Top 25 Most Populous Cities in Canada (2024)

Canada is home to vibrant urban centers that continue to grow and attract residents from around the world. Based on the latest population data, Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver remain the top three largest cities in Canada. This ranking provides insights into urban trends, demographic shifts, and population dynamics across provinces.

Key Insights & Population Trends

• Toronto leads by a large margin with over 7 million people, solidifying its position as Canada’s economic and cultural hub.
• Montréal and Vancouver continue to thrive, driven by multiculturalism and strong economic sectors.
• Alberta’s Calgary and Edmonton remain key urban centers due to their energy-driven economies.
• The fastest-growing mid-sized cities include Kelowna, Barrie, and Sherbrooke, attracting more residents due to affordable living and lifestyle opportunities.
• Eastern cities like Moncton and St. John’s have smaller populations but are seeing steady growth due to regional development efforts.

Provincial Distribution

• Ontario dominates the list with 11 cities, reflecting its economic strength.
• Quebec follows with 4 cities, showcasing its cultural and economic significance.
• British Columbia and Alberta each feature multiple cities known for high living standards and natural beauty.

Ranking: Canadian Cities by Population by Gender (2024)

Rank	City	Province or Territory	Total Population	Male	Female
1	Toronto	Ontario	7,106,379	3,526,010	3,580,369
2	Montréal	Quebec	4,615,154	2,307,872	2,307,282
3	Vancouver	British Columbia	3,108,941	1,536,495	1,572,446
4	Calgary	Alberta	1,778,881	893,126	885,755
5	Ottawa – Gatineau	Ontario/Quebec	1,660,269	821,423	838,846
6	Edmonton	Alberta	1,631,614	819,922	811,692
7	Winnipeg	Manitoba	941,641	475,149	466,492
8	Québec	Quebec	900,343	448,892	451,451
9	Hamilton	Ontario	860,266	425,298	434,968
10	Kitchener – Cambridge – Waterloo	Ontario	696,417	358,229	338,188
11	London	Ontario	626,260	312,714	313,546
12	Halifax	Nova Scotia	530,167	263,743	266,424
13	St. Catharines – Niagara	Ontario	492,480	244,155	248,325
14	Windsor	Ontario	483,556	247,564	235,992
15	Oshawa	Ontario	482,359	240,674	241,685
16	Victoria	British Columbia	441,491	214,892	226,599
17	Saskatoon	Saskatchewan	367,336	184,450	182,886
18	Regina	Saskatchewan	282,032	141,632	140,400
19	Kelowna	British Columbia	251,756	124,413	127,343
20	Barrie	Ontario	245,586	124,089	121,497
21	Sherbrooke	Quebec	243,517	122,073	121,444
22	St. John’s	Newfoundland and Labrador	239,316	118,070	121,246
23	Abbotsford – Mission	British Columbia	220,786	112,249	108,537
24	Kingston	Ontario	192,389	95,587	96,802
25	Greater Sudbury	Ontario	191,902	97,178	94,724
26	Moncton	New Brunswick	188,036	93,471	94,565
27	Guelph	Ontario	183,224	90,573	92,651
28	Brantford	Ontario	173,530	86,736	86,794
29	Trois-Rivières	Quebec	173,288	86,514	86,774
30	Saguenay	Quebec	170,380	86,993	83,387
31	Peterborough	Ontario	148,027	72,321	75,706
32	Saint John	New Brunswick	142,433	69,950	72,483
33	Lethbridge	Alberta	139,844	69,745	70,099
34	Thunder Bay	Ontario	133,063	66,631	66,432
35	Nanaimo	British Columbia	128,371	63,137	65,234
36	Kamloops	British Columbia	128,233	64,119	64,114
37	Chilliwack	British Columbia	126,850	63,701	63,149
38	Belleville – Quinte West	Ontario	123,572	62,017	61,555
39	Fredericton	New Brunswick	122,500	60,177	62,323
40	Red Deer	Alberta	112,759	55,844	56,915
41	Drummondville	Quebec	108,291	55,006	53,285

FAQ

Q: What is the largest city in Canada by population?
A: Toronto, Ontario, with over 7.1 million residents.

Q: Which Canadian provinces have the most populous cities?
A: Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta lead the list.

Q: Which city is the fastest growing in Canada?
A: While Toronto grows steadily, mid-sized cities like Kelowna and Barrie have seen notable growth rates.

Source:

Statistics Canada. Table 17-10-0148-01  Population estimates, July 1, by census metropolitan area and census agglomeration, 2021 boundaries