Ontario Flag

Ontario

Country:
Canada
Capital:
Toronto
Type:
Province
Largest Cities:
Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga

Ontario is one of 13 provinces and territories of Canada located in the east-central region of the country. It is country's economic powerhouse, most populous province , with an economy based on manufacturing, technology, financial services.

15,996,989
Total Population
1,076,395
Area (km²)
14.86/km²
Density
539.9K 349%
Annual Growth

Ontario Population 2025

Ontario Information

Ontario is one of 10 provinces of Canada and located in the east-central region of the county. Ontario is the most populous province of Canada with almost 40% of the country’s population and the second-largest in terms of land area, or the 4th largest in area when the territories of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are included. Ontario is also home to Canada’s capital, Ottawa, and Toronto, the most populous city. It is bordered by the province Manitoba to the west, Quebec to the east, James Bay and Hudson Bay to the north and the U.S. states Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan and Minnesota to the south. The province shares a 2,700 kilometer (1,678 mile) border with the United States.

Climate Variations

Ontario has a varied climate based on its geography:

 • Northern Region

Subarctic climate with long, harsh winters and shorter, cooler summers.

 • Southern Region

Milder climate, particularly in coastal areas, with moderate temperatures.

 • Great Lakes Effect

Areas near the Great Lakes experience milder winters and more precipitation due to lake-effect snow and moisture.

Major Industries

Manufacturing

Ontario is an industrial hub, producing automobiles, machinery, and aerospace equipment. Major centers include Toronto, Windsor, and Hamilton.

Financial Services & Technology

Toronto is Canada's largest financial center with major banks and a thriving tech sector in the Toronto-Waterloo corridor.

Natural Resources

Northern Ontario has significant mining operations, including gold, nickel, and copper deposits, plus extensive forestry.

Agriculture

Leading producer of soybeans, corn, and dairy, with significant wine production in the Niagara region.

Key Facts

  • Population density: 14.9 people per square kilometer
  • Represents approximately 41.8% of Canada's total population
  • Capital city: Toronto

Ontario Demographics

Population by Age

85+80-8475-7970-7465-6960-6455-5950-5445-4940-4435-3930-3425-2920-2415-1910-145-90-40100K200K300K400K500K600K700K800K900K1M1.1M

Average Age

41 years

Median Age

41 years

Gender Distribution

Female (50.7%)

Male (49.3%)

Racial and Ethnic Composition

The 2021 census found the racial and ethnic composition of Ontario was:

White (54.3%)

South Asian (13.1%)

Chinese (7.6%)

Black (7.5%)

Filipino (3.5%)

Arab (2.1%)

Latin American (2.0%)

Southeast Asian (1.8%)

Indigenous (2.9%)

Other (5.2%)

Spoken Language

English (86.4%)

French (3.8%)

Other (9.8%)

Household Income Distribution

<15k15k-25k25k-35k35k-50k50k-75k75k-100k100k-150k150k-200k>200k0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%

Average Household Income

$82,400

Median Household Income

$71,600

Poverty Rate

11.1%

Ontario History

Pre-1600s

The area was inhabited by First Nations peoples, primarily the Iroquoian-speaking Huron in the south and the Algonquian-speaking peoples in the north.

1610-1611

French explorer Étienne Brûlé became the first known European to travel through the region during an expedition to the Ottawa River.

1763

The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War, with France ceding its North American territories, including what would become Ontario, to Great Britain.

1791

The Constitutional Act divided the Province of Quebec into Upper Canada (now Ontario) and Lower Canada (now Quebec).

1867

Confederation: The British North America Act created the Dominion of Canada with Ontario as one of the four founding provinces.

1951-1961

Post-WWII baby boom: Ontario experienced its most dramatic population growth period, increasing from 4.6 million to 6.2 million in just ten years.