Ottawa Profile

Explore population, households, income, employment, languages, and dwellings for Ottawa. Compare trends since 2016 and dig into the full demographic profile below.

National Rank:4 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Ottawa Population

Total Population (2021)

1,017,449

Total Population (2016)

934,243

Population Growth

+8.9% (+83,206)

Growth Rank

#175 of 688Same geo level

Male

48.8%496,045

Female

51.2%521,405

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.951

Average Age

40.7

Median Age

Age Rank

#195 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

48,790(4.8%)

5–9

57,410(5.6%)

10–14

60,720(6.0%)

15–19

60,385(5.9%)

20–24

70,785(7.0%)

25–29

72,830(7.2%)

30–34

70,190(6.9%)

35–39

69,520(6.8%)

40–44

65,890(6.5%)

45–49

66,240(6.5%)

50–54

67,265(6.6%)

55–59

71,465(7.0%)

60–64

63,795(6.3%)

65–69

52,355(5.1%)

70–74

45,375(4.5%)

75–79

30,940(3.0%)

80–84

21,080(2.1%)

85+

22,395(2.2%)

Ottawa Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.5

Total Private Dwellings

427,113

Occupied Private Dwellings

407,252

Size Distribution

1 Person

116,370 (28.6%)

2 Persons

135,365 (33.2%)

3 Persons

61,740 (15.2%)

4 Persons

59,175 (14.5%)

5+ Persons

34,605 (8.5%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

110,890(27.2%)

Couples without children

99,405(24.4%)

One-parent families

35,650(8.8%)

One-person households

116,370(28.6%)

Multigenerational

9,915(2.4%)

Multiple-family

1,870(0.5%)

Ottawa Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$103,000After tax

Median Household Income

$88,000After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$52,450After tax

Median Individual Income

$44,000After tax

Income Rank

#145 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

87.2%

Employment Income

69.8%

Government Transfers

12.8%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

64,735(8.1%)

$10k–$20k

81,905(10.2%)

$20k–$30k

99,655(12.5%)

$30k–$40k

82,070(10.3%)

$40k–$50k

72,320(9.0%)

$50k–$60k

65,745(8.2%)

$60k–$70k

60,485(7.6%)

$70k–$80k

51,755(6.5%)

$80k–$90k

44,255(5.5%)

$90k–$100k

36,745(4.6%)

$100k+

139,520(17.5%)

Ottawa Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

59.1%

Unemployment Rate

10.3%

Total Labour Force

549,990

Employed

493,140

Unemployed

56,845

Not in Labour Force

284,150

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

8.9%

Children (0–17)

10.7%

Adults (18–64)

8.2%

Seniors (65+)

9.5%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3450 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.301

Ottawa Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

610,175 (60.6%)

French Only

14,275 (1.4%)

English & French

367,035 (36.4%)

Neither

15,480 (1.5%)

Mother Tongue

English

585,865 (58.2%)

French

126,030 (12.5%)

Non-official languages

232,210 (23.1%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

585,865(58.2%)

French

126,030(12.5%)

Arabic

43,645(4.3%)

Mandarin

22,310(2.2%)

Spanish

14,140(1.4%)

Cantonese

9,675(1.0%)

Persian

8,690(0.9%)

Italian

7,960(0.8%)

Russian

7,295(0.7%)

Vietnamese

6,590(0.7%)

Ottawa Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

169,760(41.7%)

Semi-detached

21,675(5.3%)

Row house

87,045(21.4%)

Duplex

7,595(1.9%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

43,025(10.6%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

76,895(18.9%)

Other attached

460(0.1%)

Movable

795(0.2%)

Community snapshot

About Ottawa

Ottawa is Canada’s capital, in eastern Ontario on the Ottawa River across from Gatineau, Québec. Federal government, national museums, and bilingual public life shape the city. Neighbourhoods range from Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market to suburban communities along the river. About 1 million people live in the city.

Known for

Parliament Hill and the federal public service
National museums and the Rideau Canal
Bilingual English–French daily life
High-tech firms in Kanata
Winterlude and canal skating

See & do

Parliament Hill
Peace Tower and the parliamentary precinct above the river.
Rideau Canal
Historic waterway through downtown; skateway in winter.
National Gallery of Canada
National art museum beside the Ottawa River.
ByWard Market
Historic market district east of Parliament.
Canadian War Museum
National military history museum on LeBreton Flats.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution