Demographics of Saskatchewan explained

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.

Population history

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 origins

Ethnic group! colspan="2"

2021^[4]	2001^[5]		1941^[6]
German	272,475		275,060		130,258
English	219,660		235,715		186,053
Scottish	175,590		172,300		108,919
Irish	145,415		139,205		95,852
Ukrainian	138,705		121,735		79,777
First Nations	129,225		102,285		13,384
French	108,505		109,800		50,530
Norwegian	70,215		60,510		38,213
Métis	56,060		40,110		9,160
Polish	55,600		51,445		27,902
Filipino	40,160		3,275
Russian	35,920		27,695		25,933
Swedish	31,960		29,900		20,961
Dutch	29,410		32,300		35,894
Hungarian	28,495		24,340		14,576
Indian	20,755		3,245		2
Chinese	19,965		9,275		2,545
Austrian	17,690		14,450		10,655
Welsh	17,605		13,935		6,950
Romanian	12,415		10,290		7,093
Italian	10,830		7,565		1,014
Danish	10,585		9,375		6,027
Total responses	1,103,200		963,150		895,992
Total population	1,132,505		978,933		895,992

Future projections

Panethnic origin projections in Saskatchewan (2031–2041)^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}

Panethnic group	2031		2036		2041
European	768,000		751,000		733,000
Indigenous	246,000		263,000		279,000
South Asian	94,000		114,000		133,000
Southeast Asian	82,000		99,000		118,000
East Asian	45,000		51,000		56,000
African	45,000		54,000		64,000
Middle Eastern	19,000		23,000		27,000
Latin American	9,000		11,000		13,000
Other/multiracial	10,000		12,000		14,000
Projected Saskatchewan population	1,317,000		1,379,000		1,436,000

Visible minorities and Indigenous peoples

Visible minority and Indigenous population (Canada 2021 Census)^[11]
Population group		Population	%
European		755,950	68.5%
Visible minority group		44,720	4.1%
		18,010	1.6%
		22,570	2.0%
		43,755	4.0%
		5,575	0.5%
		5,680	0.5%
		8,540	0.8%
		2,830	0.3%
		1,850	0.2%
		830	0.1%
	Visible minority,	1,275	0.1%
		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	1,425	0.1%
Total Indigenous population		187,885	17.0%
Total population		1,103,200	100.0%

Languages

Knowledge of languages

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! colspan="2"

2021^[12]	2016
		Pop.
English	1,094,785		1,062,275	99.23%
French	52,065		51,325	4.79%
Tagalog	36,125		28,655	2.68%
Cree	24,850		21,870	2.04%
Hindi	15,745		N/A	<1%
Punjabi	13,310		N/A	<1%
German	11,815		17,390	1.62%
Mandarin	11,590		N/A	<1%
Spanish	11,185		N/A	<1%
Ukrainian	10,795		13,090	1.22%
Urdu	10,540		N/A	<1%

Mother tongue

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! colspan="2"

2006	2001		1931^[13]
English	811,275	85.7%	817,955	85.8%	516,342
German	28,555	3.0%	32,515	3.4%	138,499
Algonquian languages	26,525	2.8%	23,735	2.5%
Ukrainian	16,350	1.7%	19,650	2.1%	70,545
French	16,060	1.7%	17,775	1.9%	42,283
Chinese	7,475	0.8%	6,015	0.6%	2,500
	7,145	0.8%	6,315	0.7%
Polish	2,510	0.4%	3,015	0.3%	18,742
Hungarian	2,190	0.2%	2,700	0.3%	11,853
Tagalog (Filipino/Pilipino)	2,170	0.2%	1,545	0.2%
Dutch	1,785	0.2%	1,930	0.20%	10,079
Scandinavian languages	1,690	0.2%	2,320	0.2%	50,634
Arabic	1,525	0.12%	1,090	0.11%	571
Russian	1,400	0.2%	1,440	0.2%	17,085
Vietnamese	1,305	0.1%	1,390	0.2%
Serbo-Croatian languages	1,250	0.1%	1,235	0.1%	956
Greek	1,060	0.1%	980	0.1%	370
Panjabi (Punjabi)	850	0.1%	540	0.1%	7
Persian	785	0.1%	415	<0.1%
Romanian	770	0.1%	775	0.1%	6,170
Italian	735	0.1%	895	0.1%	692
Korean	675	0.1%	425	<0.1%
Germanic languages n.i.e.	605	0.1%	375	<0.1%	8,619
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
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%
Czech	325	<0.1%	415	<0.1%	1,156
Berber	310	<0.1%	185	<0.1%
Japanese	290	<0.1%	185	<0.1%	1,070
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%
	210	<0.1%	100	<0.1%	1,156
Somali	210	<0.1%	35	<0.1%
	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.^[14]

