Demographics of Manitoba

File:Canada Manitoba Density 2016.png

Manitoba population density, 2016

Manitoba is one of Canada's 10 provinces. It is the easternmost of the three Prairie provinces.

Manitoba's capital and largest city (containing over half its population) is Winnipeg. Other important cities and towns include Brandon, Thompson, Dauphin, Swan River, Churchill, The Pas, Selkirk, Portage la Prairie, Gimli, Flin Flon, Steinbach, Morden, Virden, Minnedosa, Emerson, Lockport, Neepawa, and Winkler.

Over one million people live in Manitoba's southern regions, in a small string of cities and towns (Winnipeg, Brandon, etc.) about the size of Ontario's Golden Horseshoe.

Population history

Year	Population	Five Year  % change	Ten Year  % change	Rank Among Provinces
1871	25,228	n/a	n/a	8
1881	62,260	n/a	146.8	6
1891	152,506	n/a	145	5
1901	255,211	n/a	67.3	5
1911	461,394	n/a	80.8	5
1921	610,118	n/a	32.2	4
1931	700,139	n/a	14.8	5
1941	729,744	n/a	4.2	6
1951	776,541	n/a	6.4	6
1956	850,040	9.5	n/a	6
1961	921,686	8.4	18.7	6
1966	963,066	4.5	13.3	5
1971	988,245	2.3	7.2	5
1976	1,021,505	3.4	6.1	5
1981	1,026,241	0.4	3.8	5
1986	1,063,015	3.6	4.1	5
1991	1,091,942	2.7	6.4	5
1996	1,113,898	2.0	4.8	5
2001	1,119,583	0.5	2.5	5
2006	1,148,401	2.6	3.1	5
2011	1,208,268	5.2	7.9	5
2016	1,278,365	5.8	11.3	5
2021	1,342,153	5.0	9.0	5

Source: Statistics Canada

Principal urban areas

Winnipeg

More than half of Manitoba's 1,148,801 population live in the urban area surrounding the city of Winnipeg. The urban area (UA) covers 448.92 square kilometres and had a 2006 census population of 641,483 (which was an increase of 2.3% from 2001). The City of Winnipeg itself had a 2011 census population of 636,617 (an increase of 4.8% over 2006).

Manitoba Census Division No. 11, which includes both the City of Winnipeg and the Rural Municipality of Headingley, had a 2011 population of 666,832 (an increase of 4.8%). The Rural Municipality of Headingley had a 2011 census population of 3,215 (an increase of 17.9% from 2006) but is not counted as part of the Urban Area by Census Canada.

The Winnipeg Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) includes all of Census Division No. 11 as well as parts of Divisions 02, 10, 12, 13, and 14, and had a 2006 population of 694,668 (which was an increase of 2.7%). The Winnipeg Capital Region comprises the CMA and additional portions of Census Divisions 10, 13, and 14.

Census Division No. 13 includes the Regional Municipality of East St. Paul (with a population of 8,733, of whom 7,475 were included in the population of the UA) and the Regional Municipality of West St. Paul (with a population of 4,357 of whom 2,234 were included in the population of the UA). The Regional Municipality of St. Clements (population 9,706) and the Indian Reservation of Brokenhead 4 (population 467) are also part of the CMA. The Regional Municipality of St. Andrews (population 11,359) along with the City of Selkirk (population 9,515) are to some degree a distinct Urban Area (See 6. below) and while they are part of the Winnipeg Capital Region they are not part of the CMA. The Village of Dunnottar (population 692) is also not part of the CMA.

Census Division No. 02 includes the Regional Municipality of Taché which had a population of 9,083 including the unincorporated Urban Area of Lorette (1,447), and also includes the Regional Municipality of Ritchot which had a population of 5,051 including the unincorporated Urban Area of St. Adolphe (1,048). These Regional Municipalities are both part of the CMA and of the Region. The Regional Municipality of Hanover (population 11,871) and the City of Steinbach (population 11,066) are to some degree a distinct Urban Area (see 5. below). The Town of Niverville (population 2,464) is wedged in between the Regional Municipalities of Hanover and Taché. Census Division No. 02 also includes several other subdivisions.

Census Division No. 12 includes the Rural Municipality of Springfield which had a population of 12,990 including the unincorporated Urban Area of Oakbank (2,075), and which is part of the CMA and the Region. The only other subdivisions of Census Division No. 12 are the City of Beasejour (2,823) and the Rural Municipality of Brokenhead (3,940) both of which are not part of the CMA or the Region.

Census Division No. 10 includes the Regional Municipalities of Macdonald (5,653) and St. François Xavier (1,087).both of which are part of the CMA and the Region. The only other subdivision of Census Division No. 10 is the Regional Municipality of Cartier (3,162) which is part of the Region but not of the CMA.

Census Division No. 14 includes the Regional Municipality of Rosser (1,364) which is part of the CMA. The Regional Municipality of Rockwood with a population of 7,692 including the unincorporated Urban Area of Stony Mountain (1,757), is part of the Region but not part of the CMA. The Town of Stonewall (population 4,376) is a distinct Urban Area (see 12. below). Stonewall and the Town of Teulon (1,124), are completely surrounded by Rockwood. The only other subdivision of Census Division No. 10 is the Regional Municipality of Woodlands (3,562) which is not part of the CMA or of the Region.

Brandon

The City of Brandon had a 2011 census population of 46,061 which was the same as the population of the Urban Area. The Brandon Census Agglomeration had a 2006 census population of 48,256 including the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis, which had a population of 4,058 including the unincorporated urban area of Shilo CFB-BFC (1,314). The Rural Municipality of Whitehead (1,402) and the Rural Municipality of Elton (1,285) are also part of the Census Agglomeration. Brandon is located in Census Division No. 07, which had a 2011 census population of 64,317 and is part of Manitoba's Westman Region. There are several other subdivisions of Census Division No. 07

Steinbach

The City of Steinbach had a 2011 census population of 13,524 which was the same as the population of the urban area. Steinbach is located in Census Division No. 02 which had a 2011 census population of 65,384 and which is part of Manitoba's Eastman Region. Also included in this Census Division (CD) is the Regional Municipality of Hanover (population 14,026), which surrounds the City of Steinbach on three sides, and the Regional Municipalities of Taché and Ritchot which are part of the Winnipeg CMA. The Town of Niverville, with a population of 3,540, is wedged in between the Regional Municipalities of Hanover and Taché.

Portage la Prairie

The City of Portage la Prairie had a 2011 census population of 12,996. The population of the Urban Area was 12,996. The Portage la Prairie Census Agglomeration had a 2006 census population of 20,494, including the Regional Municipality of Portage la Prairie (6,793) as well as several Indian Reservations. Portage la Prairie is located in Census Division No. 09 which had a 2011 census population of 23,489 and is part of Manitoba's Central Plains Region.

Thompson

The City of Thompson had a 2011 census population of 12,829 which was the same as the population of the urban area. The Thompson Census Agglomeration had a 2006 census population of 13,593, including the Local Government District of Mystery Lake (147). Thompson is located in Census Division No. 22 which had a 2011 census population of 40,923 and is part of Manitoba's Northern Region. The next most populous subdivisions of this Census Division (CD) were the Indian Reservations of Norway House 17 (population 4,758) and St. Theresa Point (population 2,871).

Winkler

The City of Winkler had a 2011 census population of 10,670 which was the same as the population of the Urban Area. Winkler is located in Census Division No. 03 which had a 2011 census population of 51,350 and is part of Manitoba's Pembina Valley Region. The City of Winkler is surrounded by the Regional Municipality of Stanley. There are many other subdivisions of this Census Division.

Selkirk

The City of Selkirk had a 2011 census population of 9,834. The population of the Urban Area was 9,834. Selkirk is located in Census Division No. 13 which had a 2011 census population of 46,888 and is part of Manitoba's Interlake Region Region. .Also included in this Census Division are the Regional Municipality of St. Andrews, which surrounds the City of Selkirk on three sides and which had a 2011 census population of 11,875); and the Regional Municipalities of East St. Paul, West St. Paul, and St. Clements, which are part of the Winnipeg CMA; and the Indian Reservation of Brokenhead 4; and the Village of Dunnottar.

Dauphin

The City of Dauphin had a 2016 census population of 8,457 which was the same as the population for the Urban Area. Dauphin is located in Census Division No. 17 which had a 2016 census population of 22,205 and is part of Manitoba's Parkland Region. Also included in this Census Division is the Regional Municipality of Dauphin (2,388) which surrounds the City of Dauphin.

Other urban areas

The Town of Morden had a 2011 census population of 7,812, which was the same as the population for the urban area, and is located in Census Division No. 03. Morden is surrounded by the Regional Municipality of Stanley.(6,367).

The Town of The Pas had a 2011 census population of 5,513. The population of the Urban Area was 5,513 and includes part of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation 21A Indian Reserve. The Pas is located in Census Division No. 21 which had a 2011 census population of 21,393 and is part of Manitoba's Northern Region.

The City of Flin Flon had a 2011 census population of 5,363. The population of the Manitoba part of the Urban Area was also 5,363. Flin Flon is also located in Census Division No. 21.

The Town of Stonewall had a 2011 census population of 4,536 which was the same as the population for the Urban Area. Stonewall is located in Census Division No. 14 which had a 2011 census population of 18,497 and is part of Manitoba's Interlake Region. Stonewall is surrounded by the Regional Municipality of Rockwood (7,692).

The Town of Altona had a 2011 census population of 4,082. The population of the Urban Area was 4,082. Altona is located in Census Division No. 3 which had a 2011 census population of 51,350 and which is part of Manitoba's Pembina Valley Region.

The Town of Swan River had a 2011 census population of 3,907 which was the same as the population of the Urban Area. Swan River is located in Census Division No. 20 which had a 2011 census population of 9,952 and is part of Manitoba's Parkland Region. Also included in this Census Division is the Regional Municipality of Swan River (2,784).

The Town of Neepawa had a 2021 census population of 5,685 which was the same as the population of the Urban Area. Neepawa is located in Census Division No. 15 which had a 2021 census population of 23, 304 and is part of Manitoba's Westman Region.

Source: Statistics CanadaSource: Statistics Canada

Ethnic origins

Manitoba is home to the largest Icelandic population outside of Iceland. There are 30,555 people with Icelandic ancestry living in Manitoba, making up 2.7 percent of the total population of Manitoba. About 35 percent of the Icelandic-Canadian population lives in Manitoba.

Ethnic groups in Manitoba (1941–2021)

Ethnic group	2021		2006		1941Template:Rp
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
English	210,285		259,595		168,917
Scottish	189,650		209,170		109,619
German	177,355		216,755		41,479
Ukrainian	165,305		167,170		89,762
Irish	144,420		151,915		76,156
First Nations	140,250		120,415		14,303
French	121,360		148,570		52,996
Filipino	90,945		39,205		—	—
Métis	88,300		72,450		8,891
Polish	78,860		82,355		36,550
Mennonite	51,200		—	—	—	—
Russian	48,565		45,625		6,571
Dutch	43,395		55,425		39,204
Indian	38,825		14,860		7
Icelandic	31,105		30,550		13,954
Chinese	29,550		17,930		1,248
Italian	22,835		21,405		2,482
Swedish	21,165		21,820		9,547
Belgian	20,580		19,805		6,715
Norwegian	19,115		18,395		5,955
Welsh	17,180		16,945		5,686
Punjabi	13,790		1,015		—	—
Portuguese	13,395		11,105		16
Jewish	11,745		13,175		18,879
Austrian	11,440		11,900		4,719
Spanish	10,845		8,715		168
Hungarian	10,175		9,905		2,418
Total responses	1,307,185		1,133,515		729,744
Total population	1,342,153		1,148,401		729,744
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Future projections

