Census Metropolitan Area

An area formed by 1 or more adjacent municipalities centered on a population (known as the core). A Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) must have a total population of at least 100,000, of which 50,000 or more must live in the core, based on adjusted data from the previous Census of Population Program.

Appears in

Constraints

Unique key(s)

  • Census Metropolitan Area Code, Geography Effective Date

Stereotype(s)

n/a

Attributes

AttributeTypeMultiplicityAttribute note
Census Metropolitan Area Code Codeable Concept 1
Geographic Boundary Polygon 0..1
The abstract lines or physical features that separate one place or area from another.
Geography Effective Date Date 1
The first date when the information specified is valid, which is generally the release date of a census.

Relationships

From class From multiplicity Relationship To class To multiplicity
Census Metropolitan Area 0..* Statistical Area Classification 0..*
Census Subdivision 0..* Census Metropolitan Area 0..*
Census Metropolitan Area 0..1 has (aggregation) Census Tract 0..*

Contact us

If you have questions about this initiative, would like to be added to our stakeholder notification list or would like to participate in our consultations, please email us.

connectedcare@cihi.ca

How to cite:

Canadian Institute for Health Information. Census Metropolitan Area. Accessed November 02, 2026.