Distributed by the Government of Canada Depository Services Program. Issued also in French under title: Structure et évolution de la démographie rurale du Canada, mise à jour jusqu'en 2006 incluant les données détaillées par province. "1851 to 2006". "December 2008".

Includes bibliographical references.

Abstract -- Introduction -- Demographic trends of larger urban centres and in rural and small town areas -- Differences within rural and small town areas: population by Metropolitan Influenced Zone -- Demographic trends inside and outside predominantly rural regions -- Summary -- References -- Appendices.

The objective of this working paper is to document the structure and trends for the rural population of Canada, using three major definitions of rural Canada: the 'census rural' definition, the 'rural and small town' definition and the OECD 'predominantly rural region' definition.