By François Biber

Saskatoon region growing three times faster than all of Canada

Feb 11, 2015 | 3:57 PM

Population in the  Saskatoon region grew three times more than the national rate according to Statistics Canada.

The agency’s latest numbers show Saskatoon’s census metropolitan area (CMA) grew by 9,600 to 300,642 people in 2014. That’s 3.2 per cent CMA growth in one year. The population of Canada grew 1.1 per cent in the same period.

Saskatoon’s CMA includes the City of Warman, City of Martensville, Town of Osler, the Rural Municipality of Corman Park and 24 other villages and hamlets in the area.

Calgary was the fastest growing CMA followed by Edmonton, with the Saskatoon CMA coming in third.

Analyst Patrick Charbonneu with Statistics Canada said Saskatoon’s regional growth is largely propped up by the number of international migrants moving to the area.

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“About 56 per cent of the growth is happening from immigration,” he said. 

Saskatoon’s CMA immigration growth rate (1.8 per cent) is second in the country only to Regina’s CMA immigration growth rate (1.9 per cent).

Saskatchewan residents moving internally to the Saskatoon region account for another bump in the CMA’s population growth.

On top of being one of the leaders in population growth, Saskatoon’s CMA holds top spot for having Canada’s youngest median age at 34.6 years old. That’s well under Canada’s median age of 40.4 years old.

Charbonneau said a low mortality rate adds small percentages in terms of overall growth in the region.

The latest data pegs the City of Saskatoon’s population at 254,600.

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