Newfoundland

Newfoundland is the island portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the country’s easternmost province.

Newfoundland is the island portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the country’s easternmost province. It lies in the Atlantic Ocean and is the larger and more populous of the province’s two main regions, the other being Labrador. The island was the last part of what is now Canada to join Confederation, in 1949.

Geography

Newfoundland is a large island in the North Atlantic, lying east of mainland Canada and south of Labrador. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and is separated from Labrador by the Strait of Belle Isle. The island section covers about 111,390 km².

Political status

Newfoundland was once a separate colony and later a dominion before joining Canada in 1949. Since 2001, the province has officially been called Newfoundland and Labrador to reflect both the island and mainland regions.

Population and settlement

Most residents of Newfoundland and Labrador live on the island of Newfoundland, especially along the coast and in and around St. John’s. The island has historically been the province’s population centre; the provincial population was estimated at 549,911 in 2025.

History

The island was known to European explorers as a “new found land,” and it became an early site of European settlement and fishing activity. Newfoundland remained outside Canadian Confederation until 1949.