Overall, population density in Canada is 3.92 people per km2 or 10.2 people per square mile. This makes Canada the 10th least densely populated country in the world.
Although Canada is 39th most populous country in the world, it is also the 2nd largest by area (after Russia). Because its population is spread thinly across such a large area, Canada as a whole is not very densely populated.

However, as you can see in this map of population density, this hides that Canada is a country of contrasts. Its population density varies widely across the country. Areas in the south, particularly along the southern border with the United States are very densely populated, whereas other areas – particularly in the north – are very sparsely populated. Density also varies widely within individual provinces and territories.
Canadian provinces by population density
Canadian population density is very different from one province to another. Prince Edward Island (PEI) is the most densely populated province in Canada with 25.1 people per km2 , whereas Nefoundland and Labrador is home to just 1.4 people per km2 .
Population density in Canada’s territories is even lower – with just 0.08 people per km2 , Yukon is the most densely populated territory, Nunavut the least with just 0.02 people per km2 .
Here is a table that lists each province and territory and their population density.
Province / Territory | Population | Density per km2 |
---|---|---|
Ontario | 13,448,494 | 14.8 |
Quebec | 8,164,361 | 6.0 |
British Columbia | 4,648,055 | 5.0 |
Alberta | 4,067,175 | 6.4 |
Manitoba | 1,278,365 | 2.3 |
Saskatchewan | 1,098,352 | 1.9 |
Nova Scotia | 923,598 | 17.4 |
New Brunswick | 747,101 | 10.5 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 519,716 | 1.4 |
Prince Edward Island | 142,907 | 25.1 |
Northwest Territories | 41,786 | 0.04 |
Nunavut | 35,944 | 0.08 |
Yukon | 35,874 | 0.02 |
Canadian Cities by Population Density
Canadian cities tend to be less densely populated than many of their counterparts in the United States and Europe.
For example, Toronto’s population density of 4,457 people per km2 is much lower than Barcelona (15,873 people per km2 ). And Vancouver (5,493 people per km2 ) is less than half as densely populated as New York or London. Finally, Montreal has less than a quarter of the population density of Paris, France.
Here is a list of the ten largest cities in Canada and their population density.
City | Population | Population Density (km2) |
---|---|---|
Toronto | 2,731,571 | 4,334 |
Montreal | 1,704,694 | 3,889 |
Calgary | 1,239,220 | 1,501 |
Ottawa | 934,243 | 334 |
Edmonton | 932,546 | 1,361 |
Mississauga | 721,599 | 2,468 |
Winnipeg | 705,224 | 1,430 |
Vancouver | 631,486 | 5,492 |
Brampton | 593,638 | 2,229 |
Hamilton | 536,917 | 1,138 |
Population Density Summary
The population in Canada per square kilometre in 2021 is 3.92 people. The Canada population per square mile is 10.2 people. The vast majority of the people who live in Canada are located in the south, which is much more densely populated than the rest of Canada.