Why do most Canadians live near the southern border of Canada?

Most of Canada’s population is concentrated in a narrow strip along the U.S.-Canadian border primarily because of the availability of good agricultural land in those southern regions. While Canada spans a vast territory, much of the country—including the Canadian Shield, northern mountain ranges, and tundra zones—is largely devoid of inhabitants due to its harsh northern environment.12

Historically, settlement patterns were dictated by the presence of arable land, which occurs in patches separated by physical barriers. The Great Lakes–St. Lawrence lowlands provided fertile soil that supported a dense network of villages and towns, eventually evolving into the country's industrial and urban heartland. Consequently, about nine-tenths of the population resides within this southern strip, which accounts for only about one-tenth of Canada's total land area. While resource development and port cities also spurred growth in specific locations, the southern regions remain the most densely settled due to these favorable geographic and agricultural conditions.12