Census 2016: New Brunswick Population Down
The first round of data from the 2016 census has been released and shows population growth in each province except New Brunswick, which saw a decline of 0.5 per cent from a population of 751,171 to 747,101.
The 2016 Census of Population Program offers a range of analysis, data, reference and geographical information about Canada and its population.
The census counted 35,151,728 people on May 10 last year, an increase of 1.7 million for a growth rate of five per cent, slightly lower than the 5.9 per cent reported in the 2006-2011 census period.
Saint John reported negative growth of 2.2 per cent while the population of New Brunswick as a whole declined by 0.5 per cent. Smaller urban areas with the steepest declines included Campbellton, which was down by 9.3 per cent, followed by Elliot Lake, Ontario at 5.3 per cent and New Glasgow, Nova Scotia at 3.7 per cent.
Alberta continued to have the highest growth rate of all the provinces, up to 11.6 from 10.8 in 2011. Nearly one-third of Canadians (31.6 per cent) live in Western Canada, with most in B.C. (13.2 per cent) and Alberta (11.6 per cent).
Further data including demographic details and statistics on income, immigration, education and labour will continue to be released throughout the year.