Saskatchewan is the middle province of Canada's three Prairie provinces. It has an area of 651,900 km2 (251,700 mi2) and a population of 1,132,505 (Saskatchewanians) as of 2021. Saskatchewan's population is made of 50.3% women and 49.7% men.[1] Most of its population lives in the Southern half of the province.
The most populous city is Saskatoon, with a population of 317,480 (2021) in the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), followed by the province's capital, Regina, with a population of 249,217 (2021) in the CMA. The province's population makeup is also notable for German Canadians being the largest European ethnic group and for the second-largest proportion of people of indigenous descent of any of the provinces, after Manitoba.
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Year | Population | Five-year % change |
Ten-year % change |
Rank among provinces |
---|---|---|---|---|
1901 | 91,279† | n/a | n/a | 8 |
1911 | 492,432 | n/a | 439.5 | 3 |
1921 | 757,510 | n/a | 53.8 | 3 |
1931 | 921,785 | n/a | 21.7 | 3 |
1941 | 895,992 | n/a | −2.8 | 3 |
1951 | 831,728 | n/a | −7.2 | 5 |
1956 | 880,665 | 5.9 | n/a | 5 |
1961 | 925,181 | 5.1 | 11.2 | 5 |
1966 | 955,344 | 3.3 | 8.5 | 6 |
1971 | 926,242 | −3.0 | 0.1 | 6 |
1976 | 921,325 | −0.5 | 3.6 | 6 |
1981 | 968,313 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 6 |
1986 | 1,009,613 | 4.3 | 9.6 | 6 |
1991 | 988,928 | −2.0 | 2.1 | 6 |
1996 | 976,615 | −1.2 | −3.3 | 6 |
2001 | 978,933 | 0.2 | −1.0 | 6 |
2006 | 985,386 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 6 |
2011 | 1,053,960 | 7.0 | 7.6 | 6 |
2016 | 1,098,352 | 6.3 | 11.4 | 6 |
2021 | 1,132,505 | 3.5 | 7.5 | 6 |
† 1901 population for District of Saskatchewan and District of Athabasca, parts of the then-named North-West Territories.
Source: Statistics Canada.[2][3]
Ethnic group | 2021[4] | 2001[5] | 1941[6]: 2–3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
German | 272,475 | 24.7% | 275,060 | 28.56% | 130,258 | 14.54% |
English | 219,660 | 19.91% | 235,715 | 24.47% | 186,053 | 20.77% |
Scottish | 175,590 | 15.92% | 172,300 | 17.89% | 108,919 | 12.16% |
Irish | 145,415 | 13.18% | 139,205 | 14.45% | 95,852 | 10.7% |
Ukrainian | 138,705 | 12.57% | 121,735 | 12.64% | 79,777 | 8.9% |
First Nations | 129,225 | 11.71% | 102,285 | 10.62% | 13,384 | 1.49% |
French | 108,505 | 9.84% | 109,800 | 11.4% | 50,530 | 5.64% |
Norwegian | 70,215 | 6.36% | 60,510 | 6.28% | 38,213 | 4.26% |
Métis | 56,060 | 5.08% | 40,110 | 4.16% | 9,160 | 1.02% |
Polish | 55,600 | 5.04% | 51,445 | 5.34% | 27,902 | 3.11% |
Filipino | 40,160 | 3.64% | 3,275 | 0.34% | — | — |
Russian | 35,920 | 3.26% | 27,695 | 2.88% | 25,933 | 2.89% |
Swedish | 31,960 | 2.9% | 29,900 | 3.1% | 20,961 | 2.34% |