Panethnic origin projections in Manitoba (2031–2041)

Panethnic group	2031		2036		2041
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	774,000		750,000		725,000
Indigenous	315,000		335,000		354,000
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	142,000		163,000		186,000
South Asian	116,000		138,000		156,000
African	82,000		97,000		111,000
East AsianTemplate:Efn	62,000		71,000		77,000
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	23,000		28,000		33,000
Latin American	20,000		23,000		26,000
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	18,000		21,000		24,000
Projected Manitoba population	1,553,000		1,626,000		1,693,000

Visible minorities and Indigenous peoples

File:Largest Panethnic Groups in Manitoba, 2021 Census.jpg

Largest panethnic groups in Manitoba by percentage of total population by census division, 2021 census

Visible minority and Indigenous population (2021 Canadian census)
Population group		Population	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn		779,270	59.6%
Visible minority group	South Asian	71,215	5.4%
	Chinese	25,390	1.9%
	Black	46,485	3.6%
	Filipino	94,315	7.2%
	Arab	7,820	0.6%
	Latin American	12,835	1.0%
	Southeast Asian	11,370	0.9%
	West Asian	3,450	0.3%
	Korean	4,325	0.3%
	Japanese	1,860	0.1%
	Visible minority, n.i.e.	3,220	0.2%
	Multiple visible minorities	8,455	0.6%
Total visible minority population		290,735	22.2%
Indigenous group	First Nations (North American Indian)	134,890	10.3%
	Métis	96,725	7.4%
	Inuk (Inuit)	725	0.1%
	Multiple Indigenous responses	2,935	0.2%
	Indigenous responses n.i.e.	1,905	0.1%
Total Indigenous population		237,185	18.1%
Total population		1,307,190	100.0%

Language

Knowledge of languages

Knowledge of official languages of Canada in Manitoba (2016)
Language			Percent
English only			89.99%
French only			0.12%
English and French			8.60%
Neither English nor French			1.29%

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.

Knowledge of languages in Manitoba

Language	2021		2016
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
English	1,288,950		1,223,665	98.62%
French	111,790		108,560	8.75%
Tagalog	73,440		64,165	5.17%
Punjabi	42,820		22,900	1.85%
German	41,980Template:Efn	Template:Efn	61,760	4.98%
Hindi	26,980		12,900	1.04%
Spanish	23,435		20,605	1.66%
Mandarin	16,765		12,825	1.03%
CreeTemplate:Efn	16,115		19,435	1.57%
Plautdietsch	15,055		Template:Efn	Template:Efn
Ukrainian	14,845		17,095	1.38%
Russian	14,835		13,455	1.08%

Mother tongue

The 2006 census showed a population of 1,148,401. Of the 1,118,690 singular responses to the census question concerning mother tongue the languages most commonly reported were:

