Quick answerOttawa is the capital of Canada, with 1,017,449 people inside the city limits in 2021. The wider metropolitan area had about 1.5 million people in 2021. It is best known for Canada's Parliament, the Rideau Canal (UNESCO) and the National museums. Its official language is English and French, and its currency is the Canadian dollar.
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, a city of about 1.02 million people in 2021 on the Ottawa River in Ontario. About 1.49 million people lived in its metropolitan area that year. The city is home to Canada's Parliament, the Supreme Court and the national museums.
Key facts
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,017,449 (2021) |
| Population (metro) | 1,488,307 (2021) · Statistics Canada Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), 2021 census |
| Time zone | America/Toronto |
| Language | English, French |
| Currency | Canadian dollar (CAD, $) |
| Coordinates | 45.4247° N, 75.695° W |
Overview
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, a city on the Ottawa River in eastern Ontario, across the water from Gatineau in Quebec. It became the capital in 1857, when Queen Victoria chose it as a compromise between Toronto and Montreal, then the two rivals for the honour. The city grew around Parliament Hill, where Canada's Parliament meets in Gothic Revival buildings above the river, and around the Rideau Canal, built in the 19th century as a military supply route.
About 1.02 million people lived in Ottawa in 2021, and about 1.49 million in its metropolitan area. The city is officially bilingual, and about a third of its residents speak French. Ottawa is a government city: the federal public service is its largest employer, and the city hosts the Supreme Court, the national museums and the embassies of most of the world's countries.
Ottawa is also known for its green spaces and its winters. The Rideau Canal becomes the Rideau Canal Skateway in winter, the world's largest naturally frozen skating rink, and the Winterlude festival fills the city in February. In spring the city is famous for its tulips, a gift from the Netherlands after the Second World War. The city's museums include the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of History, across the river in Gatineau.
What Ottawa is known for
- Canada's Parliament
- Rideau Canal (UNESCO)
- National museums
- Bilingual capital (English and French)
- Winterlude festival
Landmarks
- Parliament Hill
- Rideau Canal
- National Gallery of Canada
- Canadian Museum of History (in Gatineau)
- ByWard Market
- Rideau Hall
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ottawa?
Ottawa had 1,017,449 residents in the 2021 census, according to Statistics Canada, making it the fourth-largest city in Canada. Its metropolitan area, which includes Gatineau in Quebec, had 1,488,307 people that year. The city is much smaller than Toronto and Montreal, but it is the centre of Canada's federal government.
What is Ottawa famous for?
Ottawa is famous as the capital of Canada and the home of Parliament Hill, where Canada's Parliament meets. It is also known for the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site that becomes the world's largest skating rink in winter, and for its national museums, including the National Gallery of Canada.
Where is Ottawa located?
Ottawa is in eastern Ontario, on the Ottawa River across from Gatineau in Quebec. It is about 350 kilometres north-east of Toronto and about 200 kilometres west of Montreal. Its coordinates are 45.42° N, 75.70° W, and its time zone is Eastern Time.
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Keep exploring
- Canada — the country Ottawa is in
- Toronto — another city in Canada
- Montreal — another city in Canada
- Vancouver — another city in Canada
- All cities in Canada
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.