Dutch | 29,410 | 2.67% | 32,300 | 3.35% | 35,894 | 4.01% |
Hungarian | 28,495 | 2.58% | 24,340 | 2.53% | 14,576 | 1.63% |
Indian | 20,755 | 1.88% | 3,245 | 0.34% | 2 | 0% |
Chinese | 19,965 | 1.81% | 9,275 | 0.96% | 2,545 | 0.28% |
Austrian | 17,690 | 1.6% | 14,450 | 1.5% | 10,655 | 1.19% |
Welsh | 17,605 | 1.6% | 13,935 | 1.45% | 6,950 | 0.78% |
Romanian | 12,415 | 1.13% | 10,290 | 1.07% | 7,093 | 0.79% |
Italian | 10,830 | 0.98% | 7,565 | 0.79% | 1,014 | 0.11% |
Danish | 10,585 | 0.96% | 9,375 | 0.97% | 6,027 | 0.67% |
Total responses | 1,103,200 | 97.41% | 963,150 | 98.39% | 895,992 | 100% |
Total population | 1,132,505 | 100% | 978,933 | 100% | 895,992 | 100% |
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses |
Panethnic group | 2031 | 2036 | 2041 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
European[a] | 768,000 | 58.31% | 751,000 | 54.46% | 733,000 | 51.04% |
Indigenous | 246,000 | 18.68% | 263,000 | 19.07% | 279,000 | 19.43% |
South Asian | 94,000 | 7.14% | 114,000 | 8.27% | 133,000 | 9.26% |
Southeast Asian[b] | 82,000 | 6.23% | 99,000 | 7.18% | 118,000 | 8.22% |
East Asian[c] | 45,000 | 3.42% | 51,000 | 3.7% | 56,000 | 3.9% |
African | 45,000 | 3.42% | 54,000 | 3.92% | 64,000 | 4.46% |
Middle Eastern[d] | 19,000 | 1.44% | 23,000 | 1.67% | 27,000 | 1.88% |
Latin American | 9,000 | 0.68% | 11,000 | 0.8% | 13,000 | 0.91% |
Other/multiracial[e] | 10,000 | 0.76% | 12,000 | 0.87% | 14,000 | 0.97% |
Projected Saskatchewan population | 1,317,000 | 100% | 1,379,000 | 100% | 1,436,000 | 100% |
Visible minority and Indigenous population (Canada 2021 Census)[12] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Population group | Population | % | |
European[a] | 755,950 | 68.5% | |
Visible minority group |
South Asian | 44,720 | 4.1% |
Chinese | 18,010 | 1.6% | |
Black | 22,570 | 2.0% | |
Filipino | 43,755 | 4.0% | |
Arab | 5,575 | 0.5% | |
Latin American | 5,680 | 0.5% | |
Southeast Asian | 8,540 | 0.8% | |
West Asian | 2,830 | 0.3% | |
Korean | 1,850 | 0.2% | |
Japanese | 830 | 0.1% | |
Visible minority, n.i.e. | 1,275 | 0.1% | |
Multiple visible minorities | 3,725 | 0.3% | |
Total visible minority population | 159,365 | 14.4% | |
Indigenous group |
First Nations (North American Indian) | 121,175 | 11.0% |
Métis | 62,800 | 5.7% | |
Inuk (Inuit) | 460 | 0.0% | |
Multiple Indigenous responses | 2,030 | 0.2% | |
Indigenous responses n.i.e. | 1,425 | 0.1% | |
Total Indigenous population | 187,885 | 17.0% | |
Total population | 1,103,200 | 100.0% |
The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses. The following figures are from the 2021 Canadian Census and the 2016 Canadian Census, and lists languages that were selected by at least one per cent of respondents.
