Canada’s population was 41,798,407 on July 1, 2026, up 0.2 per cent from April 1, Statistics Canada said in its quarterly estimates released Sept. 23. Ontario had the most people at 16,262,121, followed by Quebec at 9,067,114. Nunavut and Yukon posted the fastest quarterly growth, while the Northwest Territories was the only jurisdiction to shrink.
Photo: Pedestrians on a street in Quebec City. Surinder Singh / Unsplash (licensed for free use).
Updated Nov. 4, 2026: figures are the latest quarterly estimates from Statistics Canada, reference date July 1, 2026.
| Province or territory | Population, July 1, 2026 | Share of Canada | Change from April 1, 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 41,798,407 | 100 per cent | +0.2 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Ontario | 16,262,121 | 38.9 per cent | +0.1 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Quebec | 9,067,114 | 21.7 per cent | +0.1 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| British Columbia | 5,710,598 | 13.7 per cent | +0.1 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Alberta | 5,101,050 | 12.2 per cent | +0.4 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Manitoba | 1,517,379 | 3.6 per cent | +0.2 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Saskatchewan | 1,278,402 | 3.1 per cent | +0.4 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Nova Scotia | 1,103,419 | 2.6 per cent | +0.4 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| New Brunswick | 883,522 | 2.1 per cent | +0.6 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 552,462 | 1.3 per cent | +0.3 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Prince Edward Island | 182,989 | 0.4 per cent | +0.2 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Yukon | 50,356 | 0.1 per cent | +1.0 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Northwest Territories | 45,904 | 0.1 per cent | −0.4 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
| Nunavut | 43,091 | 0.1 per cent | +1.1 per cent | Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 |
Which province has the largest population?
Ontario, with 16,262,121 people, or 38.9 per cent of the national total. Quebec follows with 9,067,114 (21.7 per cent), British Columbia with 5,710,598 (13.7 per cent) and Alberta with 5,101,050 (12.2 per cent). Together those four provinces held 86.5 per cent of Canada’s population on July 1, 2026.
How fast is Canada’s population growing?
Statistics Canada reported growth of 0.2 per cent between April 1 and July 1, 2026. New Brunswick (0.6 per cent) led the provinces, followed by Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Alberta at 0.4 per cent each. Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia each grew 0.1 per cent. Our earlier coverage notes how the agency revised its estimates upward.
Which provinces or territories are shrinking?
In the latest quarter, only the Northwest Territories recorded a decline, at 0.4 per cent. Territorial populations are small, so a change of a few hundred people moves the percentage sharply. Statistics Canada’s figures for the Atlantic provinces at the end of 2025 are covered in our report on Atlantic population declines.
Why do population numbers matter for jobs, prices and wages?
Population drives labour supply, housing demand and federal transfers. For related provincial data, see our tables on the unemployment rate by province, the inflation rate by province and average weekly earnings by province.
How we compiled this
All figures come from Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01 (Population estimates, quarterly), as published in the Daily release “Canada’s population estimates, second quarter 2026” on Sept. 23, 2026. Percentage changes are Statistics Canada’s own quarterly figures. Shares of the national total are our calculation from the published counts. The provincial and territorial counts sum to the national figure. We checked the source on Nov. 4, 2026. Statistics Canada’s next quarterly release will update this page.
Cite this page: Canada News Media, Population of Canada by province and territory, 2026, updated Nov. 4, 2026, https://canadanewsmedia.ca/population-of-canada-by-province-2026/
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