Ottawa, ON Population 2026: 1,017,449 People

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

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Ottawa. It is a city in Canada that encompasses a land area of 2,788.20 km². The city has a population density of 364.90 people per km².

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

Ottawa 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, Ottawa has a population of around 1,017,449 people. The city's population is in increased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Ottawa has increased by ▲ 8.91%.

Population in 2016	Population in 2021	Difference
934,243	1,017,449	+8.91%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.72% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Ottawa's population is projected to reach approximately 1,108,066 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 397.41 people per km².

Population in 2021	Projected Population in 2026	Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
1,017,449	1,108,066	397.41

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.

Ottawa Population Trend & Context

Ottawa is the 2nd-largest city in Ontario, with a 2021 census population of 1,017,449 — an increase of 83,206 (▲ 8.91%) people from the 934,243 recorded in 2016.

The city's population has grown steadily over this period, reflecting broader growth trends among Ontario cities. The city's median age of 40 years closely mirrors the national median of 41.9, suggesting a demographic profile in line with the Canadian average.

How does Ottawa compare to other Ontario cities?

Toronto: 2,794,356 (2021)
Ottawa: 1,017,449 (2021) ← 2nd largest
Mississauga: 717,961 (2021)
Brampton: 656,480 (2021)

Population By Genders

The male population of Ottawa is around 496,045 while the female population is around 521,405.

Of the 1,017,449 total population in Ottawa, the largest gender is female with around 521,405 women within the population.

Male	Female	Difference
496,045	521,405	+4.86%

Is Ottawa a Good Place to Live?

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

Employment & Economy

10.3%

Unemployment rate

1.9 pts below the province

59.1%

Employment rate

4.0 pts above the province

65.9%

Participation rate

3.1 pts above the province

Income & Affordability

$102,000

Median household income

$11,000 above the province

8.9%

Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)

1.2 pts below the province

Commute

69.1%

Commute under 30 minutes

7.1 pts above the province

76.8%

Commute by car

6.8 pts below the province

11.2%

Commute by public transit

2.6 pts above the province

Housing Character

41.7%

Single-detached houses

11.9 pts below the province

31.4%

Apartments (any building size)

0.2 pts above the province

Household Composition

2.50 people

Average household size

0.10people below the province

28.6%

One-person households

2.1 pts above the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Ottawa Population Compared to Ontario

Ontario's population in 2021 was 14,223,942, spread across the area. Here's how Ottawa compares to the city's key indicators:

Indicator	Ottawa	Ontario
Median household income	$102,000	$91,000
Unemployment rate	10.3%	12.2%
Median age	40	41.6
Bachelor's degree or higher	45.5%	33.4%
Immigrants (%)	25.9%	30.0%

Population by Age Characteristics

Ottawa has a young population. The majority of the population is people aged 25 to 29 years old, accounting for 7.20% of the total population. The city median age is 40.00.

Data	Male	Female	Difference	Total
25 to 29 years	36,540 7.40%	36,295 7.00%	0.67%	72,830 7.20%
55 to 59 years	35,225 7.10%	36,235 6.90%	2.79%	71,465 7.00%
20 to 24 years	35,910 7.20%	34,875 6.70%	2.88%	70,785 7.00%
30 to 34 years	34,670 7.00%	35,520 6.80%	2.39%	70,190 6.90%
35 to 39 years	33,780 6.80%	35,735 6.90%	5.47%	69,520 6.80%
50 to 54 years	32,775 6.60%	34,490 6.60%	4.97%	67,265 6.60%
45 to 49 years	31,705 6.40%	34,540 6.60%	8.21%	66,240 6.50%
40 to 44 years	31,520 6.40%	34,370 6.60%	8.29%	65,890 6.50%
60 to 64 years	30,710 6.20%	33,090 6.30%	7.19%	63,795 6.30%
10 to 14 years	30,930 6.20%	29,790 5.70%	3.69%	60,720 6.00%
15 to 19 years	30,685 6.20%	29,705 5.70%	3.19%	60,385 5.90%
5 to 9 years	29,290 5.90%	28,125 5.40%	3.98%	57,410 5.60%
65 to 69 years	24,910 5.00%	27,445 5.30%	9.24%	52,355 5.10%
0 to 4 years	24,600 5.00%	24,195 4.60%	1.65%	48,790 4.80%
70 to 74 years	21,150 4.30%	24,230 4.60%	12.71%	45,375 4.50%
75 to 79 years	14,100 2.80%	16,840 3.20%	16.27%	30,940 3.00%
85 years and over	8,350 1.70%	14,050 2.70%	40.57%	22,395 2.20%
80 to 84 years	9,190 1.90%	11,890 2.30%	22.71%	21,080 2.10%
85 to 89 years	5,445 1.10%	7,940 1.50%	31.42%	13,385 1.30%
90 to 94 years	2,305 0.50%	4,470 0.90%	48.43%	6,775 0.70%
95 to 99 years	540 0.10%	1,415 0.30%	61.84%	1,960 0.20%
100 years and over	55 0.00%	220 0.00%	75.00%	275 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 66.70% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 16.90% and 16.40%, respectively.

