Population centre tutorial, part 1

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Statistics Canada uses census data to identify population centres (POPCTRs). To be identified as such, an area must have a current population of at least 1,000 and a population density of 400 per square kilometre.

Population centres are divided into three groups based on the size of the population to reflect the existence of an urban-rural continuum:

• Small population centres, with a population between 1,000 and 29,999
• Medium population centres, with a population between 30,000 and 99,999
• Large urban population centres, with a population of 100,000 or more.

All areas outside population centres are classified as rural areas. Taken together, population centres and rural areas cover all of Canada.

Table 10 Distribution of population by size of population centre, 2006 and 2011 censuses