Education in Ottawa, Canada: official figures
49.5% of people aged 25 to 64 in Ottawa held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 6th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, above the national 32.9%.
How many adults in Ottawa did not finish high school?
5.6% of people aged 25 to 64 in Ottawa had no certificate, diploma or degree in 2021, joint 10th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, and 17.6% had a high school diploma as their highest qualification (Canada: 9.9% and 23.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Ottawa have a college diploma or trade certificate?
In 2021, 21.6% of people aged 25 to 64 in Ottawa had a college, CEGEP or other non-university diploma as their highest qualification and 3.7% an apprenticeship or trades certificate (Canada: 21.4% and 9.6%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Ottawa have a master's degree or PhD?
88,705 people aged 25 to 64 in Ottawa, 16.3% 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 work in education?
7.6% of the labour force in Ottawa, 42,010 people, worked in educational services in 2021 (Canada: 7.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Ottawa compares with other cities in Canada
Bachelor's degree or higher, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Ottawa ranks 6 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Bachelor's degree or higher, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Waterloo | 54.5% |
| 4 | Vancouver | 52.8% |
| 5 | Milton | 50.3% |
| 6 | Ottawa | 49.5% |
| 7 | Toronto | 49.4% |
| 8 | Markham | 48.7% |
| 9 | Victoria | 48.1% |
No certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Ottawa ranks 59 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | No certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Kingston | 6.2% |
| 57 | Richmond | 6.1% |
| 58 | Burnaby | 5.8% |
| 59 | Ottawa | 5.6% |
| 60 | Whitby | 5.6% |
| 61 | Victoria | 5.5% |
| 62 | Vancouver | 5.4% |
Any postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Ottawa ranks 7 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Any postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Waterloo | 78.5% |
| 5 | Québec | 78.4% |
| 6 | Milton | 77.2% |
| 7 | Ottawa | 76.8% |
| 8 | Burlington | 76.3% |
| 9 | Saguenay | 76.0% |
| 10 | Vancouver | 75.9% |
More on Ottawa: 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 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…)
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