Mother tongue in Manitoba

Language	2006		2001		1931Template:Rp
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
English	838,415	75.0%	823,910	75.8%	399,009
German	67,030	6.0%	63,215	5.8%	57,312
French	43,955	3.9%	44,335	4.1%	42,499
Algonquian languages	33,995	3.0%	31,705	2.9%	—	—
Cree	19,105	1.7%	18,110	1.7%	—	—
Ojibway	9,330	0.8%	8,885	0.8%	—	—
Oji-Cree	5,430	0.5%	4,605	0.4%	—	—
Tagalog (Filipino/Pilipino)	22,490	2.0%	18,385	1.7%	—	—
Ukrainian	21,950	2.0%	26,540	2.4%	82,908
Chinese	11,045	1.0%	9,190	0.9%	1,211
Cantonese	3,105	0.3%	2,530	0.2%	—	—
Mandarin	1,470	0.1%	700	0.1%	—	—
Polish	8,870	0.8%	9,915	0.9%	31,758
Panjabi (Punjabi)	6,340	0.6%	5,420	<0.1%	13
Italian	4,775	0.4%	4,945	0.5%	1,934
Dutch	3,835	0.3%	3,975	0.4%	5,546
Russian	3,450	0.3%	1,730	0.2%	3,746
Serbo-Croatian languages	2,880	0.3%	3,020	0.3%	147
Croatian	1,420	0.1%	1,595	0.2%	—	—
Serbian	585	0.1%	400	<0.1%	—	—
Bosnian	565	0.1%	—	—	—	—
Serbo-Croatian	340	<0.1%	1,025	0.1%	—	—
Vietnamese	2,740	0.2%	2,950	0.3%	—	—
Arabic	2,125	0.2%	1,285	0.1%	320
Scandinavian languages	2,040	0.2%	2,005	0.2%	24,481
Icelandic	1,040	0.1%	1,135	0.1%	11,578
Danish	535	0.1%	365	<0.1%	2,187
Swedish	310	<0.1%	330	<0.1%	7,088
Norwegian	150	<0.1%	170	<0.1%	3,628
Korean	1,950	0.2%	870	0.1%	—	—
Hungarian	1,800	0.2%	1,840	0.2%	1,638
Persian	1,775	0.2%	685	0.1%	—	—
Greek	1,635	0.2%	1,310	0.1%	230
Amharic	1,440	0.1%	790	0.1%	—	—
Urdu	1,190	0.1%	545	0.1%	—	—
Hindi	1,120	0.1%	710	0.1%	—	—
Lao	1,035	0.1%	1,140	0.1%	—	—
Athapaskan languages	900	0.1%	860	0.1%	—	—
Dene	890	0.1%	845	0.1%	—	—
Czech	895	0.1%	905	0.1%	514
Gujarati	890	0.1%	405	<0.1%	—	—
Bantu languages	700	0.1%	410	<0.1%	—	—
Swahili	205	<0.1%	115	<0.1%	—	—
Japanese	700	0.1%	550	0.1%	519
Romanian	655	0.1%	595	0.1%	1,181
Flemish	650	0.1%	795	0.1%	5,067
Ilocano	645	0.1%	—	—	—	—
Creole	640	0.1%	220	<0.1%	—	—
Yiddish	640	0.1%	1,065	0.1%	19,187
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux)	630	0.1%	730	0.1%	—	—
African languages n.i.e.	540	0.1%	230	<0.1%	—	—
Somali	540	0.1%	155	<0.1%	—	—
Germanic languages n.i.e.Template:Efn	520	0.1%	410	<0.1%	907
Khmer (Cambodian)	495	0.1%	350	<0.1%	—	—
Slovak	465	<0.1%	665	0.1%	514

Note: "n.i.e.": not included elsewhere

There were also about 430 single-language responses for Bisayan languages; 395 for Niger–Congo languages n.i.e.; and 350 for Tigrigna; as well as about 345 for non-verbal languages (sign languages); 340 for Bengali; 330 for Finnish; 325 for Sinhala; 310 for Kurdish; 275 for Tamil; 260 for Slovenian; 230 for Latvian; 220 for Hebrew; and about 220 as well for Slavic languages n.i.e.; and 210 for Indo-Iranian languages n.i.e.; 195 for Malayo-Polynesian languages n.i.e; 180 for Oromo; 170 for Pampango; 155 for Celtic languages; 155 for Macedonian; 140 for Inuktitut; 135 for Lithuanian; 120 for Bulgarian; and about 120 as well for Malayalam. {Mother tongues of more than 114 persons (0.01%) are listed.} In addition to the single-language responses detailed above, about 34,935 people reported having more than one mother tongue. There were about 11,675 responses of English and a non-official language; 465 of French and a non-official language; 2,630 of both English and French; and 85 of English, French and a non-official language. Approximately 2,555 people reported having Tagalog as a dual mother tongue; while about 2,060 people reported having German; 1,510 people reported having Cree; 1,385 Ukrainian; 645 Ojibway; 475 Spanish; 365 Portuguese; 310 Polish; and about 280 people reported having Panjabi, as a dual mother tongue. {Dual mother tongues of more than 228 persons (0.02%) are listed.}

Religion

Religious groups in Manitoba (1981−2021)

