Facts & Figures

2006 Census Highlights for the City of Hamilton

Hamilton's population increased by 14,280, or 2.91% from 2001 to 2006, representing a decrease over the 4.8% growth rate from 1996 to 2001 and somewhat lower in comparison to the Ontario’s growth rate of 6.6%, which also exceeded the 5.4% Canada’s national average.

Hamilton has the eighth largest population of all Canadian cities and remains the fourth largest of all Ontario cities, preceded by Toronto, Ottawa and Mississauga.

According to the 2006 Census, Italian is spoken by 32,120 Hamilton residents (the most of any non-official language in response to language spoken most often at home for both the single and multiple responses combined), followed by Polish, Portuguese and Spanish.

According to the 2006 Census, just over 1/4 of Hamilton's population are immigrants, slightly higher than the 24.7% in 2001 and 13.6% of the population are visible minorities an increase of 15,410 from 2001 to 2006.

Hamilton's employed labour force increased by 5.6%, while the unemployed labour force increased 6.7% between 2001 and 2006 compared to the previous census cycle when the employed labour force increased by 10%, while the unemployed labour force decreased by 24% between 1996 and 2001.

Both the communities of Glanbrook and Ancaster showed a significant percentage population change for a combined increase in total population of some 8,895 individuals. Generally, all communities contributed to the growth of the City with the exception of the community of Hamilton showing a slight decline in its overall population but remaining consistent at 329,820.

Census data is also available at the Hamilton Public Library, or visit Statistics Canada's website at www.statcan.ca.

Additional statistical information on housing and land issues, census-derived data and population data can be obtained by contacting Planning staff at (905) 546-2424 Ext. 1222.