Markham, ON Population 2026: 338,503 People

Name: 2021 Census Population and Demographics Profile for Markham
Creator: Statistics Canada
License: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/reference/licence

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Markham. It is a city in Canada that encompasses a land area of 210.93 km². The city has a population density of 1604.80 people per km².

We highlight the Markham city's various population characteristics. From gender, age distribution, ethnicity, household and dwelling, and income to spoken languages, occupation, and religion.

Markham on the Map

The map and listings below are sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors, not Statistics Canada, and may be incomplete depending on how thoroughly the area has been mapped.

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Markham has a population of around 338,503 people. The city's population is in increased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Markham has increased by 2.90%.

Population in 2016	Population in 2021	Difference
328,966	338,503	+2.90%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.57% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Markham's population is projected to reach approximately 348,316 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 1,651.33 people per km².

Population in 2021	Projected Population in 2026	Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
338,503	348,316	1,651.33

This projection is an estimate calculated by CAPopulation from the compound annual growth rate between the 2016 and 2021 censuses. Official 2026 complete census data expected to be released in late 2027.

Population By Genders

The male population of Markham is around 164,615 while the female population is around 173,885.

Of the 338,503 total population in Markham, the largest gender is female with around 173,885 women within the population.

Male	Female	Difference
164,615	173,885	+5.33%

Is Markham a Good Place to Live?

Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Markham compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against Ontario, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.

Employment & Economy

13.8%

Unemployment rate

1.6 pts above the province

51.9%

Employment rate

3.2 pts below the province

60.2%

Participation rate

2.6 pts below the province

Income & Affordability

$104,000

Median household income

$13,000 above the province

10.8%

Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)

0.7 pts above the province

Commute

51.3%

Commute under 30 minutes

10.7 pts below the province

87.2%

Commute by car

3.6 pts above the province

7.8%

Commute by public transit

0.8 pts below the province

Housing Character

56.2%

Single-detached houses

2.6 pts above the province

23.1%

Apartments (any building size)

8.1 pts below the province

Household Composition

3.00 people

Average household size

0.40people above the province

15.6%

One-person households

10.9 pts below the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Other Cities Near Markham

Vaughan (16.7 km)
Pickering (19.9 km)
Toronto (22.9 km)
Oshawa (38.3 km)
Mississauga (38.6 km)
Brampton (38.8 km)
Barrie (65.6 km)
Burlington (69.7 km)
Kawartha Lakes (73.4 km)
St. Catharines (78.0 km)
Hamilton (79.5 km)
Guelph (81.0 km)
Thorold (82.1 km)
Orillia (83.7 km)
Niagara Falls (86.3 km)

Population by Age Characteristics

Markham has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 55 to 59 years old, accounting for 7.30% of the total population. The city median age is 42.40.

Data	Male	Female	Difference	Total
55 to 59 years	11,790 7.20%	13,045 7.50%	9.62%	24,835 7.30%
50 to 54 years	11,380 6.90%	12,805 7.40%	11.13%	24,180 7.10%
45 to 49 years	11,060 6.70%	12,955 7.50%	14.63%	24,015 7.10%
60 to 64 years	10,685 6.50%	11,695 6.70%	8.64%	22,380 6.60%
35 to 39 years	10,350 6.30%	11,480 6.60%	9.84%	21,830 6.40%
30 to 34 years	10,620 6.50%	10,925 6.30%	2.79%	21,540 6.40%
40 to 44 years	9,800 6.00%	11,730 6.70%	16.45%	21,530 6.40%
25 to 29 years	10,875 6.60%	10,480 6.00%	3.63%	21,360 6.30%
10 to 14 years	10,765 6.50%	9,995 5.70%	7.15%	20,760 6.10%
15 to 19 years	10,760 6.50%	9,790 5.60%	9.01%	20,555 6.10%
20 to 24 years	10,570 6.40%	9,775 5.60%	7.52%	20,345 6.00%
65 to 69 years	9,520 5.80%	10,560 6.10%	9.85%	20,080 5.90%
5 to 9 years	9,655 5.90%	9,115 5.20%	5.59%	18,775 5.50%
70 to 74 years	8,155 5.00%	8,965 5.20%	9.04%	17,120 5.10%
0 to 4 years	7,365 4.50%	6,990 4.00%	5.09%	14,350 4.20%
75 to 79 years	4,995 3.00%	5,640 3.20%	11.44%	10,640 3.10%
80 to 84 years	3,415 2.10%	3,895 2.20%	12.32%	7,305 2.20%
85 years and over	2,855 1.70%	4,055 2.30%	29.59%	6,915 2.00%
85 to 89 years	1,905 1.20%	2,415 1.40%	21.12%	4,325 1.30%
90 to 94 years	750 0.50%	1,225 0.70%	38.78%	1,975 0.60%
95 to 99 years	185 0.10%	350 0.20%	47.14%	530 0.20%
100 years and over	15 0.00%	70 0.00%	78.57%	85 0.00%

Broader Age Groups

If the city's population is divided into broader age groups, most of the population falls into the 15 to 64 years age group. The group accounts for 65.70% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 18.30% and 15.90%, respectively.

