Ontario Population
Based on the estimates made using population census data and historical population growth statistics, the population of Ontario as of the year 2013 is 13,472,400.
Ontario’s population of 13,472,400 makes up approximately 38.4% of Canada’s total national population. Due to the 5.7% population growth Ontario has experienced over the past years due to economic prosperity, Ontario is the number one most populated province in Canada. Quebec is the next most populated province in Canada with 8 million people and British Columbia is the 3rd most populated with 4.6 million inhabitants within it’s borders.
Ontario is unique in that it’s inhabitants predominantly live along the southern border aligned with the United States. The northern area of the province of Ontario has a much lower population density.
Ontario Land Area
While Ontario is the most populated province in Canada, Ontario is not Canada’s largest province by land mass. It is in fact the forth largest at 908,607 km^2 or 350,815 mi^2 or 224,521,679 acres. Ontario has a water area of 158,654 km^2 or 61,256 mi^2 or 39,204,257 acres.
Ontario Borders
Ontario is bordered to the west by Manitoba and to the east by Quebec. Ontario is also bordered by the following US States: Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Ontario’s Largest City
Ontario’s largest city is Toronto which has a population of 2,615,060 making it the fifth largest city in North America by population. The next largest city in province of Ontario is Ottawa which only has a population of 883,391. With about 50% of the population being born outside of Canada, Toronto is one of the most diverse communities in the world.
Ontario Federal Representation
Ontario holds 106 of the 308 House of Commons seats making up 34.4% of the total.
Ontario holds 24 of the 105 Senate Seats making up 22.9% of the total.
Ontario Religious Demographics
Religious Affiliations
- Protestant - pop. 3935745 (34.9%)
- Catholic - pop. 3911760 (34.7%)
- No Religion - pop. 1841290 (16.3%)
- Muslim - pop. 352530 (3.1%)
- Other Christians - pop. 301935 (2.7%)
- Christian Orthodox - pop. 264055 (2.3%)
- Hindu - pop. 217555 (1.9%)
- Jewish - pop. 190795 (1.7%)
- Buddhist - pop. 128320 (1.1%)
- Sikh - pop. 104785 (0.9%)
- Eastern religions - pop. 17780 (0.2%)
- Other Religions - pop. 18985 (0.2%)
Ontario Ethnic Demographics
Ethnic Origins
- England - (15.9%)
- Canada - (12.8%)
- Scotland - (11.1%)
- China - (10.6%)
- Irish - (10.5%)
- India - (9.6%)
- Italy - (9.2%)
- Germany - (5.1%)
- France - (4.8%)
- Poland - (4.1%)
- Portugal - (3.7%)
- Philippines - (3.6%)
- Jamaica - (3.2%)
Ontario Economic Statistics
Ontario’s manufacturing power makes up approximately 52% of the total Canadian manufacturing shipments. Ontario’s economic gross domestic product makes up 37% of the domestic product of Canada at $654 billion making it the largest contributor to Canada’s total gross domestic product. The economy is primarily been driven by it’s manufacturing and energy production. Ontario actually supplies 39% of it’s own energy consumption through hydroelectric energy derived from it’s own rivers. It’s geographic features, including direct transportation routes to the United States and control of access for container ships from the Ocean to the Great Lakes, makes Ontario a prime location for manufacturing. The main products of Ontario are paper, machinery, chemicals, electrical appliances, food, steel, iron, and vehicles.
Ontario Historical Population Statistics
| Year | Population |
| 1851 | 952,004 |
| 1861 | 1,396,091 |
| 1871 | 1,620,851 |
| 1881 | 1,926,922 |
| 1891 | 2,114,321 |
| 1901 | 2,182,947 |
| 1911 | 2,527,292 |
| 1921 | 2,933,662 |
| 1931 | 3,431,683 |
| 1941 | 3,787,655 |
| 1951 | 4,597,542 |
| 1956 | 5,404,933 |
| 1961 | 6,236,092 |
| 1966 | 6,960,870 |
| 1971 | 7,703,105 |
| 1976 | 8,264,465 |
| 1981 | 8,625,107 |
| 1986 | 9,101,695 |
| 1991 | 10,084,885 |
| 1996 | 10,753,573 |
| 2001 | 11,410,046 |
| 2006 | 12,160,282 |
| 2011 | 13,472,400 |
Interactive Canadian Province Population Map
Other Resources
To learn more about the population of Ontario, click here.
Learn about Newfoundland and Labrador Population