Canadian population growth

Although slowing recently, the population of Canada has rapidly increased since 1986. These gains reversed a 25-year trend of progressively smaller intercensal increases, which were brought about by low levels of net in-migration and declining birth rates. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, is projected to have just over 11 million residents in 1995, which will be 37 percent of the country's entire population. Among other heavily populated areas, relative gains were much higher in British Columbia than in Quebec or Alberta. Analysis by age group revealed significant regional disparities. Compared to the national average. Alberta's residents were much younger while persons living in British Columbia were generally older. Nationally, the median age of the population rose to a record high of 33.5 years. Among Canada's 25 large metropolitan areas, only eight experienced double-digit gains between 1986 and 1991. In the two most populous regions, Toronto and Montreal, the population increased by 13.4 and 7.0 percent, respectively.