Religion

Religious group! colspan="2"

2021^[15]	2011^[16]		2001^[17]		1991^[18]		1981^[19]
Christianity	621,250		726,920		795,935		858,120		889,820
Irreligion	403,960		246,305		151,450		107,225		60,255
Islam	25,455		10,040		2,230		1,185		1,120
Indigenous spirituality	16,300		12,240
Hinduism	14,150		3,570		1,590		1,680		1,150
Sikhism	9,040		1,650		500		565		220
Buddhism	4,410		4,265		3,055		1,885		985
Judaism	1,105		940		865		1,370		1,585
Other	7,540		2,810		7,525		4,000		1,065
Total responses	1,103,205		1,008,760		963,150		976,040		956,440
Total population	1,132,505		1,053,960		978,933		988,928		968,313

Migration

Immigration

Saskatchewan Immigration Statistics^{[20] [21]} !Year!Immigrant percentage!Immigrant population!Total population

1901		36,195	91,279
1911		243,681	492,432
1921		299,677	757,510
1931		318,545	921,785
1941		238,903	895,992
1951		175,829	831,728
1961		149,389	925,181
1971		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.

Country of birth! colspan="2"

2021^[22] ^[23]	2016^[24]		2011^[25] ^[26]		2006^[27] ^[28]		2001^[29] ^[30]
Philippines	35,955		26,865		12,775		2,455		2,065
India	15,660		9,630		3,080		1,685		1,100
China	8,650		7,485		4,625		3,405		2,730
Pakistan	7,110		6,860		3,115		330		385
United Kingdom	6,785		7,020		7,370		7,685		8,450
United States of America	5,215		4,845		5,020		5,425		5,865
Nigeria	5,030		1,695		535		235		95
Vietnam	3,245		2,620		1,770		1,295		1,465
Bangladesh	3,230		2,575		840		60		65
Ukraine	3,170		3,280		1,715		1,055		1,395
Total immigrants	137,615		112,490		68,780		48,160		47,825
Total responses	1,103,205		1,070,560		1,008,760		953,850		963,150
Total population	1,132,505		1,098,352		1,053,960		985,386		978,933

Recent immigration

The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 43,120 people who immigrated to Saskatchewan between 2016 and 2021.^[23]

Recent immigrants to Saskatchewan by country of birth (2016 to 2021)
Country of birth	Population	% recent immigrants
Philippines	10,460
India	7,940
China	3,685
Nigeria	3,305
Pakistan	1,685
Syria	1,240
Bangladesh	1,225
United States of America	990
Vietnam	865
South Africa	775
Total	43,120

Interprovincial migration

See main article: Interprovincial migration in Canada.

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".^[31] 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.^[32]

Interprovincial migration in Saskatchewan!!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

