Toronto

Canada

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Toronto is the largest city in Canada, with a population of 2,794,356. Located in the province of Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, it serves as Canada’s economic and financial center. The area was originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples, including the Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee. The settlement was founded as the town of York in 1793 and was renamed Toronto in 1834. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the city grew rapidly through immigration and industrial expansion, becoming one of the most multicultural cities in the world.

Toronto is known for its skyline dominated by the CN Tower, one of the tallest free-standing structures in the Western Hemisphere. Other notable landmarks include the Royal Ontario Museum and the Toronto Islands. The city is also a major center for arts, media, and professional sports. Notable people born in Toronto include the musician Drake and former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Toronto in Canada

Population 2,794,356 inhabitants
Area 630.2 km²
Elevation 76 m
Density 4,434 inh./km²
Coordinates 43.7° N
79.4° W

Toronto Population Evolution

The following curve shows the evolution of Toronto population between 1834 and 2021.

The population of Toronto in 2026 is estimated to 2,857,140 inhabitants. This estimate is taken from our extrapolation of available data and not an official estimate.

Population Summary

Year Population Change
1834 9,252
1891 144,023 +1,456.7%
1951 1,176,622 +717.0%
1991 2,275,771 +93.4%
2021 2,794,356 +22.8%

Interactive Map of Toronto

📍 Points of Interest

What to see in Toronto

Royal Ontario Museum

First Canadian Place

Art Gallery of Ontario

Yonge Street

CN Tower

architectural landmark

Famous People Born in Toronto

Christopher Plummer

actor
Born 1929 - Died 2021

Stephen Harper

writer
Born 1959

Drake

actor
Born 1986

Canadian rapper, singer and actor

Natalie Achonwa

basketball player
Born 1992

Canadian basketball player

Sister Cities of Toronto

Sister cities, also known as twin cities, are formal partnerships between cities in different countries to promote cultural and commercial ties.

This list is based on publicly available structured data and may differ slightly from official municipal publications.

City Country Population
Chongqing 🇨🇳 People's Republic of China 32,054,159
Ho Chi Minh City 🇻🇳 Vietnam 14,002,598
Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷 Brazil 6,211,223
Kyiv 🇺🇦 Ukraine 2,952,301
Chicago 🇺🇸 United States 2,746,388
Warsaw 🇵🇱 Poland 1,862,402
Quito 🇪🇨 Ecuador 1,763,275
Milan 🇮🇹 Italy 1,354,196
Frankfurt 🇩🇪 Germany 775,790
Sagamihara 🇯🇵 Japan 725,696

A book about Toronto

Fodor’s Toronto: with Niagara Falls & the Niagara Wine Region

Fodor’s Toronto: with Niagara Falls & the Niagara Wine Region

Fodor’s Travel Guides

Fodor's Travel (2026)

An up-to-date tourist guide with curated recommendations for sightseeing, dining, and local experiences.

View Book

A novel set in Toronto

Fifth Business

Fifth Business

Robertson Davies

Penguin Classics (2001)

Classic Canadian novel featuring characters whose lives span from rural Ontario to the streets of Toronto, exploring identity, guilt, and myth.

View Novel

Other facts about Toronto

Sources & References

#1204 — Last update: 13 February 2026