Language | 2021[13] | 2016 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
English | 1,094,785 | 99.24% | 1,062,275 | 99.23% |
French | 52,065 | 4.72% | 51,325 | 4.79% |
Tagalog | 36,125 | 3.27% | 28,655 | 2.68% |
Cree[note 1] | 24,850 | 2.25% | 21,870 | 2.04% |
Hindi | 15,745 | 1.43% | N/A | <1% |
Punjabi | 13,310 | 1.21% | N/A | <1% |
German | 11,815 | 1.07% | 17,390 | 1.62% |
Mandarin | 11,590 | 1.05% | N/A | <1% |
Spanish | 11,185 | 1.01% | N/A | <1% |
Ukrainian | 10,795 | 0.98% | 13,090 | 1.22% |
Urdu | 10,540 | 0.96% | N/A | <1% |
The 2006 census showed a population of 968,157. Of the 946,250 singular responses to the census question concerning mother tongue the languages most commonly reported were:
Language | 2006 | 2001 | 1931[15]: 1176–1187 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
English | 811,275 | 85.7% | 817,955 | 85.8% | 516,342 | 56.02% |
German | 28,555 | 3.0% | 32,515 | 3.4% | 138,499 | 15.03% |
Algonquian languages | 26,525 | 2.8% | 23,735 | 2.5% | — | — |
Cree | 24,255 | 2.6% | 22,055 | 2.1% | — | — |
Ojibway | 1,745 | 0.2% | 1,375 | 0.1% | — | — |
Ukrainian | 16,350 | 1.7% | 19,650 | 2.1% | 70,545 | 7.65% |
French | 16,060 | 1.7% | 17,775 | 1.9% | 42,283 | 4.59% |
Chinese | 7,475 | 0.8% | 6,015 | 0.6% | 2,500 | 0.27% |
Cantonese | 1,720 | 0.2% | 1,425 | 0.2% | — | — |
Mandarin | 715 | 0.1% | 395 | <0.1% | — | — |
Athapaskan languages | 7,145 | 0.8% | 6,315 | 0.7% | — | — |
Dene | 7,135 | 0.8% | 6,310 | 0.7% | — | — |
Polish | 2,510 | 0.4% | 3,015 | 0.3% | 18,742 | 2.03% |
Hungarian | 2,190 | 0.2% | 2,700 | 0.3% | 11,853 | 1.29% |
Tagalog (Filipino/Pilipino) | 2,170 | 0.2% | 1,545 | 0.2% | — | — |
Dutch | 1,785 | 0.2% | 1,930 | 0.20% | 10,079 | 1.09% |
Scandinavian languages | 1,690 | 0.2% | 2,320 | 0.2% | 50,634 | 5.49% |
Norwegian | 830 | 0.1% | 1,260 | 0.1% | 27,996 | 3.04% |
Danish | 420 | <0.1% | 430 | 0.1% | 3,882 | 0.42% |
Swedish | 355 | <0.1% | 525 | 0.1% | 15,556 | 1.69% |
Arabic | 1,525 | 0.12% | 1,090 | 0.11% | 571 | 0.06% |
Russian | 1,400 | 0.2% | 1,440 | 0.2% | 17,085 | 1.85% |
Vietnamese | 1,305 | 0.1% | 1,390 | 0.2% | — | — |
Serbo-Croatian languages | 1,250 | 0.1% | 1,235 | 0.1% | 956 | 0.1% |
Croatian | 450 | 0.1% | 435 | 0.1% | — | — |
Bosnian | 335 | <0.1% | N | N | — | — |
Serbian | 270 | <0.1% | 210 | <0.1% | — | — |
Serbo-Croatian | 195 | <0.1% | 590 | 0.1% | — | — |
Greek | 1,060 | 0.1% | 980 | 0.1% | 370 | 0.04% |
Panjabi (Punjabi) | 850 | 0.1% | 540 | 0.1% | 7 | 0% |
Persian | 785 | 0.1% | 415 | <0.1% | — | — |
Romanian | 770 | 0.1% | 775 | 0.1% | 6,170 | 0.67% |
Italian | 735 | 0.1% | 895 | 0.1% | 692 | 0.08% |
Korean | 675 | 0.1% | 425 | <0.1% | — | — |
Germanic languages n.i.e. | 605 | 0.1% | 375 | <0.1% | 8,619[f] | 0.94% |
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) | 410 | <0.1% | 345 | <0.1% | — | — |
African languages n.i.e. | 405 | <0.1% | 130 | 0.01% | — | — |
Portuguese | 380 | <0.1% | 405 | <0.1% | — | — |
Finnish | 365 | <0.1% | 435 | <0.1% | 1,861 | 0.2% |