See also

• Demographics of Canada
• Population of Canada by province and territory

Notes and References

1. Web site: Demographics in Saskatchewan .
2. http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo62i.htm The history of Saskatchewan's population
3. http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060927/d060927a.htm Canada's population
4. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2022-10-26 . Ethnic or cultural origin by gender and age: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts . 2023-12-04 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
5. http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo26i.htm Ethnic origins
6. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2013-04-03 . Eighth census of Canada,1941 = Huitième recensement du Canada Vol. 4. Cross-classifications, interprovincial migration, blind and deaf-mutes. . 2023-12-05 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
7. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 8 September 2022. Canada in 2041: A larger, more diverse population with greater differences between regions . 19 November 2023 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
8. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 8 September 2022 . Projected population by racialized group, generation status and other selected characteristics (x 1,000) . 19 November 2023 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
9. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 6 October 2021 . Projections of the Indigenous populations and households in Canada, 2016 to 2041 . 19 November 2023 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
10. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 6 October 2021 . Projected population by Indigenous identity, age group, sex, area of residence, provinces and territories, and projection scenario, Canada (x 1,000) . 19 November 2023 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
11. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2022-10-26 . Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . 2023-07-04 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
12. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2022-08-17 . Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Saskatchewan [Province] ]. 2022-08-17 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
13. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2013-04-03 . Seventh census of Canada, 1931 v. 4. Cross-classification . 2023-07-08 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
14. Web site: Detailed Mother Tongue (186), Knowledge of Official Languages (5), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) (2006 Census) . 2008-01-03 . 2008-01-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080120210155/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=0&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=1&IPS=&METH=0&ORDER=1&PID=89201&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=No&StartRow=1&SUB=701&Temporal=2006&Theme=70&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&GID=838036 . dead .
15. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2022-10-26 . Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . 2023-04-14 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
16. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2015-11-27 . NHS Profile . 2023-04-14 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
17. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2019-07-02 . 2001 Community Profiles . 2023-04-14 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
18. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2019-03-29 . Data tables, 1991 Census R9101 – Population by Religion (29), Showing Age Groups (13) Education (20% Data) – Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions. 2023-04-14 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
19. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2013-04-03 . 1981 Census of Canada 20 per cent data base : highlight information on ethnicity, place of birth, citizenship, income, language, immigration, religion, shelter costs. . 2023-04-14 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
20. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2013-04-03 . Sixth census of Canada,1921 . Vol. II: Ages, conjugal condition, birthplace, birthplace of parents, year of immigration and naturalization, language spoken, literacy, school attendance, blindness and deaf-mutism . 2023-01-10 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
21. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 4 September 2022 . 1971 Census of Canada : population : vol. I – part 3 = Recensement du Canada 1971 : population : vol. I – partie 3. Birthplace. TABLE 42. Population Bom Outside Canada, Showing Numerical and Percentage Distribution, for Canada and Provinces, 1921–1971 . 2023-01-10 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
22. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2023-06-21 . Place of birth and period of immigration by gender and age: Province or territory . 2023-10-15 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
23. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2022-10-26 . Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . 2022-12-04 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
24. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2019-06-17 . Data tables, 2016 Census Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Place of Birth (272), Age (7A) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census – 25% Sample Data . 2023-03-04 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
25. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2019-01-23 . 2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Profile – Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity, and Aboriginal Peoples for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, National Household Survey, 2011 . 2023-03-04 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
26. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2019-01-23 . 2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Citizenship (5), Place of Birth (236), Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey . 2023-11-11 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
27. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2009-03-23 . Place of birth for the immigrant population by period of immigration, 2006 counts and percentage distribution, for Canada, provinces and territories – 20% sample data . 2023-03-04 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
28. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2020-05-01 . 2006 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (8) and Place of Birth (261) for the Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census – 20% Sample Data . 2023-03-04 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
29. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2013-12-23 . 2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (10A) and Place of Birth of Respondent (260) for Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census – 20% Sample Data . 2023-03-04 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
30. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2013-12-23 . 2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Selected Places of Birth (85) for the Immigrant Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 1996 and 2001 Censuses – 20% Sample Data . 2023-03-04 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
31. Book: Elliot, Doug. Interprovincial Migration – in the Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina. 2005. Regina. 483–484.
32. Web site: Exodus of Saskatchewan residents to Alberta, British Columbia, continues to plague province Globalnews.ca. 2018-06-06. globalnews.ca. en. 2018-12-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20181229032727/https://globalnews.ca/news/4258201/exodus-of-saskatchewan-residents-to-alberta-british-columbia-continues-to-plague-province/. 2018-12-29. live.