Saskatoon & Area, Cities Carry Provincial Growth: 2016 Census

Figures released today from the 2016 Census reveal Saskatoon added more people than any other community in the province.

“This reinforces the message that Saskatchewan is increasingly urban – 90 per cent of the population growth in the province between 2011 and 2016 happened in Saskatoon, Regina, and their surrounding communities,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. 

“For Saskatoon, we’ve added the equivalent of about five new cities; in the region, we’ve added more than six and a half. This is remarkable growth.”

The data collected by Statistics Canada show the annual average population growth rate in Saskatoon was 2.2% between 2011 and 2016.  Saskatoon grew by 24 thousand people; this accounts for nearly a quarter of the entire provincial population for the same period:

In comparison, the province grew by 6.3% over between 2011 and 2016, or 1.26 % per year.

When the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is considered, over half of the provincial population growth occurred in the Saskatoon region:

“Cities are where the people are going and where the jobs are going,” Mayor Clark says.  Cities are playing an increasingly important role in the future of the province.”

The Census also counts 98,565 dwellings in the city of Saskatoon in 2016 which is an increase of 7,629 occupied dwellings or 7.7% over 2011.

The Saskatoon CMA is made up of the city of Saskatoon and 24 surrounding municipalities and Indian Reserves.

Saskatchewan was the third fastest growing Province or Territory behind Nunavut and Alberta and the second fastest growing province.