Hindi | 355 | <0.1% | 320 | <0.1% | — | — |
Lao | 340 | <0.1% | 275 | 0.03% | — | — |
Urdu | 330 | <0.1% | 425 | <0.1% | — | — |
Bantu languages | 325 | <0.1% | 170 | <0.1% | — | — |
Swahili | 105 | <0.1% | 110 | <0.1% | — | — |
Czech | 325 | <0.1% | 415 | <0.1% | 1,156 | 0.13% |
Berber | 310 | <0.1% | 185 | <0.1% | — | — |
Japanese | 290 | <0.1% | 185 | <0.1% | 1,070 | 0.12% |
Niger–Congo languages n.i.e. | 285 | <0.1% | 100 | <0.1% | — | — |
Tigrigna | 215 | <0.1% | 190 | <0.1% | — | — |
Gujarati | 210 | <0.1% | 225 | 0.02% | — | — |
Slovak | 210 | <0.1% | 100 | <0.1% | 1,156 | 0.13% |
Somali | 210 | <0.1% | 35 | <0.1% | — | — |
Bengali | 190 | <0.1% | 70 | <0.1% | — | — |
Note: "n.i.e.": not included elsewhere
There were also 175 single-language responses for Non-verbal languages (Sign languages); 170 for Amharic; 155 for Turkish; 140 for Sinhala; 135 for Slavic languages n.i.e.; 130 for Slovenian; 120 for Pashto; 115 for Malay; 115 for Malayalam; 115 for Thai; 110 for Ilocano; 110 for Khmer; 100 for Celtic languages; and 100 for Sino-Tibetan languages n.i.e. In addition there were also 6,080 responses of both English and a non-official language; 245 of both French and a non-official language; 1,130 of both English and French; and 140 of English, French and a non-official language. Figures shown are for the number of single language responses and the percentage of total single-language responses.[16]
Religious group | 2021[17] | 2011[18] | 2001[19] | 1991[20] | 1981[21] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
Christianity | 621,250 | 56.31% | 726,920 | 72.06% | 795,935 | 82.64% | 858,120 | 87.92% | 889,820 | 93.03% |
Irreligion | 403,960 | 36.62% | 246,305 | 24.42% | 151,450 | 15.72% | 107,225 | 10.99% | 60,255 | 6.3% |
Islam | 25,455 | 2.31% | 10,040 | 1% | 2,230 | 0.23% | 1,185 | 0.12% | 1,120 | 0.12% |
Indigenous spirituality | 16,300 | 1.48% | 12,240 | 1.21% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Hinduism | 14,150 | 1.28% | 3,570 | 0.35% | 1,590 | 0.17% | 1,680 | 0.17% | 1,150 | 0.12% |
Sikhism | 9,040 | 0.82% | 1,650 | 0.16% | 500 | 0.05% | 565 | 0.06% | 220 | 0.02% |
Buddhism | 4,410 | 0.4% | 4,265 | 0.42% | 3,055 | 0.32% | 1,885 | 0.19% | 985 | 0.1% |
Judaism | 1,105 | 0.1% | 940 | 0.09% | 865 | 0.09% | 1,370 | 0.14% | 1,585 | 0.17% |
Other | 7,540 | 0.68% | 2,810 | 0.28% | 7,525 | 0.78% | 4,000 | 0.41% | 1,065 | 0.11% |
Total responses | 1,103,205 | 97.41% | 1,008,760 | 95.71% | 963,150 | 98.39% | 976,040 | 98.7% | 956,440 | 98.77% |
Total population | 1,132,505 | 100% | 1,053,960 | 100% | 978,933 | 100% | 988,928 | 100% | 968,313 | 100% |
Year | Immigrant percentage | Immigrant population | Total population |
---|---|---|---|
1901 | 39.7% | 36,195 | 91,279 |
1911 | 49.5% | 243,681 | 492,432 |
1921 | 39.6% | 299,677 | 757,510 |
1931 | 34.6% | 318,545 | 921,785 |
1941 | 26.7% | 238,903 | 895,992 |
1951 | 21.1% | 175,829 | 831,728 |
1961 | 16.1% | 149,389 | 925,181 |