If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Markham are within the 15 to 64 years age group.

Data	Male	Female	Total
15 to 64 years	65.50%	66.00%	65.70%
Median age of the population	40.80%	43.60%	42.40%
Average age of the population	40.90%	42.70%	41.80%
65 years and over	17.60%	19.00%	18.30%
0 to 14 years	16.90%	15.00%	15.90%

Photos of Places & Sceneries in Markham

Explore Markham Through Videos

Population of Markham by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Markham is quite diverse, which contributes to the city's vibrant cultural landscape. Markham is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the province appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in the province are Chinese, which accounts for 43.33% of the total population, followed by Indian (India) (7.05%), Canadian (3.99%), English (3.84%), and Hong Konger (3.71%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include Sri Lankan, Tamil, Irish, Scottish, and Filipino.

Ethnicity and Origin	Male	Female	Percentage in Population
Chinese	42.94%	43.71%	43.33%
Indian (India)	7.10%	6.99%	7.05%
Canadian	4.29%	3.71%	3.99%
English	3.94%	3.74%	3.84%
Hong Konger	3.80%	3.63%	3.71%
Sri Lankan	3.33%	3.35%	3.34%
Tamil	3.12%	3.08%	3.10%
Irish	2.98%	3.16%	3.07%
Scottish	3.22%	2.94%	3.07%
Filipino	2.63%	3.24%	2.94%

Immigration Profile

Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Markham's population profile.

About 58.6% of Markham's population are immigrants (197,535 people).

The top countries of origin for Markham's immigrant population are China (66,725), Hong Kong (32,315), India (14,305), Sri Lanka (12,710), Philippines (7,075).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of Birth	Population
China	66,725
Hong Kong	32,315
India	14,305
Sri Lanka	12,710
Philippines	7,075

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 62,270 of Markham's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 13.75% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 4 persons households ranked second, accounting for 10.60% of the population. 3 persons, 1 person, and 5 or more persons households account for 10.15%, 7.80%, and 7.70%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in Household	Total	Percentage
2 persons	30,515	13.75%
4 persons	23,525	10.60%
3 persons	22,460	10.15%
1 person	17,295	7.80%
5 or more persons	17,070	7.70%

Income in Markham

Analyzing income distribution in Markham can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Markham is $36,000.

A region's per capita data sheds light on the average income earned per person living in it. Since per capita income is calculated by dividing the region's total income by its population, it quantifies the population's economic situation on an individual basis.

Such data offers insights into the city's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Markham population or around 35,650 people falls in the $10,000 to $29,999 group. The next largest groups are the Under $10,000, and $50,000 to $79,999 with around 31,850 and 31,255 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Markham's median household income is $104,000, according to 2020 data.

Above national average Markham's median household income is 20,000 dollars above the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the city's economic landscape as well as the living standards of its population.

Analyzing such data enables researchers, policymakers, and businesses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the city's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Markham

This data sheds light on the distribution of Markham residents across educational milestones.

Such information is crucial in shaping the province’s policies on education, workforce development strategies, and initiatives that aim to improve access to quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

65.35% or most of the Markham population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 43.95% of the population has a Bachelor's degree or higher, 22.40% has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 12.25% has No certificate, diploma or degree.

Only using 25% sample data.
Degree	Men	Women	Total	Percentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree	143,090	154,795	297,880	65.35%
Bachelor's degree or higher	96,660	102,880	199,545	43.95%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate	51,925	54,965	106,895	22.40%
No certificate, diploma or degree	27,900	32,265	60,170	12.25%

Above national average 44.0% of Markham's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Markham

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Markham. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is at 8.28% which is very high.

Only using 25% sample data.
Status	Percentage
Employment rate	51.89%
Unemployment rate	8.28%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the city who work as an employee. The majority of Markham's population (around 64.70%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the city, there are 19,260 men and 11,725 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 30,985.

Only using 25% sample data.
Status	Men	Women	Total
Self-employed	19,260	11,725	30,985

Employment Industry Sectors

The Markham industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Markham is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.

Markham has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (13%) works in the professional, scientific and technical services sector. The Retail trade sector comes second at 11%, followed by Finance and insurance at 10%.

Only using 25% sample data.
Industry	Men	Women	Percentage
Professional, scientific and technical services	13,845	8,865	13%
Retail trade	9,075	8,785	11%
Finance and insurance	8,420	9,355	10%
Health care and social assistance	3,885	12,375	10%
Manufacturing	8,330	5,380	8%
Educational services	3,120	7,125	6%
Accommodation and food services	5,130	4,825	6%
Wholesale trade	4,865	3,280	5%
Construction	6,305	1,500	5%
Transportation and warehousing	5,025	1,465	4%
Other services (except public administration)	2,860	3,385	4%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services	3,310	2,875	4%
Real estate and rental and leasing	2,980	2,860	3%
Public administration	2,565	2,835	3%
Information and cultural industries	2,645	2,085	3%
Arts, entertainment and recreation	1,200	955	1%
Management of companies and enterprises	595	490	1%
Utilities	625	335	1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	260	180	0%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction	90	40	0%

Labour Market Snapshot

A quick snapshot of where Markham residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.

