2021

Ontario has a population growth rate of 5.8% during 2016-2021. It has population increase of 774,448 since 2016.

Ontario	Census 2021
Total Population	14,223,942
Percentage Change since 2016	5.8%
Population Rank	1st
Total Land Area	344,562 sq mi (892,412 sq. km)
Area Rank	4th
Population Density	41.2/sq mi (15.9/km2)
Capital City	Toronto
Largest City	Toronto

Source: Statistics Canada

Ontario Historical Population

Over the course of the years from 1851 to 2021, Ontario’s population has undergone significant changes, marked by periods of both steady and rapid growth. In 1851, the population stood at 1 million, and by 2021, it had soared to 14.2 million. Notably, from 1901 to 2021, there was a substantial increase of almost 12 million people. Analyzing the percentage changes during various decades, it is evident that the province experienced periods of notable growth, with the most significant spikes occurring in the mid-20th century. The population growth rate from 2016 to 2021 was recorded at 5.8%, showcasing a continuing trend of demographic expansion. These demographic shifts, as documented by Statistics Canada, reflect Ontario’s dynamic history and evolving societal landscape over the past 170 years.

Let’s look at population and percentage change from the Year 1851 to 2021.

Year	Population	Percentage Change
1851	952,004	—
1861	1,396,091	46.60%
1871	1,620,851	16.10%
1881	1,926,922	18.90%
1891	2,114,321	9.70%
1901	2,182,947	3.20%
1911	2,527,292	15.80%
1921	2,933,662	16.10%
1931	3,431,683	17.00%
1941	3,787,655	10.40%
1951	4,597,542	21.40%
1956	5,404,933	17.60%
1961	6,236,092	15.40%
1966	6,960,870	11.60%
1971	7,703,105	10.70%
1976	8,264,465	7.30%
1981	8,625,107	4.40%
1986	9,101,695	5.50%
1991	10,084,885	10.80%
1996	10,753,573	6.60%
2001	11,410,046	6.10%
2006	12,160,282	6.60%
2011	12,851,821	5.70%
2016	13,448,494	4.60%
2021	14,223,942	5.8%

Source: Statistics Canada

Ontario Ethnic composition

European origins dominate at 62.8%, forming the majority of Ontario’s population. The ethnic origin most often reported in Ontario was Canadian followed by English, Scottish, Irish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, East Indian, and Dutch. Meanwhile, Aboriginals make up 2.9% of the population, with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit being the prominent Aboriginal communities. A

In 2021, about 34.3% of Ontarians were identified as members of the visible minority population. Key visible minority communities include South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latino, and Arab.

read more about race and ethnicity in Ontario

Top cities in Ontario by population

Top 10 Cities in Ontario by Population

#	City	Population 2021
1	Toronto	2,761,285
2	Ottawa	1,000,940
3	Mississauga	712,825
4	Brampton	650,160
5	Hamilton	560,920
6	London	416,265
7	Markham	337,250
8	Vaughan	321,315
9	Kitchener	254,145
10	Windsor	226,465