Toronto Region Quick Facts

The Toronto Region provides many diverse opportunities to expand and grow your business, and our team can help equip you with the tools you need to both succeed here and access markets worldwide. Here are a few quick facts that highlight how a Toronto location can help take your business to the next level:

  • The Toronto Region is home to a population of over 7 million, and is expected to grow to over 10 million by 2051, making it one of the largest and fastest growing metropolitan regions in North America.
  • The region has a workforce of over 4 million people ranging from knowledge-based professions to skilled trades.
  • Home to 38 percent of Canada’s business headquarters
  • The Toronto Region generates 20 percent of Canada’s GDP – a greater share than any other metro region or province.
  • Toronto Region welcomes more than 100,000 new immigrants annually.
  • The Toronto Region is home to a diverse population with 51 percent foreign-born and over 190 languages and major dialects are spoken across the region
  • Toronto boasts the third-largest tech sector in North America, trailing only Bay Area and New York City. Home to notable AI research labs such as NVIDIA AI Lab, Samsung AI Lab, and Sanofi AI Centre of Excellence.
  • Toronto is the second-largest financial centre in North America, after New York and ranks 8th for global fintech
  • One of North America’s largest life sciences sectors, employing over 45,000 people across various disciplines, including medical research, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals, is here in the Toronto Region.
  • Ontario and the Toronto Region is at the heart of Canada's manufacturing industry, with the 3rd largest number of manufacturing business locations out of any state or province in North America.
  • The Toronto Region is home to North America’s second-largest food and beverage industry
  • The Toronto Region is Canada’s leader in interactive media, with a 42 percent growth in animation and VFX projects in the last 5 years. Over 289,000 professionals work in tech-specific occupations across all businesses in the Toronto Region – a number that has grown more than 40% over the last five years.
  • 60% of the global economy is accessible by daily, non-stop scheduled service from Toronto Pearson International Airport
  • There are 230 active cranes working on major construction projects throughout the region, the largest number in North America.
  • Fifteen free trade agreements provide access to nearly 1.5 billion consumers with a combined GDP of more than US$59 trillion or more than one-half of the world’s output of goods and services.
  • The Toronto Region is Canada’s largest education, research, and innovation centre, with 18 world-renowned universities and internationally-recognized colleges.
  • The Toronto Region is one of the top destinations in the world for global talent across various disciplines, including IT, finance, digital technology, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and more.
  • Toronto consistently ranks among the world’s top 10 most liveable cities and the top 10 most appealing cities to live and work.
“Toronto is the fourth-largest city in North America and a vital financial and technological hub — not only for the province of Ontario but for all of Canada. We have hundreds of existing Canadian customers that can now have SoftLayer services deployed closer to home, and thousands of customers that will take advantage of the facility to get closer to end users in this market.”
- Lance Crosby, CEO of SoftLayer

Any one of these facts would be reason enough relocate your business to the region. Combined, they tell the story of a global business powerhouse that can accommodate any business and culture. Companies can compete against any major world market with proven resources, skilled and highly educated labour, and advanced technological aptitude.