Canadian Cities By Population
What is canadian cities by population?
Key facts
| Top city (2021 census subdivisions) | Toronto — 2,794,356[2] |
|---|---|
| Second city (2021 census subdivisions) | Montreal — 1,762,949[2] |
| Third city (2021 census subdivisions) | Calgary — 1,306,784[2] |
| 2026 city proper estimate leader | Toronto — 3,358,275[1] |
| Largest population centre (2021) | Toronto — 5,647,656[2] |
| 2021 source basis | census subdivisions / municipalities / municipal equivalents[2] |
Canadian cities by population is a ranking that varies based on the geographic unit used, such as city proper, municipality, or population centre.
Context
Different sources use different years and geographic units, so the ranking changes across datasets. The 2021 census subdivision list ranks Toronto first and Montreal second [2].
Documented claims
- The same city can appear with very different population figures across sources because some datasets use city proper, census subdivision, or population centre. [2]
- The 2021 census subdivision list ranks Toronto first and Montreal second. [2]
- The 2021 population-centre list ranks Toronto first, Montreal second, and Vancouver third. [2]
- The 2026 city-population estimate list ranks Toronto first, Montreal second, and Calgary third. [1]
Questions and answers
What are the top 3 cities in Canada by population in 2021 census subdivisions?
Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary are the top 3 cities by population in 2021 census subdivisions [2].
Why do population figures vary for the same city?
Population figures vary because different sources use different geographic units, such as city proper, census subdivision, or population centre [2].
Sources
- Population of cities in Canada 2026 — statisticstimes.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Biggest Canada Cities by Population & Area 2025 — en.uhomes.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)