Which parts of Canada have the largest concentrations of population?

Canada is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries, with vast northern regions—including the Canadian Shield, the northern Appalachians, and the tundra and boreal forest zones—remaining almost devoid of inhabitants.1

Instead, the population is heavily concentrated in the south, with approximately nine-tenths of all Canadians living within a narrow strip of land along the international border with the United States, an area that accounts for only about one-tenth of the country's total land area.23

Key areas of high population density include:

• The Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Lowlands: This region serves as Canada's urban, industrial, and financial heartland, featuring a dense network of cities and towns.3
• Major Metropolitan Areas: Significant concentrations are found in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.12
• Other Regional Hubs: Population is also clustered around the Bay of Fundy, the southern prairies, and the Columbia and Fraser valleys. In the west, the growth of the petroleum industry has stimulated significant population centers in Calgary and Edmonton.13