Demographics of Ottawa
Introduction Map of Ottawa showing the francophone concentrationsIn 2021, the population of the city of Ottawa was 1,017,449.The population of the census metropolitan area, Ottawa-Gatineau, was 1,488,307.
Population history
Age and sex In 2001, females made up 51.2% of the amalgamated Ottawa population, while the median age of the population was 36.7 years of age. Youths under 15 years of age comprised 18.9% of the total population, while those of retirement age (65 years and older) comprised 11.4%.
Migration and immigration Between 1987 and 2002, 131,816 individuals relocated to the city, which represents 75% of the population growth for that period. Foreign immigration plays a significant role in Ottawa's population growth. Foreign born residents make up 23.4 percent of Ottawa's population, in which many come from the United Kingdom, China, India, the United States, Lebanon, Pakistan, Somalia, Iran, the Philippines, Vietnam, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti.
Languages The Algonquian languages have been spoken for centuries by the Indigenous peoples and subsequently by the coureurs des bois and voyageurs of the Ottawa valley during the 1600s and 1700s. Starting in the mid-1800s, Irish settlers of the Ottawa valley develop a distinct dialect referred to as "Ottawa Valley Twang". Traces of "Valley Twang" although rare, can still be heard in the valley's more isolated areas.The city offers municipal services in both of Canada's official languages (Canadian English and Canadian French). 367,035 people, or 36.45% of Ottawa's population, can speak both languages. As such it is the largest city in Canada where municipal services are offered in both English and French. However, the city is not officially bilingual in law. Those who identify their mother tongue as English constitute 58.18 percent, while those with French as their mother tongue make up 12.52 percent of the population. In terms of respondents' knowledge of one or both official languages, 60.60 percent and 1.42 percent of the population have knowledge of English only and French only, respectively; while 37.2 percent have knowledge of both official languages. An additional 23.06 percent list languages other than English and French as their mother tongue. These include Arabic (4.33%), Chinese (3.32%), Spanish (1.4%), Italian (0.79%), and many others.Canada Census Mother Tongue - Ottawa, Ontario  Census Total  Year Responses  Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %   126,030  -0.94% 12.52% 585,865  4.23% 58.18% 22,595  83.77% 2.24% 232,210  15.86% 23.06%   127,225  2.66% 13.61% 562,070  3.31% 60.15% 12,295  14.31% 1.31% 200,420  12.52% 21.49%   123,925  3.75% 14.02% 544,045  8.4% 61.58% 10,755  57.89% 1.2% 178,120  2.87% 20.16%   119,445  3.67% 14.9% 501,870  3.3% 62.63% 6,815  8.46% 0.85% 173,145  11.51% 21.6%   115,220	  144.55% 15.08% 485,825  147% 63,6% 7,445	  123.23% 0.97% 155,295  129.59% 20.33%   47,115 n/a 14.77% 196,980 n/a 61.75% 3,335 n/a 1.04% 67,670 n/a 21.21%
Ethnicity === City of Ottawa === Members of visible minority groups (non-white/European) constitute 32.5 percent, while those of Indigenous origin make up 2.6% of the total population. The largest visible minority groups are: Black Canadians: 8.5%, Arab Canadians: 5.8%, South Asian Canadians: 5.8%, and Chinese Canadians: 4.6%. Smaller groups include Southeast Asians, Filipinos, Latin Americans, and West Asians.+ Panethnic groups in the City of Ottawa (2001−2021)Panethnicgroup20212016201120062001 European 649,580  652,650  643,750  627,300  617,920  African 84,765  60,205  49,650  39,070  34,645  Middle Eastern 71,435  49,920  39,930  30,160  25,415  South Asian 57,820  38,750  33,805  26,510  21,705  East Asian 52,610  46,340  39,110  34,560  30,625  Southeast Asian 29,280  24,405  24,180  17,510  13,525  Indigenous 26,395  22,960  18,180  12,250  8,625  Latin American 14,350  11,150  10,255  8,075  6,455  Other/Multiracial 14,690  10,470  8,230  5,835  4,870  Total responses 1,000,935  916,860  867,085  801,270  763,790  Total population 1,017,449  934,243  883,391  812,129  774,072  === Metro Ottawa ===+ Panethnic groups in Metro Ottawa (2001−2021)Panethnicgroup20212016201120062001 European 1,036,525  981,625  951,160  917,235  888,590  African 114,225  77,995  60,660  45,060  38,185  Middle Eastern 83,730  59,445  47,155  34,685  28,285  South Asian 60,780  39,980  34,795  27,130  22,280  East Asian 57,460  49,660  41,960  36,525  31,980  Indigenous 46,540  38,120  30,565  20,590  13,485  Southeast Asian 32,995  26,440  26,000  19,005  14,740  Latin American 20,625  15,630  14,270  10,630  7,655  Other/Multiracial 17,095  11,815  9,175  6,260  5,560  Total responses 1,464,495  1,300,730  1,215,735  1,117,120  1,050,755  Total population 1,488,307  1,323,783  1,236,324  1,130,761  1,063,664
Religion === City of Ottawa ===In the 2021 Canadian Census, 52.8% of the population belonged to Christian denominations, down from 65.4% in 2011.Catholics were the most common at 30.4%, down from 38.4% in 2011.Protestants were 11.4% of the population (19.5% in 2011), while Christian orthodox were 2.1% and Christians of no specified denomination were 6.4%. Other Christian/Christian related traditions (Including Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses) made up 2.5%. Non-Christian religions are also very well established in Ottawa, the largest being Islam: 9.9% (6.7% in 2011), Hinduism: 2% (1.4% in 2011), Buddhism: 1.2% (1.3% in 2011), and Judaism: 1.1% (1.2% in 2011.) Residents with no religion and/or secular perspectives make up 31.6% of Ottawa's population, up from 21.8% in 2011.Religions in the City of Ottawa  (only religions with more than 1% of the population listed) Religion  % Christianity  52.8%     Catholicism  30.4%     Anglicanism   4.1%     United Church  3.4%     Christian Orthodox  2.1%     Pentecostal (and other Charismatic)  1.2% Islam 9.9% Hinduism 2.0% Others  1.5% Buddhism 1.2% Judaism 1.1% No religion 31.6%=== Metro Ottawa ===+ Religious groups in Metro Ottawa (1981−2021)Religious group20212011200119911981 Christianity 15px 824,655  850,925  833,770  776,905  644,200  Irreligion 462,555  252,795  139,705  93,285  48,050  Islam 15px 114,780  65,880  41,725  17,585  4,325  Hinduism 15px 21,205  12,295  8,150  4,785  2,900  Buddhism 15px 12,185  12,860  9,985  6,015  2,165  Judaism 15px 11,395  10,980  11,325  9,910  8,470  Sikhism 15px 6,730  3,445  2,645  1,575  605  Indigenous spirituality 745  375        Other 10,250  6,185  3,445  2,025  1,205  Total responses 1,464,500  1,215,735  1,050,755  912,100  711,920  Total population 1,488,307  1,254,919  1,063,664  920,857  717,978
Populations per neighbourhood (old City of Ottawa) The following are populations of neighbourhoods that generally correspond to Statistics Canada census tracts. Neighbourhood  Population (2021)  Population (2016)  Population (2011)  Population (2006)  Population (2001) Population (1996) Population (1991) Area (km2)  Density (per km2)  Census tract(s)Alta Vista (west)  10,567  9,973  10,197  9,459  9,154  8,901  8,923  4.76  2220.0  5050006.00 5050005.00Bel-Air Heights-Bel-Air Park-Braemar Park-Copeland Park  9,441  8,968  8,967  8,613  9,177  9,329  9,671  2.66  3549.2  5050023.01 and 5050024.00 Britannia-Michele Heights-Lincoln Heights-Belltown  11,541  11,292  11,469  11,435  12,088  12,144  11,749  2.80  4121.8  5050029.00 and 5050030.00Carleton Heights (south)  2,901  2,888  2,872  2,365  2,437  2,435  2,477  1.51  1921.2  5050020.02Carlington  12,384  11,638  11,882  11,512  12,593  12,210  12,283  3.88  3191.8 5050021.00 and 5050022.00Carlingwood  3,622  3,558  3,376  3,336  3,309  3,193  3,165  0.78  4643.6  5050032.01 Carson Meadows-Rockcliffe Mews-Carson Grove (Quarries)  6,158  5,786  5,561  5,638  4,418  4,220  3,978  1.84 3346.7  5050062.01Central Park  3,970  3,888  3,832  3,403  1,680  N/A  0.91  4362.6  5050023.02Centretown (incl. Golden Triangle) 25,687  23,823  21,536  20,513  21,159  20,293  19,238  2.08  12349.5  5050040.00 5050039.00 5050038.00 5050037.00 (5050037.01 and 5050037.02 in 2021) 5050049.00Centretown West (Dalhousie; incl. Glebe Annex)  12,601  11,536  12,022  11,915  12,786  12,266  12,170  1.94  6495.4  5050041.00 5050042.00 5050035.00Civic Hospital  3,564  3,631  3,656  3,440  3,483  3,628  3,533  1.28  2784.4  5050034.00Downtown  5,501  4,876  4,123  3,718  3,620  3,743  3,380  1.26  4365.9  5050048.00Elmvale Acres  3,313  3,271  3,280  3,254  3,354  3,438  3,469  1.03  3216.5  5050009.00Forbes  5,549  5,304  5,345  5,283  5,457  5,042  5,327  1.37  4050.4  5050061.00Foster Farm-Queensway Terrace North-Britannia Heights  6,826  6,649  6,844  6,800  7,192  6,798  6,573  1.97  3465.0  5050028.00The Glebe  11,922  11,559  11,184  10,886  11,369  11,224  11,375  2.56  4657.0  5050019.00 5050018.00 5050036.00Greenboro 11,965  12,095  12,113  11,314 9,884  8,548    3.95  3029.1  5050001.05 5050001.06Hawthorne Meadows  3,975  3,866  3,787  3,938  4,249  4,124  4,102  0.63  6309.5  5050010.00Heron Gate-Ellwood (incl. Banff-Ledbury, Heatherington)  13,085  12,663  12,694  12,203  13,119  12,180  11,680  2.43  5384.8  5050007.02 5050001.01Heron Park  4,147  3,824  3,829  3,891  3,929  3,752  3,818 1.88  2205.9  5050004.00 Highland Park-McKellar Park-Woodroffe North  11,237  11,121  10,331  9,873  9,969  9,859  9,707  2.88  3901.7  5050033.01 and 5050032.02Hintonburg-Mechanicsville  10,217  9,282  9,041  8,908  9,588  9,200  8,322  1.70  6010.0 5050046.00 5050043.00Hunt Club Estate 5,194  5,116  5,090  4,982  5,185  3,845   1.37  3,791.2 5050002.05Hunt Club Park  8,556  8,825  8,937  8,903  8,956  8,056  5,033  5.58  1533.3 5050001.08 5050001.07Hunt Club Woods 2,666  2,609  2,673  2,781  2,565  3,887   4.49  593.8   5050002.06Laurentian View (Hampton-Iona)  3,630  3,198  2,852  2,782  2,943  2,951  2,950  1.02  3558.8 5050033.02LeBreton Flats  847  620  373  57 50  45  56  0.84  1008.3 5050047.00Lower Town-ByWard Market  13,529  12,856  12,183  11,377   11,134  10,463  10,550  2.06  6567.5  5050055.00 5050054.00 5050056.00 5050053.00Manor Park  8,070  7,716  7,665  7,652  7,970  8,055  7,437  2.90  2782.8 5050059.00 5050060.00New Edinburgh-Lindenlea  5,634   5,385  5,311  5,459  5,260  5,371  5,264  1.42  3967.6  5050057.00 5050058.00Ottawa East (north)  6,273  5,190  5,110  4,907  5,865  4,458  4,467  1.11  5651.4  5050015.00Ottawa South-Rideau Gardens 8,739  8,638  8,462  8,168  8,160  8,027  8,108  2.03  4304.9 5050017.00 5050016.00Overbrook-Castle Heights 10,258  9,289  9,650  9,437  9,839  9,579  9,411  3.04  3374.3  5050013.00 5050012.00Playfair Park 2,463  2,230  2,254  2,271  2,343  2,126  2,126  0.84  2932.1  5050007.01Quinterra 1,346  1,381  1,363  1,104  911  50 26 1.18  1140.7 5050002.04Redwood  3,896  3,856  3,817  4,095  4,293  4,190  4,394  0.75  5194.7  5050027.00Rideauview-Courtland Park  5,720  5,008  5,504  5,792  6,537  5,963  5,800  5.75  994.8 5050020.01Ridgeview-Parkway Park-Queensway Terrace South-Kenson Park  5,542  5,367  5,355  5,448  5,635  5,611  5,396  2.22  2496.4  5050026.00Riverside Park (north)  4,692  4,617  4,564  4,581  5,211  4,655  5,064  3.20  1466.3  5050003.00Riverside Park South-Mooney's Bay  3,030  2,885  2,893  2,923  3,086  3,220  3,406  2.58  1174.4  5050002.01Riverview-Sheffield Glen-Eastway Gardens  16,587  15,564  15,544  15,177  15,600  14,747  14,498  11.07  1498.4   5050011.03 5050011.04 5050011.01 Sandy Hill  12,871  12,070  12,451  12,078  13,232  12,697  11,938  2.07  6217.9  5050050.00 5050051.00 5050014.00 5050052.00South Keys  2,865  2,718  2,849  2,777  2,982  2,859   1.36  2106.6  5050001.04Urbandale (Canterbury)  4,836  4,622  4,597  4,686  4,788  4,863  4,906  1.55  3120.0 5050008.00Urbandale Acres-Guildwood Estates  3,723  3,731  3,719  3,786  3,877  3,929  4,141  1.21  3076.9 5050007.03Viscount Alexander Park (CFB Rockcliffe, Wateridge, Fairhaven)  2,737  1,686  1,724  2,069  2,870  3,395  2,907  4.77  573.8  5050062.02 Wellington Village (Hampton Park)  2,525  2,547  2,564  2,409  2,493  2,451  2,394   0.68  3713.2 5050044.00Western Community (Hunt Club Chase)  3,445  3,470  3,511  3,575  3,520  3,681  3,724  1.52  2266.4 5050002.02Westboro Village-Westboro Beach-Champlain Park  9,061  8,450  8,135  7,396   6,912  6,847  6,082  3.27  2770.9  5050045.00 (5050045.01 and 5050045.02 in 2021)Whitehaven-Glabar Park-McKellar Heights  5,749  5,514  5,329  5,506  5,388  5,419  5,376  2.48  2318.1  5050025.00Woodpark  5,554  5,349  5,341   5,305  5,392  5,354  5,409  1.11  5003.6  5050031.00
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