What is the population of Toronto?
Toronto has a city population of 2,794,356. That is the population within the city's own boundary, not its wider metropolitan area. City population, GeoNames.
About Toronto
Toronto is Canada's largest city and the capital of Ontario, with a metropolitan population exceeding 6 million. One of the world's most multicultural cities, Toronto serves as Canada's financial capital and a major hub for media, technology, and culture. The city offers a high quality of life with excellent services and institutions.
Metro population
6,313,000
0.076% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
+0.95%
Archive estimateDensity
1,069/km²
5,903 km² metro area
Key Facts
Country
Region
Rank in region
#1of 100
Founded
1750
Leadership
Olivia Chow
Coordinates
43.706, -79.399
Record updated
13 April 2026
Entry edited, not measured
City population, GeoNames. GeoNames publishes no year for its population figures, so “record updated” is when the entry was last edited — not the date the population was measured. Elevation is modelled from a digital elevation model rather than surveyed, so it is approximate.
Nearby Cities
All 295 in CanadaClosest listed cities by great-circle distance from the city centre.
Compared with the World's Largest Cities
City-proper population against the fifteen largest cities in the dataset.
| Name | City population |
|---|---|
| Shanghai | 24.9M |
| Beijing | 19M |
| Shenzhen | 17.5M |
| Guangzhou | 16.1M |
| Kinshasa | 16M |
| Istanbul | 15.7M |
| Lagos | 15.4M |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 14M |
| Chengdu | 13.6M |
| Lahore | 13M |
| Mumbai | 12.7M |
| São Paulo | 12.4M |
| Mexico City | 12.3M |
| Karachi | 11.6M |
| Tianjin | 11.1M |
| Toronto | 2.79M |
Airports
Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.
- Billy Bishop Toronto City AirportYTZ
9 km from the city centre
- Toronto Pearson International AirportYYZ
19 km from the city centre
- Niagara District AirportYCM
60 km from the city centre
- John C. Munro Hamilton International AirportYHM
73 km from the city centre
Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.
History
Toronto was founded in 1793 as York, the capital of Upper Canada. It was renamed Toronto in 1834. The city grew through waves of immigration—Irish in the 19th century, then Southern and Eastern Europeans, and more recently people from around the world. Toronto has transformed from a conservative Anglo city to one of the world's most diverse.
Economy
Toronto has Canada's largest economy and is North America's fourth-largest financial center after NYC, LA, and Chicago. Bay Street hosts major banks and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Key sectors include finance, technology, film production, and healthcare. The city is increasingly a tech hub ('Silicon Valley North').
Culture
Toronto's culture reflects its extraordinary diversity—over half of residents were born outside Canada, speaking over 140 languages. Each neighborhood has distinct character—Chinatown, Little Italy, Greektown, etc. The arts scene includes TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), theaters, and galleries. Sports (Raptors, Leafs) unite the city.
Transportation
TTC subway and streetcars serve the city (though criticized as underfunded). GO Transit commuter rail connects suburbs. Union Station is a rail hub. Billy Bishop Airport serves downtown; Pearson International handles most traffic. Traffic congestion is significant. The city is generally walkable.
Current Challenges
Toronto faces severe housing affordability challenges (among North America's most expensive), traffic congestion, aging transit infrastructure, homelessness, and managing growth. Immigration strains housing supply. Competition with other cities for talent and investment continues.
Highlights
Landmarks & Attractions
- CN Tower
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Art Gallery of Ontario
- St. Lawrence Market
- Distillery District
- Toronto Islands
- Kensington Market
- Rogers Centre
What Toronto Is Known For
- CN Tower
- Diversity
- TIFF
- Finance
- Sports teams
Universities
- University of Toronto
- York University
- Ryerson University
Sports Teams
- Maple Leafs (hockey)
- Raptors (basketball)
- Blue Jays (baseball)
- Toronto FC (soccer)
Interesting Facts
- Toronto's underground PATH is the world's largest underground shopping complex (30km)
- Over half of Toronto's population was born outside Canada
- The CN Tower was the world's tallest free-standing structure for 34 years
- Toronto hosts the world's largest street festival (Caribana)
- The city has over 8,000 restaurants
Population Trend in Canada
No free source publishes city population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 13,741,747 |
| 1960 | 17,898,790 |
| 1970 | 21,440,022 |
| 1980 | 24,533,776 |
| 1990 | 27,789,443 |
| 2000 | 30,891,803 |
| 2010 | 34,196,899 |
| 2020 | 38,171,902 |
| 2030 | 41,655,589 |
| 2040 | 43,951,417 |
| 2050 | 45,621,882 |
| 2060 | 47,145,289 |
| 2070 | 48,857,807 |
| 2080 | 50,449,270 |
| 2090 | 51,956,748 |
| 2100 | 53,612,234 |
Toronto Population FAQ
Where is Toronto?
Toronto is in Ontario, Canada, 349 km from the capital, Ottawa. Its coordinates are 43.706, -79.399.
How big is Toronto compared with other cities in Canada?
It is the 1st largest of the 295 cities listed in Canada, holding 6.7% of the national population.