Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Canada
Canada: Do more people live in urban or rural areas? was 82.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
82.9%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
61st
of 238 countries
All-time high
82.9%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Canada, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Canada stood at 82.9%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Canada peaked at 82.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Canada ranks 61st of 238 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.2% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.7% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 2.0% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 2.0% | -0.8% |
| 1720 | 2.3% | +16.7% |
| 1730 | 2.7% | +16.7% |
| 1740 | 3.1% | +16.7% |
| 1750 | 3.7% | +16.7% |
| 1760 | 4.3% | +16.7% |
| 1770 | 5.0% | +16.7% |
| 1780 | 5.8% | +16.7% |
| 1790 | 6.8% | +16.7% |
| 1800 | 7.9% | +16.7% |
| 1810 | 9.3% | +16.7% |
| 1820 | 10.8% | +16.7% |
| 1830 | 12.6% | +16.7% |
| 1840 | 14.7% | +16.7% |
| 1850 | 17.2% | +16.7% |
| 1860 | 20.0% | +16.7% |
| 1870 | 23.4% | +16.7% |
| 1880 | 27.3% | +16.7% |
| 1890 | 31.8% | +16.7% |
| 1900 | 37.5% | +17.9% |
| 1910 | 45.4% | +21.1% |
| 1920 | 49.5% | +9.0% |
| 1930 | 56.0% | +13.1% |
| 1940 | 60.0% | +7.1% |
| 1950 | 62.2% | +3.7% |
| 1951 | 63.0% | +1.3% |
| 1952 | 63.8% | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 64.6% | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 65.3% | +1.1% |
| 1955 | 66.0% | +1.1% |
| 1956 | 66.7% | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 67.3% | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 67.9% | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 68.5% | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 69.0% | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 69.7% | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 70.4% | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 71.3% | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 72.1% | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 72.9% | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 73.6% | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 74.3% | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 75.0% | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 75.5% | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 75.9% | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 76.1% | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 76.0% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 75.9% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 75.7% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 75.6% | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 75.5% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 75.5% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 75.6% | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 75.6% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 75.7% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 75.7% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 75.9% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 76.0% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 76.2% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 76.4% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 76.5% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 76.5% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 76.5% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 76.5% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 76.6% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 76.6% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 76.7% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 77.0% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 77.3% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 77.6% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 77.9% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 78.1% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 78.3% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 78.4% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 78.6% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 78.8% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 79.1% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 79.4% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 79.7% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 80.0% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 80.2% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 80.4% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 80.7% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 80.9% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 81.0% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 81.1% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 81.2% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 81.3% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 81.4% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 81.5% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 81.7% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 82.0% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 82.2% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 82.4% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 82.5% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 82.7% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 82.9% | +0.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 82.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.3%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Do more people live in urban or rural areas? 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 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1 |
| 1760s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1770s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 1 |
| 1790s | 6.8% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 1 |
| 1800s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
| 1810s | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 1 |
| 1820s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 1830s | 12.6% | 12.6% | 12.6% | 1 |
| 1840s | 14.7% | 14.7% | 14.7% | 1 |
| 1850s | 17.2% | 17.2% | 17.2% | 1 |
| 1860s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 23.4% | 23.4% | 23.4% | 1 |
| 1880s | 27.3% | 27.3% | 27.3% | 1 |
| 1890s | 31.8% | 31.8% | 31.8% | 1 |
| 1900s | 37.5% | 37.5% | 37.5% | 1 |
| 1910s | 45.4% | 45.4% | 45.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 49.5% | 49.5% | 49.5% | 1 |
| 1930s | 56.0% | 56.0% | 56.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 60.0% | 60.0% | 60.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 65.5% | 62.2% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 72.4% | 69.0% | 75.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 75.8% | 75.5% | 76.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 76.2% | 75.7% | 76.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.5% | 76.6% | 78.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.8% | 78.6% | 80.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.3% | 81.0% | 81.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.4% | 82.0% | 82.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 58 New Zealand 84.0% compare
- 59 Norway 83.6% compare
- 60 United Kingdom 83.3% compare
- 62 Germany 82.1% compare
- 63 Falkland Islands 81.5% compare
- 64 Bahamas 81.3% compare
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 do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Canada?
- Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Canada was 82.9% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 82.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Canada rank for do more people live in urban or rural areas??
- Canada ranks 61st out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is do more people live in urban or rural areas? rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Do more people live in urban or rural areas?. 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
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.