Year | Population |
| 1666 | 3 215 (New France) |
| 1824 | 150 066 (Upper Canada) |
| 1871 | 3 689 257 |
| 1881 | 4 324 810 |
| 1891 | 4 833 239 |
| 1901 | 5 371 315 |
| 1911 | 7 204 838 |
| 1921 | 8 788 949 |
| 1931 | 10 376 786 |
| 1941 | 11 506 655 |
| 1951 | 14 009 429 |
| 1961 | 18 238 247 |
| 1971 | 21 568 310 |
| 1981 | 24 343 180 |
| 1986 | 25 309 330 |
| 1991 | 27 296 855 |
| 1996 | 28 846 761 |