Figure 5
Larger cities grew more than smaller cities and (except from 1976 to 1981) smaller cities grew more than rural and small town areas

1. Each 5-year change is tabulated within the boundaries applicable to the census at the end of the 5-year period.
Note: In 2006, Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) have a total population of 100,000 or more (with an urban core of 50,000 or more) and they include neighbouring towns and municipalities where 50% or more of the workforce commutes to the urban core. Census Agglomerations (CAs) have an urban core of 10,000 or more persons plus neighbouring towns and municipalities where 50% or more of the workforce commutes to the urban core. Rural and small town (RST) areas are outside the commuting zones of Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and Census Agglomerations (CAs).
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1971 to 2006.
Figure source: Statistics Canada, 2008, "Structure and Change in Canada’s Rural Demography: An Update to 2006", Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletin, Volume 7, number 7, catalogue number 21-006-X.