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

Data	Male	Female	Total
15 to 64 years	67.20%	66.10%	66.70%
Average age of the population	39.80%	41.50%	40.70%
Median age of the population	38.80%	40.80%	40.00%
65 years and over	15.70%	18.10%	16.90%
0 to 14 years	17.10%	15.70%	16.40%

Photos of Places & Sceneries in Ottawa

Explore Ottawa Through Videos

Population of Ottawa by Ethnicity and Origin

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

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in Ottawa are Irish, which accounts for 19.21% of the total population, followed by Scottish (16.01%), English (15.63%), French (14.06%), and Canadian (11.41%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Ottawa include German, Chinese, Italian, British Isles, and French Canadian.

Ethnicity and Origin	Male	Female	Percentage in Population
Irish	18.78%	19.62%	19.21%
Scottish	16.11%	15.91%	16.01%
English	15.78%	15.49%	15.63%
French	13.89%	14.22%	14.06%
Canadian	11.73%	11.10%	11.41%
German	7.40%	7.32%	7.36%
Chinese	4.57%	5.00%	4.79%
Italian	4.64%	4.49%	4.56%
British Isles	3.85%	3.89%	3.87%
French Canadian	3.14%	3.42%	3.28%

Immigration Profile

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

About 25.9% of Ottawa's population are immigrants (259,215 people).

The top countries of origin for Ottawa's immigrant population are China (20,320), India (16,195), United Kingdom (14,765), Lebanon (11,905), Philippines (10,505).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of Birth	Population
China	20,320
India	16,195
United Kingdom	14,765
Lebanon	11,905
Philippines	10,505

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 169,760 of Ottawa's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 16.60% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 14.30% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 7.60%, 7.25%, and 4.25%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in Household	Total	Percentage
2 persons	135,365	16.60%
1 person	116,370	14.30%
3 persons	61,740	7.60%
4 persons	59,175	7.25%
5 or more persons	34,605	4.25%

Income in Ottawa

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

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Ottawa is $50,000.

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 Ottawa population or around 117,420 people falls in the $50,000 to $79,999 group. The next largest groups are the $10,000 to $29,999, and $100,000 to $149,999 with around 104,460 and 96,335 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Ottawa's median household income is $102,000, according to 2020 data.

Above national average Ottawa's median household income is 18,000 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 Ottawa

This data sheds light on the distribution of Ottawa 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.

71.35% or most of the Ottawa population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 45.45% of the population has a Bachelor's degree or higher, 20.30% has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 8.30% has No certificate, diploma or degree.

Only using 25% sample data.
Degree	Men	Women	Total	Percentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree	458,280	509,130	967,415	71.35%
Bachelor's degree or higher	287,485	326,925	614,400	45.45%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate	148,515	139,295	287,810	20.30%
No certificate, diploma or degree	61,570	60,645	122,215	8.30%

Above national average 45.5% of Ottawa's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Ottawa

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

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Ottawa is at 6.81% which is quite high.

Only using 25% sample data.
Status	Percentage
Employment rate	59.12%
Unemployment rate	6.81%

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 Ottawa's population (around 70.40%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the city, there are 39,420 men and 26,110 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 65,530.

Only using 25% sample data.
Status	Men	Women	Total
Self-employed	39,420	26,110	65,530

Employment Industry Sectors

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

Ottawa has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (21%) works in the public administration sector. The Health care and social assistance sector comes second at 11%, followed by Professional, scientific and technical services at 11%.

Only using 25% sample data.
Industry	Men	Women	Percentage
Public administration	56,630	59,600	21%
Health care and social assistance	14,360	48,500	11%
Professional, scientific and technical services	38,045	23,790	11%
Retail trade	27,595	25,760	10%
Educational services	13,800	28,210	8%
Construction	23,870	4,210	5%
Accommodation and food services	13,895	14,075	5%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services	13,835	8,465	4%
Other services (except public administration)	8,790	11,725	4%
Transportation and warehousing	14,500	4,085	3%
Finance and insurance	9,085	9,325	3%
Manufacturing	11,435	4,795	3%
Information and cultural industries	7,900	4,885	2%
Wholesale trade	7,960	2,965	2%
Arts, entertainment and recreation	4,875	4,800	2%
Real estate and rental and leasing	4,780	3,980	2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	1,500	955	0%
Utilities	1,110	495	0%
Management of companies and enterprises	430	405	0%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction	450	100	0%

Labour Market Snapshot

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

Top employer sectors in Ottawa: Public administration (21%), Health care and social assistance (11%), Professional, scientific and technical services (11%)

Top occupation categories in Ottawa: Sales and service occupations (21%), Business, finance and administration occupations (20%), Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (17%)

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	116,485	116,145	232,625	47.20%
Worked at home	104,575	111,125	215,705	43.70%
No fixed workplace address	32,430	10,645	43,070	8.70%
Worked outside Canada	1,125	620	1,745	0.40%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Ottawa 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 Ottawa residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Ottawa 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	42.20%
Less than 15 minutes	26.90%
30 to 44 minutes	20.10%
45 to 59 minutes	5.80%
60 minutes and over	5.10%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Ottawashed 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 Ottawa's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law

55.76%

Married or living common-law

44.24%

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 Ottawa. About 824,560 people living in the province speak English, 141,555 people speak French, 25,845 people speak English and French language, and 15,000 people speak Neither English nor French language.

