2001 Canadian census
← 1996 May 15, 2001 2006 →
General information
Country	Canada
Results
Total population	30,007,094 ( 4.0%)
Most populous province/territory	Ontario (11,410,046)
Least populous province/territory	Nunavut (26,745)

The2001 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of theCanadian population.Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day,Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094.^[1] This was a 4% increase over1996 census of 28,846,761. In contrast, the official Statistics Canada population estimate for 2001 was 31,021,300. This is considered a more accurate population number than the actual count.^[2]

The previous census was the1996 census and the following census was in2006 census.

A summary of information about Canada.

Canada has experienced one of the smallest census-to-census growth rates in its population. From 1996 to 2001, the nation's population increased only 4.0%. The census counted 30,007,094 people on May 15, 2001, compared with 28,846,761 on May 14, 1996.

Only three provinces and one territory had growth rates above the national average.Alberta's population soared 10.3%,Ontario gained 6.1% andBritish Columbia, 4.9%.Nunavut's population rose 8.1%. The population ofNewfoundland and Labrador declined for the second consecutive census period.

Urbanization continued. In 2001, 79.4% of Canadians lived in anurban centre of 10,000 people or more, compared with 78.5% in 1996. Outside the urban centres, the population ofrural and small-town areas declined 0.4%.

In 2001, just over 64% of the nation's population, or about 19,297,000 people, lived in the 27 census metropolitan areas (CMAs), up slightly from 63% in 1996. Seven of these 27 CMAs saw their populations grow at a rate of at least double the national average. The strongest rise, by far, occurred inCalgary.

From 1996 to 2001, the nation's population concentrated further in four broad urban regions: the extendedGolden Horseshoe in southern Ontario;Montreal and environs; British Columbia'sLower Mainland and southernVancouver Island; and the Calgary-Edmonton corridor. In 2001, 51% of Canada's population lived in these regions, compared with 49% in 1996.

Rank	Province or territory	Population as of 2001 census	Population as of 1996 census	Change	Percent change
1	Ontario	11,410,046	10,753,573	656,473	6.1
2	Quebec	7,237,479	7,138,795	98,684	1.4
3	British Columbia	3,907,738	3,724,500	183,238	4.9
4	Alberta	2,974,807	2,696,826	277,981	10.3
5	Manitoba	1,119,583	1,113,898	5,685	0.5
6	Saskatchewan	978,933	990,237	-2,318	-1.1
7	Nova Scotia	908,007	909,282	-1,275	-0.1
8	New Brunswick	729,498	738,133	-8,635	-1.2
9	Newfoundland and Labrador	512,930	551,792	-38,862	-7.0
10	Prince Edward Island	135,294	134,557	737	0.5
11	Northwest Territories	37,360	39,672[3]	-2,312	-5.8
12	Yukon	28,674	30,766	-2,092	-6.8
13	Nunavut	26,745	24,730[4]	2,015	8.1
	Canada	30,007,094	28,846,761	1,160,333	4.0

Population bymother tongue of Canada's official languages:

Population ofAboriginal peoples in Canada:

Population byethnic origin. Only those origins with more than 250,000 respondents are included here. This is based entirely on self reporting.

Population byreligion. Only those religions with more than 250,000 respondents are included here. The census question was partly aided—that is, the questionnaire form gave examples of some of the denominations but not others. The actual question asked is noted below.

The actual question asked:"What is this person's religion? Indicate a specific denomination or religion even if this person is not currently a practising member of that group.

For example, Roman Catholic, Ukrainian Catholic, United Church, Anglican, Lutheran, Baptist, Coptic Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Islam, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, etc."

Population by age:

Every person was legally required to return the census questionnaire that required answering basic demographic information. In addition randomly selected people were legally required to complete a much more detailed questionnaire.

On May 15, 2001, Statistics Canada had thousands of canvassers who went around to try to ensure that the entire population was counted. For the first time, this included canvassers who went to homeless shelters to ensure that the homeless were included in the census.

In addition to a small number of individuals who refused to participate, some first nation communities refused to participate en masse and therefore some of the statistics are inaccurate. This is noted as footnotes in many of the affected results.

The census numbers are the basis of the federal governments transfer payments to the provinces and therefore when a province loses population, its transfer payments are decreased.

In addition, the census numbers are one of the elements thatElections Canada uses to create the boundaries of federal ridings.

• Population of Canada
• Demographics of Canada
• Ethnic groups in Canada
• History of immigration to Canada
• Population and housing censuses by country

• 2001 Census - Statistics Canada's page on the 2001 census.

• 2001 in Canada
• Censuses in Canada
• 2001 censuses

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata