Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census
Census subdivision of Ottawa, CV - Ontario

Map of Ottawa, CV
Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Ottawa, CV - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses
In 2011, Ottawa (City / Ville) had a population of 883,391, representing a percentage change of 8.8% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.
Land area is 2,790.22 square kilometres with a population density of 316.6 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the provincial land area of 908,607.67 square kilometres with a population density of 14.1 persons per square kilometre.
In 2011, Ottawa (City / Ville) had 353,244 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 10.1%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.
Ottawa (City / Ville) is part of the census metropolitan area of Ottawa - Gatineau (Ontario).
Population and dwelling counts
Ottawa (City / Ville) – Neighbouring census subdivisions
Census subdivision (CSD) name | CSD type | Population | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 2006 | % change | ||
Lochaber-Partie-Ouest, Que. | CT | 646 | 514 | 25.7 |
Gatineau, Que. | V | 265,349 | 242,124 | 9.6 |
Pontiac, Que. | MÉ | 5,681 | 5,238 | 8.5 |
Bristol, Que. | MÉ | 1,128 | 1,210 | -6.8 |
North Dundas, Ont. | TP | 11,225 | 11,095 | 1.2 |
The Nation / La Nation, Ont. | M | 11,668 | 10,662 A E | 9.4 |
Clarence-Rockland, Ont. | CY | 23,185 | 20,790 | 11.5 |
Russell, Ont. | TP | 15,247 | 13,883 | 9.8 |
Merrickville-Wolford, Ont. | VL | 2,850 | 2,867 | -0.6 |
North Grenville, Ont. | MU | 15,085 | 14,198 | 6.2 |
Montague, Ont. | TP | 3,483 | 3,209 A | 8.5 |
Beckwith, Ont. | TP | 6,986 | 6,387 | 9.4 |
Mississippi Mills, Ont. | T | 12,385 | 11,734 | 5.5 |
Arnprior, Ont. | T | 8,114 | 7,158 | 13.4 |
McNab/Braeside, Ont. | TP | 7,371 | 7,222 | 2.1 |
Ontario – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth
Census subdivision (CSD) name | CSD type | Population | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 2006 | % change | ||
Milton | T | 84,362 | 53,889 A | 56.5 |
Whitchurch-Stouffville | T | 37,628 | 24,390 | 54.3 |
Ajax | T | 109,600 | 90,167 | 21.6 |
Brampton | CY | 523,911 | 433,806 | 20.8 |
Vaughan | CY | 288,301 | 238,866 | 20.7 |
Ontario – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth
Census subdivision (CSD) name | CSD type | Population | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 2006 | % change | ||
Thunder Bay, Unorganized | NO | 5,909 | 6,585 | -10.3 |
Hearst | T | 5,090 | 5,620 | -9.4 |
Dryden | CY | 7,617 | 8,195 | -7.1 |
The Blue Mountains | T | 6,453 | 6,825 | -5.5 |
Age and sex
Ottawa, CV – Age distribution
Age groups | Both sexes | Males | Females |
---|---|---|---|
0 to 14 | 16.8% | 17.6% | 16.1% |
15 to 64 | 70.0% | 70.6% | 69.4% |
65 and over | 13.2% | 11.8% | 14.5% |
In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Ottawa, CV was 13.2%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 70.0% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 16.8%. In comparison, the national percentages were 68.5% for the population aged 15 to 64 and 16.7% for the population aged 0 to 14.
Ottawa, CV – Population by broad age groups and sex
Broad age groups by sex | Population | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 2006 | change | % change | |
Both sexes | ||||
Total | 883,395 | 812,130 | 71,265 | 8.8 |
0 to 14 | 148,570 | 142,750 | 5,820 | 4.1 |
15 to 64 | 618,235 | 568,515 | 49,720 | 8.7 |
65 and over | 116,585 | 100,870 | 15,715 | 15.6 |
Males | ||||
Total | 428,455 | 393,000 | 35,455 | 9.0 |
0 to 14 | 75,280 | 72,625 | 2,655 | 3.7 |
15 to 64 | 302,560 | 277,905 | 24,655 | 8.9 |
65 and over | 50,620 | 42,470 | 8,150 | 19.2 |
Females | ||||
Total | 454,935 | 419,130 | 35,805 | 8.5 |
0 to 14 | 73,295 | 70,120 | 3,175 | 4.5 |
15 to 64 | 315,675 | 290,605 | 25,070 | 8.6 |
65 and over | 65,960 | 58,395 | 7,565 | 13.0 |
Ottawa, CV – Population by five-year age groups and sex
Age groups | Both sexes | Males | Females |
---|---|---|---|
Total - Age groups | 883,395 | 428,455 | 454,935 |
0 to 4 years | 49,140 | 24,925 | 24,215 |
5 to 9 years | 48,760 | 24,660 | 24,100 |
10 to 14 years | 50,665 | 25,690 | 24,980 |
15 to 19 years | 58,310 | 29,675 | 28,630 |
20 to 24 years | 65,965 | 33,100 | 32,865 |
25 to 29 years | 61,230 | 30,185 | 31,045 |
30 to 34 years | 57,740 | 27,670 | 30,070 |
35 to 39 years | 60,360 | 28,765 | 31,600 |
40 to 44 years | 64,285 | 31,215 | 33,070 |
45 to 49 years | 73,190 | 35,935 | 37,255 |
50 to 54 years | 69,010 | 33,595 | 35,415 |
55 to 59 years | 57,735 | 28,035 | 29,700 |
60 to 64 years | 50,410 | 24,385 | 26,025 |
65 to 69 years | 35,860 | 16,935 | 18,930 |
70 to 74 years | 26,805 | 12,360 | 14,445 |
75 to 79 years | 21,275 | 9,545 | 11,730 |
80 to 84 years | 16,305 | 6,600 | 9,705 |
85 years and over | 16,335 | 5,185 | 11,150 |
Median age | 39.2 | 38.2 | 40.0 |
Ottawa, CV – Median age1 of the population
In 2011, the median age in Ottawa, CV was 39.2 years. In comparison, the median age of Ontario was 40.4 years.
Median age | ||
---|---|---|
2006 | 2011 | |
Canada | 39.5 | 40.6 |
Ontario | 39.0 | 40.4 |
Ottawa, CV | 38.4 | 39.2 |
Families and households
In 2011, the number of census families2 in Ottawa was 239,470, which represents a change of 7.8% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.
In Ottawa, 70.9% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 13.1% were common-law-couples and 16.1% were lone-parent families.
Ottawa – Family structure
Geographic name | Total families | Married-couple families | Common-law-couple families | Lone-parent families | % change, census families, 2006 to 2011 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | number | % | |||
Canada † | 9,389,695 | 6,293,950 | 67.0 | 1,567,905 | 16.7 | 1,527,840 | 16.3 | 5.5 |
Ontario † | 3,612,205 | 2,612,890 | 72.3 | 394,670 | 10.9 | 604,645 | 16.7 | 5.5 |
Ottawa, CV | 239,470 | 169,680 | 70.9 | 31,255 | 13.1 | 38,540 | 16.1 | 7.8 |
Lochaber-Partie-Ouest, CT (Que.) | 195 | 100 | 51.3 | 80 | 41.0 | 20 | 10.3 | 25.8 |
Gatineau, V (Que.) | 74,600 | 38,540 | 51.7 | 21,290 | 28.5 | 14,770 | 19.8 | 7.6 |
Pontiac, MÉ (Que.) | 1,725 | 1,055 | 61.2 | 460 | 26.7 | 210 | 12.2 | 12.4 |
Bristol, MÉ (Que.) | 335 | 240 | 71.6 | 55 | 16.4 | 35 | 10.4 | 3.1 |
North Dundas, TP | 3,385 | 2,505 | 74.0 | 475 | 14.0 | 400 | 11.8 | 5.1 |
The Nation / La Nation, M | 3,510 | 2,370 | 67.5 | 755 | 21.5 | 380 | 10.8 | 9.9 |
Clarence-Rockland, CY | 6,975 | 4,750 | 68.1 | 1,300 | 18.6 | 920 | 13.2 | 13.0 |
Russell, TP | 4,515 | 3,355 | 74.3 | 670 | 14.8 | 485 | 10.7 | 11.6 |
Merrickville-Wolford, VL | 855 | 615 | 71.9 | 135 | 15.8 | 100 | 11.7 | 4.3 |
North Grenville, MU | 4,610 | 3,460 | 75.1 | 620 | 13.4 | 540 | 11.7 | 8.3 |
Montague, TP | 1,085 | 795 | 73.3 | 165 | 15.2 | 125 | 11.5 | 8.5 |
Beckwith, TP | 2,195 | 1,710 | 77.9 | 305 | 13.9 | 180 | 8.2 | 12.3 |
Mississippi Mills, T | 3,735 | 2,830 | 75.8 | 470 | 12.6 | 440 | 11.8 | 9.2 |
Arnprior, T | 2,290 | 1,515 | 66.2 | 310 | 13.5 | 465 | 20.3 | 10.1 |
McNab/Braeside, TP | 2,325 | 1,790 | 77.0 | 310 | 13.3 | 225 | 9.7 | 4.7 |
Ottawa – Presence of children within couple families
Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Ottawa, 49.5% were couples with children aged 24 and under at home. In comparison, as a whole, 46.9% of couples in Canada had children aged 24 and under at home.
* Children aged 24 and under at home | |
Married couples with children * | 89,675 |
---|---|
Married couples without children * | 80,005 |
Common-law-couples with children * | 9,795 |
Common-law-couples without children * | 21,460 |
Ottawa – Marital status
In Ottawa, 55.9% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (47.4%) or living with a common-law partner (8.5%).
The remaining 44.1% were not married and not living with a common-law partner, including those who were single (never-married), separated, divorced or widowed.
Note: Percentages may not total 100 percent due to random rounding.
Marital status | Ottawa, CV | Ontario | Canada | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | number | % | |
Total - Population 15 years and over | 734,820 | 100.0 | 10,671,050 | 100.0 | 27,869,345 | 100.0 |
Married or living with a common-law partner | 411,110 | 55.9 | 6,158,605 | 57.7 | 16,084,490 | 57.7 |
Married (and not separated) | 348,515 | 47.4 | 5,367,400 | 50.3 | 12,941,965 | 46.4 |
Living common-law | 62,590 | 8.5 | 791,210 | 7.4 | 3,142,525 | 11.3 |
Not married and not living with a common-law partner | 323,710 | 44.1 | 4,512,440 | 42.3 | 11,784,855 | 42.3 |
Single (never legally married) | 224,340 | 30.5 | 2,985,020 | 28.0 | 7,816,045 | 28.0 |
Separated | 20,630 | 2.8 | 319,805 | 3.0 | 698,245 | 2.5 |
Divorced | 42,710 | 5.8 | 593,730 | 5.6 | 1,686,035 | 6.0 |
Widowed | 36,025 | 4.9 | 613,880 | 5.8 | 1,584,525 | 5.7 |
Ottawa – Types of private households
There were 353,245 private households3 in Ottawa in 2011, a change of 10.0% from 2006. Of these, 27.4% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of 3.7% compared with five years earlier.
Household type4 | Ottawa, CV | Ontario | Canada | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | number | % | |
Total private households | 353,245 | 100.0 | 4,887,505 | 100.0 | 13,320,615 | 100.0 |
Couple-family households with children aged 24 and under at home5 |
96,760 | 27.4 | 1,402,420 | 28.7 | 3,524,915 | 26.5 |
Couple-family households without children aged 24 and under at home6 |
96,790 | 27.4 | 1,408,120 | 28.8 | 3,935,540 | 29.5 |
Lone-parent family households7 | 35,775 | 10.1 | 535,825 | 11.0 | 1,375,450 | 10.3 |
One-person households | 99,905 | 28.3 | 1,230,980 | 25.2 | 3,673,310 | 27.6 |
Multiple family households8 | 4,985 | 1.4 | 128,660 | 2.6 | 268,060 | 2.0 |
Other households9 | 19,025 | 5.4 | 181,500 | 3.7 | 543,340 | 4.1 |
Ottawa – Structural type of dwelling
In Ottawa, 42.9% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 18.5% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.
