2021 Census

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Population and dwelling counts

On February 9, 2022, Statistics Canada released the population and dwelling counts data from the 2021 Census. Note that the February 9, 2022, population figure does not include the population undercoverage, being those persons not enumerated on Census Day for a variety of reasons. 

Statistics Canada released the final population undercoverage through their Post Censal Estimates on September 27, 2023 (for more information regarding the undercount, please visit the Statistics Canada website. For example, in the 2016 Census, the initial population count for the City of Ottawa was 934,243. The final 2016 Post Censal Estimate for the City of Ottawa was revised to 1,007,501, representing a 7.84 per cent undercoverage.

The City of Ottawa preliminary population grew by 8.9 per cent to 1,017,449 in 2021 (934,243 in 2016). If the 2016 population undercoverage is applied to the 2021 Census, the city population would be 1,097,217.

The Ottawa-Gatineau Census Metropolitan Area grew by 12.4 per cent to 1,488,307 in 2021. Both the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa-Gatineau Census Metropolitan Area grew at a faster rate than both Ontario (5.8 per cent) and Canada (5.2 per cent) from 2016 to 2021.

The table below outlines the population and dwelling counts along with population density information for the City of Ottawa, the Ottawa-Gatineau Census Metropolitan Area, and the Ontario and Quebec portions of the Ottawa-Gatineau Census Metropolitan Area. The municipal boundary for the City of Ottawa is geographically known as the “Ottawa Census Division” or “Ottawa Census Subdivision” by Statistics Canada.

2021 Census Counts -- Ottawa-Gatineau Census Metropolitan Area and City of Ottawa

  Population 2021* Population 2016 Per cent % change Dwellings total Dwellings occupied Area square kilometres 2021 Population density per square kilometres*
Ontario portion of Census Metropolitan Area 1,135,014 991,726 14.45% 474,806 453,579 4,665.2 243.3
Quebec portion of Census Metropolitan Area 353,293 332,057 6.40% 163,207 151,142 3,381.8 104.5
Census Metropolitan Area 1,488,307 1,323,783 12.43% 638,013 604,721 8,046.99 185
City of Ottawa 1,017,449 934,234 8.91% 427,113 407,252 2,790.3 364.6

*Does not include an estimate for the undercount.  In 2016 the undercount for the City of Ottawa was 7.84 per cent.

Below are the City-derived 2021 mid-year estimates. The 2001 Final Post Censal Population Estimate is used as the base and net new residential units from issued building permits since 2001 are added to this base. Each unit type is assigned a population per unit average and adjustments are made for a rental vacancy. Inaccurate dwelling counts from the 2006 Census that partially carried forward to the 2011 Census prevented the use of more recent Census as the base for the city-derived estimates. The city-derived estimates will be updated in 2025.

The mid-year 2021 reporting period for the City estimates is comparable to the census release. However, at this time the City-derived population is higher than the 2021 census population, which does not include an estimate for the undercount (for more information regarding the undercount, please visit the Statistics Canada website

City of Ottawa, sub-area household and population estimates, mid-2021

Sub-area Population Households
1. Central Area 12,116 7,706
2. Inner Area 91,676 49,655
3. Ottawa East 53,319 27,656
4. Beacon Hill 32,428 15,207
5. Alta Vista 75,318 33,096
6. Hunt Club 65,749 26,840
7. Merivale 78,909 35,220
8. Ottawa West 47,705 22,963
9. Bayshore 38,528 17,948
10. Cedarview 45,436 18,956
11. Kanata-Stittsville 137,053 51,973
12. South Nepean 95,923 35,927
13. Riverside South 20,677 7,339
14. Leitrim 14,893 4,911
15. Orléans 124,253 49,043
16. Rural Northeast 11,980 4,424
17. Rural Southeast 29,153 10,338
18. Rural Southwest 31,387 11,278
19. Rural Northwest 26,408 9,489
     City of Ottawa 1,032,912 439,969

City of Ottawa, ward occupied household and population estimates, mid-2021

Ward Population Households
1. Orléans 48,408 19,555
2. Innes 44,583 17,065
3. Barrhaven 66,542 24,498
4. Kanata North 39,466 16,056
5. West Carleton-March 26,432 9,485
6. Stittsville 45,579 16,147
7. Bay 45,587 21,325
8. College 52,077 22,480
9. Knoxdale-Merivale 39,728 16,436
10. Gloucester-Southgate 47,573 19,305
11. Beacon Hill-Cyrville 34,028 14,422
12. Rideau-Vanier 50,093 28,890
13. Rideau-Rockcliffe 41,331 20,656
14. Somerset 41,612 25,713
15. Kitchissippi 46,944 22,739
16. River 48,509 21,368
17. Capital 38,795 18,188
18. Alta Vista 44,682 20,139
19. Cumberland 54,211 20,688
20. Osgoode 30,392 10,763
21. Rideau-Goulbourn 35,542 12,645
22. Gloucester-South Nepean 61,113 22,404
23. Kanata South 49,685 19,002
City of Ottawa 1,032,912 439,969