Language	Population
English	824,560
French	141,555
English and French	25,845
Neither English nor French	15,000

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
English	58.2%	73.0%
Non-official languages	23.1%	12.4%
French	12.5%	8.2%

Religion

Ottawa is predominantly Christian. About 528,700 of its population is Christian (244,560 males and 244,560 females).

The second largest religion in the province is Muslim with 9.9% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Hindu and Buddhist, both represent 2.0% and 1.1% of the population, while Jewish represent 1.1% of the population.

Religion	Population
Christian	52.8%
Islam	9.9%
Hindu	2.0%
Buddhist	1.1%
Jewish	1.1%
Sikh	0.6%

Points of Interest in Ottawa

Schools

Libraries

Community Centres

Places to Visit in Ottawa

Museums

Attractions

Historic Sites

Theatres

Green Spaces in Ottawa

Name	Type	Approx. Area
Theatre du Village	Parks	—
Baxter Conservation Area back entrance	Parks	—
Checkerspot Park	Parks	—
Annie Pootoogook Park	Parks	1.5 ha
Burnett Park	Parks	4.5 ha
Weybridge Park	Parks	4.2 ha
Redpine Park	Parks	1.3 ha
Borden Farm Park	Parks	1.4 ha
Raoul Wallenberg Park	Parks	3.0 ha
Gilbey Park	Parks	3.3 ha
Nepean Creek Park	Parks	37.7 ha
Ben Franklin Park East	Parks	12.7 ha
Ben Franklin Park West	Parks	8.3 ha
Arlington Woods Park	Parks	6.1 ha
Bateman Park	Parks	0.7 ha
Pinecrest Recreation Complex and Park	Parks	12.5 ha
Dominion Arboretum	Parks	33.2 ha
Mulligan Park	Parks	2.9 ha
Totteridge Park	Parks	0.9 ha
Finchley Park	Parks	0.4 ha
Tierney Park	Parks	0.9 ha
Leslie Park	Parks	4.3 ha
Craig Henry Park	Parks	10.5 ha
Rideau Canal	Nature Reserves	—
Innis Point Bird Observatory	Nature Reserves	—

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Other Cities in Ontario

Toronto 2,794,356
Mississauga 717,961
Brampton 656,480
Hamilton 569,353
London 422,324
Markham 338,503
Vaughan 323,103
Kitchener 256,885
Windsor 229,660
Burlington 186,948
Oshawa 175,383
Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury 166,004
Barrie 147,829
Guelph 143,740
Cambridge 138,479
St. Catharines 136,803
Kingston 132,485
Waterloo 121,436
Thunder Bay 108,843
Brantford 104,688
Pickering 99,186
Niagara Falls 94,415
Peterborough 83,651
Kawartha Lakes 79,247
Sault Ste. Marie 72,051
Sarnia 72,047
Norfolk County 67,490
Welland 55,750
Belleville 55,071
North Bay 52,662
Haldimand County 49,216
Cornwall 47,845
Woodstock 46,705
Quinte West 46,560
St. Thomas 42,840
Timmins 41,145
Brant 39,474
Orillia 33,411
Stratford 33,232
Clarence-Rockland 26,505
Prince Edward County 25,704
Thorold 23,816
Brockville 22,116
Owen Sound 21,612
Port Colborne 20,033
Kenora 14,967
Pembroke 14,364
Elliot Lake 11,372
Temiskaming Shores 9,634
Dryden 7,388

Frequently Asked Questions about Ottawa

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Ottawa has a population of 1,017,449 people, making it the 2nd city in Ontario. The population increased significantly from 934,243 in 2016, an increase of 83,206 people or 8.91%. The city has a population density of 364.9 people per km² across a land area of 2,788.20 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.

Ottawa's population grew by 8.91% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 934,243 to 1,017,449 people, a gain of 83,206 residents. This growth is above average compared to many other Ontario cities during this period. The median age of 40.00 years suggests a mature, established community. Official 2026 Census data, which will confirm whether this trend continued, is expected from Statistics Canada in February 2027.

Ottawa has a population density of approximately 364.90 people per square kilometre.

Ottawa covers a land area of approximately 2,788.20 km².

The median age of the population in Ottawa is 40.00 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Ottawa is Irish.

The median household income in Ottawa is $102,000, based on 2020 data.

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

Christian is the predominant religion in Ottawa.

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.