Structural type of dwelling | Ottawa, CV | Ontario | Canada | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | number | % | |
Total - Structural type of dwelling | 353,245 | 100.0 | 4,887,510 | 100.0 | 13,320,615 | 100.0 |
Single-detached house | 151,495 | 42.9 | 2,718,880 | 55.6 | 7,329,150 | 55.0 |
Semi-detached house | 19,305 | 5.5 | 279,470 | 5.7 | 646,240 | 4.9 |
Row house | 72,540 | 20.5 | 415,230 | 8.5 | 791,600 | 5.9 |
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys | 65,495 | 18.5 | 789,975 | 16.2 | 1,234,770 | 9.3 |
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys | 36,190 | 10.2 | 498,160 | 10.2 | 2,397,555 | 18.0 |
Apartment, duplex | 6,845 | 1.9 | 160,460 | 3.3 | 704,485 | 5.3 |
Other single-attached house10 | 440 | 0.1 | 9,535 | 0.2 | 33,310 | 0.3 |
Movable dwelling11 | 935 | 0.3 | 15,795 | 0.3 | 183,510 | 1.4 |
Language
Ottawa, CV – Mother tongue

Chart J description: Ottawa, CV - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home
Note: Counts for mother tongue as well as those for language spoken most often at home include single responses only.
In Ottawa, 62.4% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 14.2% reported French only, and 20.4% reported a non-official language only, in 2011. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 68.2% for English only, 3.9% for French only and 25.7% for only non-official languages.
In 2011, 74.8% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 9.9% spoke only French and 10.5% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 79.0% for only English, 2.2% for only French and 14.4% for only a non-official language.
Selected languages | Mother tongue | Language spoken most often at home | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | |
Total | 872,450 | 100.0 | 872,450 | 100.0 |
English | 544,045 | 62.4 | 652,455 | 74.8 |
French | 123,925 | 14.2 | 86,035 | 9.9 |
Non-official language | 178,120 | 20.4 | 91,990 | 10.5 |
Multiple responses | 26,360 | 3.0 | 41,965 | 4.8 |
Mother tongue | Mother-tongue retention12 (in percentage) |
||
---|---|---|---|
Total retention; language spoken at home at least on a regular basis | Complete retention; language spoken most often at home | Partial retention; language spoken at home on a regular basis | |
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French. | |||
English | 99.4 | 98.6 | 0.9 |
French | 83.5 | 64.7 | 18.8 |
Non-official language | 81.2 | 57.7 | 23.5 |
Ottawa, CV – Non-official languages
In Ottawa, the three most common mother tongues were Arabic (3.6%), Chinese, n.o.s. (1.5%) and Spanish (1.4%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the provincial / territorial level were Italian (2.1%), Chinese, n.o.s. (1.6%) and Cantonese (1.5%).
Mother tongue | Number | Percentage of non-official language mother-tongue population | Percentage of total population |
---|---|---|---|
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French. | |||
Arabic | 31,415 | 16.2 | 3.6 |
Chinese, n.o.s. | 13,180 | 6.8 | 1.5 |
Spanish | 11,800 | 6.1 | 1.4 |
Italian | 10,325 | 5.3 | 1.2 |
Mandarin | 7,035 | 3.6 | 0.8 |
Ottawa, CV – Bilingualism
Age groups | Mother tongue | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | English | French | Non-official language | |
Note: Counts for mother tongue include single responses only. Consequently, the total excludes multiple responses. | ||||
Total | 36.5 | 28.3 | 91.2 | 23.5 |
0 to 19 | 36.1 | 30.0 | 77.5 | 31.0 |
20 to 44 | 40.2 | 33.8 | 96.4 | 25.1 |
45 to 64 | 36.0 | 25.0 | 95.5 | 21.8 |
65 and over | 28.3 | 15.7 | 88.4 | 13.5 |
Knowledge of official languages | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Total | 872,450 | 100.0 |
English only | 522,980 | 59.9 |
French only | 12,915 | 1.5 |
English and French | 324,695 | 37.2 |
Neither English nor French | 11,860 | 1.4 |
Symbols:
- ···
- not applicable
- †
- excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements. For further information, refer to Notes.
- ¶
- incompletely enumerated Indian reserve or Indian settlement. For further information, refer to Notes.
- A
- adjusted figure due to boundary change. For further information, refer to Content considerations.
- E
- use with caution. For further information, refer to Cautionary note.
Source:
Statistics Canada. 2012. Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-310-XWE2011004. Ottawa, Ontario. Analytical products, 2011 Census. Last updated October 24, 2012.
Related data:
- 2011 Census Topic-based tabulations – Census subdivision of Ottawa, City / Ville - Ontario
- 2011 Census Highlight tables – Census subdivision of Ottawa, City / Ville - Ontario
- 2011 Census Data Navigator – Census subdivision of Ottawa, City / Ville - Ontario
- 2011 NHS Focus on Geography Series – Census subdivision of Ottawa, City / Ville - Ontario