Population
Population Forecast and Growth Rate | Multiculturalism | Multilingualism | Educational Attainment
Population Forecast and Growth Rate
With a population of about 6 million in 2008, the GTA is Canada’s largest metropolitan area and accounts for 46.51% of Ontario’s
population.By 2036 the total population of Toronto region is expected to reach 9.1 million. The City of Toronto has the largest
population concentration with 44.1% of the total population of the Greater Toronto Area.
Distribution and Projections of Population within the Toronto Region
| Region |
|
Projected |
| |
2006 |
2008 |
2011 |
2016 |
2026 |
2031 |
2036 |
|
City of Toronto
|
2,610,600 |
2,652,000 |
2,712,900 |
2,806,600 |
3,001,000 |
3,095,600 |
3,188,800 |
| Region of Durham |
584,400 |
605,300 |
634,800 |
697,700 |
854,800 |
941,100 |
1,028,800 |
| Region of Halton |
457,800 |
479,300 |
517,100 |
590,900 |
764,900 |
858,900 |
953,600 |
| Region of Peel |
1,213,500 |
1,285,800 |
1,372,400 |
1,543,000 |
1,899,700 |
2,078,600 |
2,255,400 |
| Region of York |
931,900 |
989,800 |
1,055,000 |
1,177,100 |
1,433,900 |
1,565,500 |
1,694,700 |
| Greater Toronto Area (GTA) |
5,798,100 |
6,012,300 |
6,292,200 |
6,815,400 |
7,954,300 |
8,539,600 |
9,121,200 |
| Ontario |
12,665,300 |
12,929,000 |
13,334,900 |
14,146,200 |
15,973,700 |
16,905,600 |
17,815,800 |
Sources: Statistics Canada estimates, 2008, and Ontario Ministry of Finance projections.
GTA age demographics will shift slightly over the next ten years resulting in a bulge skewed toward those in their mid-40s to
their mid-60s in 2014.
Forecast of the Distribution of GTA Population by Age
Sources:Statistics Canada estimates, 2008, and Ontario Ministry of Finance projections.
According to the 2008 estimates the GTA population increased by 214,200 or 3.69% against 2006.
The fastest growing regional municipality was York Region.
GTA Population Growth Rates 2006-2008
| |
2006 |
2008 |
% Chage 2006-2008 |
| City of Toronto |
2,610,600 |
2,652,000 |
1.59% |
| Region of Durham |
584,400 |
605,300 |
3.58% |
| Region of Halton |
457,800 |
479,300 |
4.70% |
| Region of Peel |
1,213,500 |
1,285,800 |
5.96% |
| Region of York |
931,900 |
989,800 |
6.21% |
| Greater Toronto Area (GTA) |
5,798,100 |
6,012,300 |
3.69% |
Sources: Statistics Canada estimates, 2008, and Ontario Ministry of Finance projections.
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Multiculturalism
Over the past 20 years, the Greater Toronto Area has achieved a unique position among North American immigration gateways.
With almost 47% of residents being foreign born, it has approached the tipping point of having more residents of foreign rather
than Canadian origin. The GTA has become a destination of choice for immigrants to Canada.
Foreign Born as a Percentage of Population
Sources: Statistics Canada 2006 Census; Australian Bureau of Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2008 American Community Survey
Historically, Europe and the United Kingdom were the predominant sources of new GTA residents, however, in the last decade
most new residents have come from Asia and the Middle East.
Immigration has a major impact on the GTA’s ethnic and racial composition. In 2006, the Toronto CMA had over 70 ethnic
origin groups with a population of 10,000 or more.
Immigrant Population by Place of Birth
| Place of birth |
Toronto CMA
|
| West Central Asia and the Middle East |
77,440
|
|
| Eastern Asia |
213,835
|
|
| Southeast Asia |
126,405
|
|
| Southern Asia |
184,135
|
|
| Sub-Total Asia and the Middle East |
|
601,815
|
| Northern Europe |
6,725
|
|
| Western Europe |
25,645
|
|
| United Kingdom |
52,360
|
|
| Eastern Europe |
105,025
|
|
| Southern Europe |
167,635
|
|
| Sub-Total Europe |
|
357,390
|
| Africa |
|
67,675
|
| Oceania and other |
|
4,425
|
| United States of America |
|
22,635
|
| Central America |
|
18,820
|
| Caribbean and Bermuda |
|
90,980
|
| South America |
|
73,980
|
| Total |
|
1,237,720
|
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census.
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Multilingualism
There are approximately 80 languages spoken in the Greater Toronto Area. After English, Chinese, including Cantonese
and Mandarin, is the second most common mother tongue.
