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 Ottawa-Gatineau Census Metropolitan Area | 1,135,014 | 991,726 | 14.45% | 474,806 | 453,579 | 4,665.2 | 243.3 |
| Quebec portion of Ottawa-Gatineau Census Metropolitan Area | 353,293 | 332,057 | 6.40% | 163,207 | 151,142 | 3,381.8 | 104.5 |
| Ottawa-Gatineau 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 |