Toronto is the largest city in Canada, with 3,358,275 residents in 2026 and a land area of 631.1 square kilometers (244 square miles). It lies on the north shore of Lake Ontario in the province of Ontario. This section gathers the basic facts about the city’s position, people, ground, weather, and disasters, with the census year or the source stated for each figure.
What this section covers
Quick-fact questions about Toronto often mix up three different areas: the City of Toronto, the census metropolitan area, and the Greater Toronto Area. The numbers differ widely between them. Each article below states which area a figure describes. Rankings and “most dangerous” or “largest” claims appear only when a government statistic defines them.
Place, people, and ground
Where Toronto is sets out the location, the relationship between the city and the province, and what counts as Toronto in different contexts. Toronto’s population and languages reports what the census shows about size, growth, and the languages residents speak. For the height of the city above the lake and the shape of the land, the article on Toronto’s elevation and topography draws on public data.
The neighborhood story is told in how the districts grew. Toronto was incorporated as a city in March 1834, with William Lyon Mackenzie as first mayor, and absorbed neighboring villages and townships in stages between 1883 and 1912, which is why many districts still carry the names of former municipalities. That article is the entry point for the individual neighborhood histories.
Weather and climate
The climate article uses Environment and Climate Change Canada records. At Toronto Pearson, the 1981 to 2010 climate normals give an annual mean temperature of 8.2 degrees Celsius (46.8 degrees Fahrenheit), a January mean of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius (22.1 degrees Fahrenheit), and average annual snowfall of 108.5 centimeters (42.7 inches). The same article covers record snowfalls, Hurricane Hazel in October 1954, and the earthquakes that Natural Resources Canada documents for southeastern Canada.
Fire, crime, and the Islands
The Great Fire of 1904 began on the evening of April 19, 1904, in the Currie Building, with the alarm sounded at 8:04 p.m. The City of Toronto Archives records losses of about 10,000,000 dollars and the loss of about 5,000 jobs. The fire led to a new building by-law and changed the way the city regulated construction.
The crime article is deliberately restrained. It draws on Statistics Canada’s Crime Severity Index and the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, names only long-deceased historical figures, and explains what official crime statistics measure and what they do not. The Toronto Islands article gives the history of the Islands, their ferry service, and park rules as published by the City.
Key figures at a glance
| Item | Figure | Source and year |
|---|---|---|
| Population, City of Toronto | 3,358,275 (estimate) | 2026, World Population Review |
| Land area, City of Toronto | 631.1 km2 (244 sq mi) | Statistics Canada, 2021 census |
| Annual mean temperature, Pearson | 8.2 degrees Celsius | Environment Canada, 1981 to 2010 normals |
| Average annual snowfall, Pearson | 108.5 cm | Environment Canada, 1981 to 2010 normals |
| Great Fire | April 19, 1904 | City of Toronto Archives |
| Incorporated as a city | March 1834 | Standard references |
How the articles relate
The articles read well in any order, but a few pairings help. Population and location together explain why statistics for Toronto vary with the boundary chosen. Climate and elevation together explain why snow and lake effects differ between the waterfront and the north of the city. The fire and the neighborhoods explain why the downtown core was rebuilt after 1904 under stricter rules while outer districts grew around older village centers.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the City of Toronto?
Statistics Canada reports a land area of 631.1 square kilometers (244 square miles) and a 2026 population of 3,358,275 for the City of Toronto.
Is Toronto the capital of Canada?
No. Ottawa is the capital of Canada. Toronto is the capital of the province of Ontario.
What was the Great Fire of 1904?
A fire that began in the Currie Building on the evening of April 19, 1904, and burned through part of the downtown business district. The City of Toronto Archives records losses of about 10,000,000 dollars.
Why do population figures for Toronto differ between sources?
Sources may describe the City of Toronto, the census metropolitan area, or the Greater Toronto Area, and may use different census years. The area and the year should be checked before figures are compared.
Last verified: October 2026
More facts and events
- The 1918 Influenza Epidemic in Toronto: Facts and Figures: Toronto recorded about 1,750 influenza deaths in autumn 1918. See the timeline, closures, mask debate, and why the sources give different counts.
- The 2003 SARS Outbreak in Toronto: Timeline and Inquiries: Two waves in 2003 left 44 dead in Canada, all in Toronto. Dates, Code Orange, the WHO travel advisory, and what the official inquiries found.
- The August 2003 Blackout in Toronto and Ontario: On August 14, 2003, a failure in Ohio blacked out Toronto and 50 million people. Timeline, causes, TTC, nuclear plants and the Ontario emergency.
- The Scarborough Bluffs: History, Name, and Geology: The Scarborough Bluffs run about 15 km along Lake Ontario. Elizabeth Simcoe named them in 1793; layers, erosion, and shoreline projects explained.
- Toronto in Numbers: Key Figures With Year and Source: Key Toronto figures in tables: 2021 census population, area, elevation, climate normals, transit lengths and historical counts, each with year and source.
- Glossary of Toronto and Ontario History Terms: Plain definitions of 48 terms in Toronto and Ontario history, from Family Compact to Treaty 13, each with sources and links to full articles.
- Toronto History Questions and Answers: Thirty short answers about Toronto's name, early history, landmarks, population, transit, and records, each linked to the full article with sources.
Related reading
- Overview of Toronto’s history
- Living in Toronto
- Culture, sports, and language
- Getting around Toronto
Sources
- Statistics Canada, Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census, Toronto (census subdivision)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1981 to 2010, Toronto Pearson
- City of Toronto Archives (Great Fire of 1904)
- Natural Resources Canada, earthquakes in southeastern Canada
More guides
- Did Toronto's Population Fall? What the Estimates Show
- Toronto's Population from 1834 to the 2021 Census
- Toronto's Population and Diversity in the 2021 Census
- Toronto Time Zone: EST, EDT and the 2026 Clock Changes
- How Toronto and New York City Differ in Government and Transit
- Toronto and New York City by Size, Density, and Skyline
- North York and Toronto: where the district sits in the city
- How North York became part of Toronto, 1922 to 1998
- Casinos in and Around Toronto: Locations, Rules, Regulators
Cite this page
APA: History of Toronto. (2026, October 27). Toronto Facts: Location, Population, Geography and Weather. https://historyoftoronto.ca/toronto-facts
MLA: “Toronto Facts: Location, Population, Geography and Weather.” History of Toronto, 27 Oct. 2026, https://historyoftoronto.ca/toronto-facts. Accessed .
Chicago: History of Toronto. “Toronto Facts: Location, Population, Geography and Weather.” Last modified October 27, 2026. https://historyoftoronto.ca/toronto-facts.
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