Breaking Down Saskatoon's Population Growth

From the City of Saskatoon Budget

POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUES AND TRENDS
Saskatoon’s strong economy has resulted in substantial population increases in recent years. According to the most recent population update by Statistics Canada, the Saskatoon Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) was the fastest growing CMA in Canada from July 2009 to July 2010. According to Stats Canada, the population of the Saskatoon CMA—which includes cities and towns such as Martensville, Warman and Delisle—came in above 265,000 people as of July 1, 2010. Since 2007, the Saskatoon CMA has grown by almost 25,000 people.

 

Projections indicate that Saskatoon’s population will continue to grow. If Saskatoon were to continue growing at an annual rate of 2.5%, the city’s—not the CMA—population would be nearly 265,000 by 2016.The following graph shows high and medium population growth projections for Saskatoon.

Saskatoon’s strong population growth has been driven primarily by international immigration. As shown in the chart below approximately 46% of all population growth in the Saskatoon CMA has come from international immigration. Moreover, the population data reveals significant increases in both net interprovincial (more people moving from other provinces) and intraprovincial (more people moving from Saskatchewan communities) migration. This means more people are moving to—rather than moving from—Saskatoon from other cities and communities across Canada and Saskatchewan.
Only four short years ago, the reverse was true.

Another important component of population growth is the number of births over deaths, referred to as the “natural increase in population”. As shown below, the Saskatoon CMA is experiencinga “baby boom” of sorts. This positive trajectory indicates that more day care spaces, schools and recreation facilities will be required to accommodate the this growth.

URBAN ABORIGINAL POPULATION
Stats Canada’s most recent population updates revealed that the Saskatoon CMA has the
youngest population of all CMAs across Canada (median age = 35.4 years). Calgary (35.8 years) and Edmonton (36.0 years) were next on the list. The key driver behind this statistic is Saskatoon’s growing young aboriginal population.
 As shown in the chart below, at 9.3 %, Saskatoon has the second highest percentage of
Aboriginal residents of all major cities in Canada.