Religious group	2021		2011		2001		1991		1981
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Christianity	708,850		803,640		859,060		898,560		913,370
Irreligion	480,315		311,105		205,865		148,170		76,285
Sikhism	35,470		10,200		5,485		3,495		1,685
Islam	26,430		12,405		5,095		3,525		1,925
Hinduism	18,355		7,720		3,835		3,470		1,750
Judaism	11,565		11,110		13,035		13,670		15,670
Indigenous spirituality	10,190		7,155		—	—	—	—	—	—
Buddhism	7,440		6,770		5,745		5,255		2,015
Other	8,570		4,245		5,575		3,250		755
Total responses	1,307,190		1,174,345		1,103,700		1,079,390		1,013,705
Total population	1,342,152		1,208,268		1,119,583		1,091,942		1,026,241

Migration

Immigration

Manitoba immigrationTemplate:RpTemplate:Rp

Year	Immigrant percentage	Immigrant population	Total population
1881		16,860	62,260
1891		44,320	152,506
1901		74,352	255,211
1911		190,840	461,394
1921		222,372	610,118
1931		236,589	700,139
1941		193,586	729,744
1951		168,354	776,541
1961		169,998	921,686
1971		151,250	988,245

The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 257,620 persons or 19.7 percent of the total population of Manitoba.

Immigrants in Manitoba by country of birth

Country of birth	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Philippines	70,265		61,950		45,240		25,485		20,345
India	32,160		21,990		12,175		6,765		5,205
United Kingdom	10,995		11,665		13,235		15,225		15,305
China	10,250		9,250		7,205		4,310		3,715
Germany	9,365		10,390		10,850		9,045		8,115
Nigeria	8,545		3,825		1,445		360		325
United States	6,705		7,100		7,415		7,090		6,910
Mexico	5,845		6,650		6,605		6,160		4,580
Ukraine	5,365		4,760		4,015		4,330		4,070
Vietnam	4,575		4,225		3,440		3,465		3,485
Total immigrants	257,620		227,465		184,505		151,230		133,660
Total responses	1,307,190		1,240,700		1,174,345		1,133,515		1,103,700
Total population	1,342,153		1,278,365		1,208,268		1,148,401		1,119,583

Recent immigration

The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 58,370 people who immigrated to Manitoba between 2016 and 2021.

Recent immigrants to Manitoba by country of birth (2016 to 2021)
Country of birth	Population	% recent immigrants
India	13,335
Philippines	11,705
Nigeria	5,105
China	3,585
Syria	1,575
Eritrea	1,445
Brazil	1,440
Ukraine	1,305
Pakistan	1,210
United States of America	1,035
Total	58,370

Interprovincial migration

File:Net cumulative interprovincial migration, 1997 to 2017, as a share of population, 2016.png

Net cumulative interprovincial migration per Province from 1997 to 2017, as a share of population of each Provinces

Manitoba is one of the provinces most affected by Interprovincial migration, having had a negative mobility ratio for 42 out of 46 years from 1971 to 2017. This is the second-worst record for years of negative interprovincial migration, followed only by Quebec.

Interprovincial migration in Manitoba

	In-migrants	Out-migrants	Net migration
2008–09	11,916	15,027	−3,111
2009–10	11,786	14,198	−2,412
2010–11	11,085	14,602	−3,517
2011–12	11,443	15,655	−4,212
2012–13	9,988	14,994	−5,006
2013–14	9,452	16,303	−6,851
2014–15	10,022	16,700	−6,678
2015–16	10,994	15,875	−4,881
2016–17	10,350	15,474	−5,124
2017–18	9,578	16,726	−7,148
2018–19	10,351	19,597	−9,246

Source: Statistics Canada

See also

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BC

AB

SK

MB

ON

QC

NB

PE

NS

NL

YT

NT

NU

[[File:||Canadian Provinces and Territories]]

Demographics of Canada's provinces and territories

• Demographics of Canada
• Population of Canada by province and territory
• Franco-Manitoban