Urban area over the long-term in Canada
Canada: Urban area over the long-term was 9,053 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
9,053 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
15th
of 202 countries
All-time high
9,053 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0006 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Canada, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Canada recorded 9,053 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Canada peaked at 9,053 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0006 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Canada 15th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Canada, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0023 km² per grid cell | +260.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0079 km² per grid cell | +250.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0271 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1400 | 0.0916 km² per grid cell | +237.5% |
| 1500 | 0.3052 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1600 | 0.9156 km² per grid cell | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 2.75 km² per grid cell | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 3.1 km² per grid cell | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 4.2 km² per grid cell | +35.7% |
| 1730 | 5.71 km² per grid cell | +36.1% |
| 1740 | 7.8 km² per grid cell | +36.4% |
| 1750 | 10.66 km² per grid cell | +36.8% |
| 1760 | 14.62 km² per grid cell | +37.1% |
| 1770 | 20.09 km² per grid cell | +37.4% |
| 1780 | 27.65 km² per grid cell | +37.7% |
| 1790 | 38.11 km² per grid cell | +37.8% |
| 1800 | 52.53 km² per grid cell | +37.8% |
| 1810 | 72.23 km² per grid cell | +37.5% |
| 1820 | 99.52 km² per grid cell | +37.8% |
| 1830 | 135.4 km² per grid cell | +36.1% |
| 1840 | 180.25 km² per grid cell | +33.1% |
| 1850 | 232.59 km² per grid cell | +29.0% |
| 1860 | 339.51 km² per grid cell | +46.0% |
| 1870 | 387.76 km² per grid cell | +14.2% |
| 1880 | 442.36 km² per grid cell | +14.1% |
| 1890 | 487.17 km² per grid cell | +10.1% |
| 1900 | 531.7 km² per grid cell | +9.1% |
| 1910 | 749.95 km² per grid cell | +41.0% |
| 1920 | 926.64 km² per grid cell | +23.6% |
| 1930 | 1,209 km² per grid cell | +30.4% |
| 1940 | 1,452 km² per grid cell | +20.1% |
| 1950 | 1,759 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1951 | 1,835 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1952 | 1,920 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1953 | 2,008 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1954 | 2,099 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1955 | 2,195 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1956 | 2,294 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1957 | 2,385 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1958 | 2,477 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1959 | 2,569 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1960 | 2,658 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1961 | 2,745 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1962 | 2,838 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 2,931 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 3,026 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 3,127 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 3,233 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 3,335 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 3,439 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 3,541 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 3,639 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 3,730 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 3,789 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 3,844 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 3,895 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 3,944 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 4,003 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 4,069 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 4,134 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 4,197 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 4,258 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 4,317 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 4,384 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 4,452 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 4,528 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 4,615 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 4,696 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 4,780 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 4,871 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 4,962 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 5,049 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 5,140 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 5,241 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 5,342 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 5,436 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 5,527 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 5,625 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 5,728 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 5,829 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 5,934 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 6,043 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 6,130 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 6,220 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 6,312 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 6,408 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 6,507 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 6,612 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 6,719 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 6,832 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 6,942 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 7,054 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 7,183 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 7,311 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 7,440 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 7,569 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 7,704 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 7,837 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 7,971 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 8,106 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 8,243 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 8,379 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 8,513 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 8,646 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 8,779 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 8,917 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 9,053 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 9,053 km² per grid cell is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 9.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +260.0% | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.0023 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +250.0% | 0.0023 km² per grid cell | 0.0079 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +242.9% | 0.0079 km² per grid cell | 0.0271 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +237.5% | 0.0271 km² per grid cell | 0.0916 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +233.3% | 0.0916 km² per grid cell | 0.3052 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.3052 km² per grid cell | 0.9156 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0023 km² per grid cell | 0.0023 km² per grid cell | 0.0023 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0079 km² per grid cell | 0.0079 km² per grid cell | 0.0079 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0271 km² per grid cell | 0.0271 km² per grid cell | 0.0271 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0916 km² per grid cell | 0.0916 km² per grid cell | 0.0916 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.3052 km² per grid cell | 0.3052 km² per grid cell | 0.3052 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.9156 km² per grid cell | 0.9156 km² per grid cell | 0.9156 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.75 km² per grid cell | 2.75 km² per grid cell | 2.75 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 3.1 km² per grid cell | 3.1 km² per grid cell | 3.1 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 4.2 km² per grid cell | 4.2 km² per grid cell | 4.2 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 5.71 km² per grid cell | 5.71 km² per grid cell | 5.71 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 7.8 km² per grid cell | 7.8 km² per grid cell | 7.8 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 10.66 km² per grid cell | 10.66 km² per grid cell | 10.66 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 14.62 km² per grid cell | 14.62 km² per grid cell | 14.62 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 20.09 km² per grid cell | 20.09 km² per grid cell | 20.09 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 27.65 km² per grid cell | 27.65 km² per grid cell | 27.65 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 38.11 km² per grid cell | 38.11 km² per grid cell | 38.11 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 52.53 km² per grid cell | 52.53 km² per grid cell | 52.53 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 72.23 km² per grid cell | 72.23 km² per grid cell | 72.23 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 99.52 km² per grid cell | 99.52 km² per grid cell | 99.52 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 135.4 km² per grid cell | 135.4 km² per grid cell | 135.4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 180.25 km² per grid cell | 180.25 km² per grid cell | 180.25 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 232.59 km² per grid cell | 232.59 km² per grid cell | 232.59 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 339.51 km² per grid cell | 339.51 km² per grid cell | 339.51 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 387.76 km² per grid cell | 387.76 km² per grid cell | 387.76 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 442.36 km² per grid cell | 442.36 km² per grid cell | 442.36 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 487.17 km² per grid cell | 487.17 km² per grid cell | 487.17 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 531.7 km² per grid cell | 531.7 km² per grid cell | 531.7 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 749.95 km² per grid cell | 749.95 km² per grid cell | 749.95 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 926.64 km² per grid cell | 926.64 km² per grid cell | 926.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 1,209 km² per grid cell | 1,209 km² per grid cell | 1,209 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 1,452 km² per grid cell | 1,452 km² per grid cell | 1,452 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 2,154 km² per grid cell | 1,759 km² per grid cell | 2,569 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 3,088 km² per grid cell | 2,658 km² per grid cell | 3,541 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 3,924 km² per grid cell | 3,639 km² per grid cell | 4,197 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,586 km² per grid cell | 4,258 km² per grid cell | 4,962 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,485 km² per grid cell | 5,049 km² per grid cell | 5,934 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,472 km² per grid cell | 6,043 km² per grid cell | 6,942 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,642 km² per grid cell | 7,054 km² per grid cell | 8,243 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,714 km² per grid cell | 8,379 km² per grid cell | 9,053 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Canada?
- Urban area over the long-term in Canada was 9,053 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 9,053 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0006 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Canada rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Canada ranks 15th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.