Oshawa: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Oshawa: The median total income of households in Oshawa 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 Oshawa: 23.5% of people aged 25 to 64 in Oshawa held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, joint 10th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, below the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in Oshawa: 10.2% of people in private households in Oshawa, 17,750 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), 34th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of Oshawa?
Statistics Canada estimates that Oshawa (the municipality) had 213,592 residents on 1 July 2025, 32nd largest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 2.8% more than a year earlier (207,851) and 16.5% more than on 1 July 2021 (183,273).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is Oshawa growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of Oshawa changed by +16.5%, 7th fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and Oshawa held 0.51% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in Oshawa at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 175,383 people in Oshawa, +10.0% on the 159,458 counted in 2016 (joint 11th fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 146 square kilometres, or 1,204 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in Oshawa?
The median age in Oshawa was 39.2 years at the 2021 Census, joint 18th youngest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 16.7% of residents were 65 or older and 17.6% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs Oshawa?
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
- Vaughan 358,535
- Kitchener 323,917
- Saskatoon 318,067
- Gatineau 306,105
- Burnaby 299,682
- Windsor 269,614
- Longueuil 268,530
- Regina 263,419
- Oakville 243,107
- Richmond 239,584
- Abbotsford-Mission 223,828
- Richmond Hill 222,031
- Burlington 197,737
- Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury 188,504
- Sherbrooke 184,135
- Abbotsford 175,358
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.