Toronto becomes 4th largest city in North America

Toronto has overtaken Chicago to become the fourth most populous city in North America, according to the City of Toronto’s latest Economic Dashboard report.

The city of Toronto’s population is now estimated to be 2,791,140, according to a Statistics Canada report released in February.

By comparison, the U.S. Census Bureau released results from its 2010 census and estimated Chicago’s population to be 2,707,120.

Toronto is now the fourth largest municipality in North America after Mexico City, New York and Los Angeles.

Mayor Rob Ford said the numbers indicate that the city remains a top destination among migrants and job seekers.

“These population figures are another sign confirming Toronto's steady growth," Ford said in a statement. “Toronto is a desirable location for people to live and work. We are attracting people from across North America and other parts of the world."

The city’s annual population growth rate has been increasing over the last decade and is now growing at an annual rate of around 38,000 people.

The population numbers were presented Tuesday at a meeting of the city’s Economic Development Committee.