Annual demographic estimates, rural and small town and functional urban areas: Interactive dashboard

Additional information

Notes

The estimates contained in this dashboard are based on 2021 Census counts adjusted for census net undercoverage and incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements, to which are added data from the population growth estimates for the period from May 11, 2021, to the date of the estimate.

Until the second quarter of 2021 inclusively, population growth is not equal to the sum of natural increase, net international migration, net interprovincial migration, and net intraprovincial migration because residual deviation (not shown) must also be considered in the calculation.

This dashboard is designed to visualize trends in population estimates for rural and small town or functional urban areas. To learn more about demographic trends at the provincial, territorial and Canada levels, the product Quarterly demographic estimates, provinces and territories: Interactive dashboard should be consulted.

Definitions

Age

Age as of July 1.

Average age

The average age of a population is the average age of all its members.

Census agglomeration (CA)

A census agglomeration (CA) is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centered on a population centre (known as the core). A CA must have a core population of at least 10,000 based on data from the previous Census of Population Program. To be included in the CA, other adjacent municipalities must have a high degree of integration with the core, as measured by commuting flows derived from data on place of work from the previous Census Program.

If the population of the core of a CA falls below 10,000, the CA is retired from the next census. All areas inside the CA that are not population centres are rural areas.

When a CA has a core of at least 50,000, based on data from the previous Census of Population, it is subdivided into census tracts. Census tracts are maintained for the CA even if the population of the core subsequently falls below 50,000.

Census metropolitan areas (CMA)

A census metropolitan area (CMA) is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centered on a population centre (known as the core). A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more must live in the core. To be included in the CMA, other adjacent municipalities must have a high degree of integration with the core, as measured by commuting flows derived from census place of work data.

Once an area becomes a CMA, it is retained as a CMA even if its total population declines below 100,000 or the population of its core falls below 50,000. Small population centres with a population count of less than 10,000 are called fringe. All areas inside the CMA that are not population centres are rural areas.

All CMAs are subdivided into census tracts.

The CMA of Ottawa-Gatineau (Ontario-Quebec) crosses provincial boundaries. When the geographic level selected is all of Canada, the totals include the CMA on both sides of the provincial border. If a province has been selected, only the part of the CMA in the province chosen is included in the totals.

Census subdivision (CSD)

A general term for municipalities (as determined by provincial and territorial legislation) or areas treated as municipal equivalents for statistical purposes (e.g., Indian reserves, Indian settlements and unorganized territories). Municipal status is defined by laws in effect in each province and territory in Canada.

Functional urban area

Census subdivisions within census metropolitan areas (CMAs) or census agglomerations (CAs), according to Statistics Canada's Standard Geographical Classification. For more information see: Variant of Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2021 for Statistical area classification.

Natural increase

Variation of the population size over a given period as a result of the difference between the numbers of births and deaths.

Net international migration

Net international migration is obtained according to the following formula: Immigrants+ Net non-permanent residents –Net emigration.

Net interprovincial migration

Net interprovincial migration represents the difference between in-migrants and out-migrants for a given province or territory.

Net intraprovincial migration

Net intraprovincial migration represents the difference between in-migrants and out-migrants in a given region. A region can be defined as a census division, an economic region or a census metropolitan area.

Population

Estimated population and population according to the census are both defined as being the number of Canadians whose usual place of residence is within that area, regardless of where they happened to be on Census Day. Also included are any Canadians staying in a dwelling in that area on Census Day and having no usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada, as well as those considered non-permanent residents.

Population growth

Variation of population size between two dates. It can also be obtained by summing the natural increase, total net migration and if possible, add residual deviation. It can be positive or negative.

Population growth rate

Ratio of population growth between the year t and t+1, to the average population of both these years. The rate is generally expressed in per 1,000.

Proportion of the population by age group

Ratio of the sum of the ages of a group (0 to 14, 15 to 64, 65 and older) to the total population. This ratio is expressed as a percentage.

Rural and small town

Census subdivisions outside census metropolitan areas (CMAs) or census agglomerations (CAs), according to Statistics Canada's Standard Geographical Classification (SGC). For more information see: Variant of Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2021 for Statistical area classification.

Year

Unless otherwise specified, the term “year” refers to the period beginning July 1 of a given year and ending June 30 of the following year.

To learn more

The Annual Demographic Estimates: Subprovincial Areas (91-214-X) publication can be consulted to learn more about this subject.

For Rural Canada Statistics, consult the following links:

• Rural Canada Statistics Portal
• Rural and Small Town Canada Interactive Dashboards
• Number and Size of Communities in Rural and Small Town Canada: Interactive Dashboard