Education in Ottawa - Gatineau, Canada: official figures
43.7% of people aged 25 to 64 in Ottawa - Gatineau held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 17th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, above the national 32.9%.
How many adults in Ottawa - Gatineau did not finish high school?
7.1% of people aged 25 to 64 in Ottawa - Gatineau had no certificate, diploma or degree in 2021, joint 21st lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, and 18.5% had a high school diploma as their highest qualification (Canada: 9.9% and 23.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Ottawa - Gatineau have a college diploma or trade certificate?
In 2021, 22.0% of people aged 25 to 64 in Ottawa - Gatineau had a college, CEGEP or other non-university diploma as their highest qualification and 6.4% an apprenticeship or trades certificate (Canada: 21.4% and 9.6%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Ottawa - Gatineau have a master's degree or PhD?
110,805 people aged 25 to 64 in Ottawa - Gatineau, 13.9% of that age group, held a master's degree or an earned doctorate in 2021 (Canada: 8.5%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Ottawa - Gatineau work in education?
7.7% of the labour force in Ottawa - Gatineau, 61,355 people, worked in educational services in 2021 (Canada: 7.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Ottawa - Gatineau compares with other cities in Canada
Bachelor's degree or higher, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Ottawa - Gatineau ranks 17 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Bachelor's degree or higher, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Burlington | 45.2% |
| 15 | Coquitlam | 44.5% |
| 16 | Montréal | 44.4% |
| 17 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 43.7% |
| 18 | Saanich | 43.6% |
| 19 | Calgary | 42.9% |
| 20 | Guelph | 40.7% |
No certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Ottawa - Gatineau ranks 47 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | No certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Ajax | 7.3% |
| 45 | St. John's | 7.3% |
| 46 | Saskatoon | 7.2% |
| 47 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 7.1% |
| 48 | Mississauga | 7.1% |
| 49 | Québec | 7.1% |
| 50 | Kamloops | 7.0% |
Any postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Ottawa - Gatineau ranks 12 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Any postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Saguenay | 76.0% |
| 10 | Vancouver | 75.9% |
| 11 | Montréal | 75.2% |
| 12 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 74.4% |
| 13 | Victoria | 74.4% |
| 14 | Sherbrooke | 74.2% |
| 15 | Burnaby | 73.8% |
More on Ottawa - Gatineau: overview · economy and jobs · poverty and living standards · all cities in Canada
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census metropolitan areas, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CMACA), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3185f58b7a1a…)
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.