Such a low density of population should not, however, create the impression that all Canadians live far from one another. In fact, 78% of Canadians, and especially those who have immigrated to Canada or whose parents immigrated to Canada, live in urban areas. This high rate of urbanization is historically consistent; it places Canada thirty-ninth in the world, lower in urbanization than Belgium, Australia, Israel, and the United Kingdom, just slightly lower than the USA (80%), and higher than China, India, Pakistan, and the countries of Africa.

Three Canadian cities - Toronto (4.5 million), Montréal (3.5 million), and Vancouver (2 million) - have populations in excess of two million, and four others - Ottawa-Hull, Calgary, Edmonton, and Québec City - have about one million. The provinces with the greatest population - Ontario (11 million), Québec (7 million), and British Columbia (3.8 million) - also have the highest levels of urban concentration. Eighty-two per cent of Ontarions live in urban areas.

Within the urbanization trend, there has been a trend called exurbia. This refers to a general decline or stabilization of populations in the core of cities, but an expansion in the periphery around them. These expanded areas are not rural in character; that is, they are not dominated by farms. Rather, they are less densely populated areas, lived in by people whose work is in the city but who prefer to reside outside it.