SME Research and Statistics

SME in Canada

  • Definition
    Small:
    1-99 employees;
    Medium:
    100‑499 employees;
    Large:
    500 employees and more;
  • Number of businesses with employees in 2021

    Small:
    1,187,658 (97.9%)
    Medium:
    22,700 (1.9%)
    Large:
    2,868 (0.2%)
    Total:
    1,213,226

    Source: Statistics Canada, Table 33–10–0493–01 Canadian Business Counts, with employees, December 2021.

  • Number of private sector employees in 2021

    Small:
    8,204,600 (67.7%)
    Medium:
    2,476,500 (20.4%)
    Large:
    1,433,300 (11.8%)
    Total:
    12,114,400

    Sources: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey (LFS); and calculations by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

  • Contribution to gross domestic product (GDP)

    From 2015 to 2019, the average contribution of small businesses to GDP was 38.1%, the contribution of medium-sized businesses was 14.3% and the contribution of large businesses was 50.0%.

    Source: KSBS, December 2022