New census data shows the population of the metropolitan area of Toronto outpaced the national growth rate over the last five years — a period of time that saw the country spiral into the most serious economic tailspin since the Great Depression.

Statistics Canada released the first batch of numbers from the 2011 census on Wednesday and the population of what the government agency refers to as the census metropolitan area of Toronto increased by 9.2 per cent since the last census in 2006.

The area's growth rate was above the national growth rate of 5.9 per cent, while the population of Ontario increased by 5.7 per cent.

Census metropolitan areas do not conform to established municipal boundaries. Statistics Canada defines them as a metropolitan area with a population of at least 100,000, where the urban core of that area has at least 50,000 people. Commuting patterns and other factors are used in determining these census metropolitan areas. Looking at metropolitan areas this way takes in to account the growing impact of suburban areas on Canada's largest cities.

When the 2011 census was taken last May 10, the population of the census metropolitan area of Toronto was 5,583,064, compared with 5,113,149 from the 2006 census. The population of the actual city of Toronto was 2,615,060 up from 2,503,281 in 2006.

The census indicated that Toronto ranked No. 1 among the country's 33 census metropolitan areas.

Canada's population on census day was 33,476,688, Statistics Canada reported.

The national census is conducted every five years. The information published Wednesday is the first of several releases of data to come from Statistics Canada over the next year and longer that will eventually paint a detailed picture of the country, right down to the local level - including age breakdowns of the population, family makeup, languages spoken, immigration and ethnic origin, the level of education attained and income earned.

Ontario is still the country's most populous province, with a population of 12,851,821.

2011 census population figures for the Toronto region

Community	2011	2006	% change
Toronto	2,615,060	2,503,281	+4.5
Mississauga	713,443	668,599	+6.7
Brampton	523,911	433,806	+20.8
Caledon	59,460	57,050	+ 4.2
Oakville	182,520	165,613	+10.2
Burlington	175,779	164,415	+6.9
Milton	84,362	53,889	+56.5
Halton Hills	59,008	55,289	+6.7
Pickering	88,721	87,838	+1.0
Ajax	109,600	90,167	+21.6
Oshawa	149,607	141,590	+5.7
Vaughan	288,301	238,866	+20.7
Markham	301,709	261,573	+15.3
Richmond Hill	185,541	162,704	+14.0
Whitchurch-Stouffville	37,628	24,390	+54.3
Aurora	53,203	47,629	+11.7
Newmarket	79,978	74,295	+7.6
King	19,899	19,487	+2.1
East Gwillimbury	22,473	21,069	+6.7
Georgina	43,517	42,346	+2.8
Brock	11,341	11,979	-5.3
Clarington	84,548	77,820	+8.6
Scugog	21,569	21,439	+0.6
Uxbridge	20,623	19,169	+7.6
Whitby	122,022	111,184	+9.7