Hamilton: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Hamilton: The median total income of households in Hamilton was C$86,000 in 2020, as reported in the 2021 Census, joint 31st highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the median for Canada was C$84,000.
- Education in Hamilton: 31.0% of people aged 25 to 64 in Hamilton held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, joint 26th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, below the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in Hamilton: 10.8% of people in private households in Hamilton, 60,275 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), joint 31st highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of Hamilton?
Statistics Canada estimates that Hamilton (the municipality) had 640,465 residents on 1 July 2025, 13th largest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 1.1% more than a year earlier (633,239) and 7.8% more than on 1 July 2021 (594,074).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is Hamilton growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of Hamilton changed by +7.8%, 23rd slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and Hamilton held 1.54% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in Hamilton at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 569,353 people in Hamilton, +6.0% on the 536,917 counted in 2016 (31st slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 1,118 square kilometres, or 509 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in Hamilton?
The median age in Hamilton was 40.8 years at the 2021 Census, joint 32nd oldest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 18.3% of residents were 65 or older and 16.0% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs Hamilton?
In Canada, cities and towns are run by regional or upper-tier municipalities: Mostly councillors sent from lower-tier councils; some heads elected directly. Regional planning, transit, water and policing in some areas.
How local power works in Canada
Cities of a similar size in Canada
- Toronto 3,271,830
- Montréal 1,915,366
- Ottawa - Gatineau 1,700,014
- Calgary 1,612,834
- Edmonton 1,238,295
- Ottawa 1,188,114
- Winnipeg 850,260
- Brampton 777,759
- Mississauga 764,597
- Vancouver 740,454
- Surrey 703,531
- Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo 701,568
- Québec 592,658
- Halifax 516,822
- St. Catharines-Niagara 503,670
- London 494,785
Up a level: all cities in Canada · Canada · government and power
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census subdivisions, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CSD, gender total, counts and rates), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 46d086943a5e…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 17-10-0155-01: Population estimates, July 1, by census subdivision, 2021 boundaries (Web Data Service extract, 2021-2025; request saved as popest-17100155-csd.request.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 95b5a4929299…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 14-10-0459-01: Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted (Web Data Service extract: unemployment and employment rates, latest 13 months; request saved as lfs-14100459-cma.request.json, geography names in lfs-14100459-metadata.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f4399c9fdfa…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.