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Figure 1
Proportion of the population living in rural areas, Canada, 1851 to 2011
Description
Figure 1 shows the change in the proportion of the population living in rural areas in Canada according to the censuses from 1851 to 2011. The proportion of people living in rural areas has been dropping steadily, from 87% in 1851 to 84% in 1861, 81% in 1871, 75% in 1881, 69% in 1891, 63% in 1901, 55% in 1911, 51% in 1921, 46% in 1931, 46% in 1941, 38% in 1951, 30% in 1961, 24% in 1971, 24% in 1981, 23% in 1991, 20% in 2001, and 19% in 2011.
Note: Data presented for 1851 to 1951 censuses are based on the definition of rural areas at that time.
Sources: Statistics Canada, censuses of population, 1851 to 2011.
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