1971 | 12% | 110,690 | 926,240 |
The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 137,615 persons or 12.5 percent of the total population of Saskatchewan.[24]
Country of birth | 2021[25][24] | 2016[26] | 2011[27][28] | 2006[29][30] | 2001[31][32] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
Philippines | 35,955 | 26.1% | 26,865 | 23.9% | 12,775 | 18.6% | 2,455 | 5.1% | 2,065 | 4.3% |
India | 15,660 | 11.4% | 9,630 | 8.6% | 3,080 | 4.5% | 1,685 | 3.5% | 1,100 | 2.3% |
China | 8,650 | 6.3% | 7,485 | 6.7% | 4,625 | 6.7% | 3,405 | 7.1% | 2,730 | 5.7% |
Pakistan | 7,110 | 5.2% | 6,860 | 6.1% | 3,115 | 4.5% | 330 | 0.7% | 385 | 0.8% |
United Kingdom | 6,785 | 4.9% | 7,020 | 6.2% | 7,370 | 10.7% | 7,685 | 16% | 8,450 | 17.7% |
United States of America | 5,215 | 3.8% | 4,845 | 4.3% | 5,020 | 7.3% | 5,425 | 11.3% | 5,865 | 12.3% |
Nigeria | 5,030 | 3.7% | 1,695 | 1.5% | 535 | 0.8% | 235 | 0.5% | 95 | 0.2% |
Vietnam | 3,245 | 2.4% | 2,620 | 2.3% | 1,770 | 2.6% | 1,295 | 2.7% | 1,465 | 3.1% |
Bangladesh | 3,230 | 2.3% | 2,575 | 2.3% | 840 | 1.2% | 60 | 0.1% | 65 | 0.1% |
Ukraine | 3,170 | 2.3% | 3,280 | 2.9% | 1,715 | 2.5% | 1,055 | 2.2% | 1,395 | 2.9% |
Total immigrants | 137,615 | 12.5% | 112,490 | 10.5% | 68,780 | 6.8% | 48,160 | 5% | 47,825 | 5% |
Total responses | 1,103,205 | 97.4% | 1,070,560 | 97.5% | 1,008,760 | 95.7% | 953,850 | 96.8% | 963,150 | 98.4% |
Total population | 1,132,505 | 100% | 1,098,352 | 100% | 1,053,960 | 100% | 985,386 | 100% | 978,933 | 100% |
The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 43,120 people who immigrated to Saskatchewan between 2016 and 2021.[24]
Recent immigrants to Saskatchewan by country of birth (2016 to 2021)[24] | ||
---|---|---|
Country of birth | Population | % recent immigrants |
Philippines | 10,460 | 24.3% |
India | 7,940 | 18.4% |
China | 3,685 | 8.5% |
Nigeria | 3,305 | 7.7% |
Pakistan | 1,685 | 3.9% |
Syria | 1,240 | 2.9% |
Bangladesh | 1,225 | 2.8% |
United States of America | 990 | 2.3% |
Vietnam | 865 | 2% |
South Africa | 775 | 1.8% |
Total | 43,120 | 100% |
Interprovincial migration has long been a demographic challenge for Saskatchewan, and it was often said that "Saskatchewan's most valuable export [was] its young people".[33] The trend reversed in 2006 as the nascent oil fracking industry started growing in the province, but returned to negative net migration starting in 2013. Most people migrating from Saskatchewan move west to Alberta or British Columbia.[34]
In-migrants | Out-migrants | Net migration | |
---|---|---|---|
2008–09 | 18,127 | 15,144 | 2,983 |
2009–10 | 17,237 | 15,084 | 2,153 |
2010–11 | 16,602 | 16,057 | 545 |
2011–12 | 19,386 | 17,508 | 1,878 |
2012–13 | 16,982 | 16,590 | 392 |
2013–14 | 16,371 | 18,210 | −1,839 |
2014–15 | 15,346 | 19,874 | −4,528 |
2015–16 | 15,260 | 19,532 | −4,272 |
2016–17 | 13,130 | 18,890 | −5,760 |
2017–18 | 11,637 | 20,112 | −8,475 |
2018–19 | 11,637 | 23,607 | −9,688 |
Source: Statistics Canada