Top employer sectors in Markham: Professional, scientific and technical services (13%), -45 Retail trade (11%), Finance and insurance (10%)

Top occupation categories in Markham: Sales and service occupations (24%), Business, finance and administration occupations (23%), Natural and applied sciences and related occupations (14%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the city. It provides a snapshot of workplaces, showing their geographic distribution and the flow of workers across different areas.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work Location	Men	Women	Total	Percentage
Usual place of work	38,440	36,895	75,330	51.20%
Worked at home	28,165	28,650	56,810	38.60%
No fixed workplace address	9,995	3,950	13,950	9.50%
Worked outside Canada	680	295	980	0.70%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Markham residents travel to school or work. It highlights the frequency of different modes of transportation like walking, cycling, carpooling, and public transit.

The data is pivotal in the making of transportation policies as well as the development of transit systems. Ultimately commuting data contributes to improving the quality of life of Markham residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Markham spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the city's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the city.

Only using 25% sample data.
Duration	Percentage
15 to 29 minutes	34.30%
30 to 44 minutes	27.50%
Less than 15 minutes	17.00%
60 minutes and over	10.80%
45 to 59 minutes	10.30%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Markhamshed light on its societal dynamics. It captures the diverse types of marital statuses of the population.

Long-term commitments, such as common-law partnerships, civil unions, and marriages, reflect the city's social fabric. We can gain insights into Markham's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law

61.13%

Married or living common-law

38.87%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights city's linguistic diversity, showing elegances of solo language as well as bilingual harmonies. Other than language, it also shows the cultural landscape in Canada.

English is the most spoken official language in Markham. About 299,050 people living in the province speak English, 33,990 people speak Neither English nor French, 2,575 people speak English and French language, and 1,875 people speak French language.

Language	Population
English	299,050
Neither English nor French	33,990
English and French	2,575
French	1,875

Mother Tongue & Home Language

Useful for newcomers researching an area: this shows the language residents first learned at home in childhood (mother tongue) and the language they speak most often at home now, which can differ as families settle in.

Language	Mother Tongue	Spoken Most Often at Home
Non-official languages	59.1%	42.5%
English	33.4%	48.3%
French	0.5%	0.2%

Religion

Markham is predominantly Christian. About 118,215 of its population is Christian (54,525 males and 54,525 females).

The second largest religion in the province is Hindu with 9.2% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Muslim and Buddhist, both represent 7.9% and 4.0% of the population, while Jewish represent 1.4% of the population.

Religion	Population
Christian	35.1%
Hindu	9.2%
Islam	7.9%
Buddhist	4.0%
Jewish	1.4%
Sikh	1.1%

Points of Interest in Markham

Schools

Parks

Libraries

Community Centres

Places to Visit in Markham

Museums

Attractions

Historic Sites

Stadiums

Fletcher's Fields Stadium Seating

Theatres

Green Spaces in Markham

Name	Type	Approx. Area
Cricklewood Park	Parks	—
near dam	Parks	—
Stouffville Dog Park	Parks	—
Rouge Park	Parks	—
Quantztown Park	Parks	—
Linda Way Parkside	Parks	—
Toogood Pond Lookout Platform	Parks	—
Community Garden	Parks	—
Park Entrance	Parks	—
Macrill Crescent Pond	Parks	—
Springdale Park	Parks	—
German Settler Park	Parks	—
Bayview Reservoir Park	Parks	—
Celebration Park with splash Pad	Parks	—
Simonston Park	Parks	9.9 ha
Robert Grundy Parkette	Parks	0.5 ha
Ashton Meadows Park	Parks	6.9 ha
Calvert Park	Parks	6.2 ha
Cummer Park	Parks	6.0 ha
Terry Fox Park	Parks	6.3 ha
Cresthaven Park	Parks	2.7 ha
Cummer Parkette	Parks	0.5 ha
German Mills Meadow and Natural Habitat	Parks	28.3 ha
German Mills Meadow and Natural Habitat	Parks	18.0 ha

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Frequently Asked Questions about Markham

According to the 2021 census, Markham has a population of approximately 338,503 people.

Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Markham increased by 2.90%.

Markham has a population density of approximately 1,604.80 people per square kilometre.

Markham covers a land area of approximately 210.93 km².

The median age of the population in Markham is 42.40 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Markham is Chinese.

The median household income in Markham is $104,000, based on 2020 data.

English is the most common first official language spoken in Markham.

Christian is the predominant religion in Markham.

Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca) conducted the 2026 Census of Population in May 2026. However, census data goes through an extensive processing, validation, and quality-assurance period before public release. Based on the release plan, the 2026 Census results begin rolling out on February 10, 2027, with complete community-level profiles available by December 1, 2027. Until then, this page uses 2021 Census data as its primary source, supplemented by a population projection estimate for 2026 calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from the 2016–2021 Census period.