Population by Mother Tongue
| English |
3,135,215 |
| Chinese |
235,275 |
| Italian |
198,955 |
| Punjabi |
138,120 |
| Portuguese |
115,130 |
| Tagalog (Pilipino) |
115,055 |
| Spanish |
114,950 |
| Urdu (Pakistani) |
106,320 |
| Polish |
85,980 |
| French |
80,090 |
| Persian (Farsi) |
66,860 |
| Russian |
66,605 |
| Arabic |
61,615 |
| Greek |
49,905 |
| Korean |
49,225 |
| Vietnamese |
47,360 |
| German |
44,760 |
| Hindi |
37,265 |
| Ukrainian |
30,090 |
| Dutch |
14,045 |
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census.
Businesses located in the Greater Toronto Area have access to a multilingual workforce. French is the third language
most spoken at work after English and Chinese.
Frequency of Language at Work
| English |
2,862,810 |
| Chinese |
84,275 |
| French |
74,230 |
| Italian |
32,585 |
| Portuguese |
23,720 |
| Spanish |
19,010 |
| Punjabi |
15,255 |
| Korean |
6,850 |
| Vietnamese |
5,355 |
| German |
4,190 |
| Other languages |
81,215 |
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census.
In contrast to mother tongue, which is based on linguistic comprehension, knowledge of official and non-official languages
reveals the extent to which citizens can converse using the two official languages. An overwhelming majority (96.3 percent)
of the GTA population speak English and/or French (Canada’s two official languages).
GTA and Canada population by knowledge of official languages
| |
GTA Population (Toronto and Oshawa CMA)
|
% of GTA Total
|
Canada Population
|
GTA as % of Canada
|
| English only |
4,738,160
|
87.7%
|
21,129,945
|
22.4%
|
| French only |
4,820
|
0.1%
|
4,141,850
|
0.1%
|
| English and French |
442,840
|
8.2%
|
5,448,850
|
8.1%
|
| Neither English nor French |
214,325
|
4.0%
|
520,385
|
41.2%
|
| Total - Knowledge of official languages |
5,400,140
|
100.0%
|
31,241,030
|
17.3%
|
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census.
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Educational Attainment
More than 54% of the GTA population between the ages of 15 and 65+ has completed a post-secondary education, which is
almost 4% higher than the national average and more than 3% better than the provincial average.
Additionally, the percentage of the GTA population with a university education is higher than both the provintial
and national average.
Percentage of the population with a university certificate, diploma or degree.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census.
Level of Educational Attainment for the Age Group 15 to 65+ for the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario and Canada
| |
Counts |
% of total |
Counts |
% of total |
Counts |
% of total |
Counts |
% of total |
Counts |
% of total |
Counts |
|
Halton Region
|
54,405 |
15.7% |
90,940 |
26.2% |
22,560 |
6.5% |
71,805 |
20.7% |
107,770 |
31.0% |
347,500 |
|
Peel Region
|
180,870 |
19.9% |
247,840 |
27.3% |
63,610 |
7.0% |
155,780 |
17.1% |
261,035 |
28.7% |
909,140 |
|
City of Toronto
|
420,920 |
20.4% |
502,735 |
24.3% |
122,680 |
5.9% |
293,000 |
14.2% |
728,090 |
35.2% |
2,067,440 |
|
York Region
|
134,440 |
19.0% |
181,410 |
25.6% |
45,145 |
6.4% |
118,655 |
16.7% |
229,615 |
32.4% |
709,290 |
|
Durham Region
|
93,465 |
21.1% |
128,835 |
29.1% |
38,710 |
8.8% |
99,235 |
22.4% |
81,920 |
18.5% |
442,230 |
|
GTA Total
|
884,100 |
19.8% |
1,151,760 |
25.7% |
292,705 |
6.5% |
738,475 |
16.5% |
1,408,430 |
31.5% |
4,475,600 |
|
Ontario
|
2,183,625 |
22.2% |
2,628,570 |
26.8% |
785,120 |
8.0% |
1,804,775 |
18.4% |
2,417,325 |
24.6% |
9,819,420 |
|
Canada
|
6,098,325 |
23.8% |
6,553,420 |
25.5% |
2,785,420 |
10.9% |
4,435,140 |
17.3% |
5,791,915 |
22.6% |
25,664,220 |
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census.
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|
|
2006 |
2008 |
% Change 2006-2008 |
| City of Toronto |
|
2,610,600 |
2,652,000 |
1.59% |
| Region of Durham |
|
584,400 |
605,300 |
3.58% |
| Region of Halton |
|
457,800 |
479,300 |
4.70% |
| Region of Peel |
|
1,213,500 |
1,285,800 |
5.96% |
| Region of York |
|
931,900 |
989,800 |
6.21% |
| Greater Toronto Area (GTA) |
|
5,798,100 |
6,012,300 |
3.69% |
|
