Barrie: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Barrie: The median total income of households in Barrie was C$93,000 in 2020, as reported in the 2021 Census, joint 19th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the median for Canada was C$84,000.
- Education in Barrie: 25.4% of people aged 25 to 64 in Barrie held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 17th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, below the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in Barrie: 8.3% of people in private households in Barrie, 12,080 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), joint 14th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of Barrie?
Statistics Canada estimates that Barrie (the municipality) had 174,469 residents on 1 July 2025, 33rd smallest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 2.9% more than a year earlier (169,516) and 12.9% more than on 1 July 2021 (154,517).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is Barrie growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of Barrie changed by +12.9%, 16th fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and Barrie held 0.42% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in Barrie at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 147,829 people in Barrie, +4.5% on the 141,434 counted in 2016 (22nd slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 99 square kilometres, or 1,493 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in Barrie?
The median age in Barrie was 39.2 years at the 2021 Census, joint 18th youngest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 15.9% of residents were 65 or older and 16.7% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs Barrie?
In Canada, cities and towns are run by regional or upper-tier municipalities: Mostly councillors sent from lower-tier councils; some heads elected directly. Regional planning, transit, water and policing in some areas.
How local power works in Canada
Cities of a similar size in Canada
- Windsor 269,614
- Longueuil 268,530
- Regina 263,419
- Oakville 243,107
- Richmond 239,584
- Abbotsford-Mission 223,828
- Richmond Hill 222,031
- Oshawa 213,592
- Burlington 197,737
- Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury 188,504
- Sherbrooke 184,135
- Abbotsford 175,358
- Coquitlam 173,599
- Kelowna 167,654
- Cambridge 165,354
- Langley 163,885
Up a level: all cities in Canada · Canada · government and power
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census subdivisions, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CSD, gender total, counts and rates), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 46d086943a5e…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 17-10-0155-01: Population estimates, July 1, by census subdivision, 2021 boundaries (Web Data Service extract, 2021-2025; request saved as popest-17100155-csd.request.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 95b5a4929299…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 14-10-0459-01: Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted (Web Data Service extract: unemployment and employment rates, latest 13 months; request saved as lfs-14100459-cma.request.json, geography names in lfs-14100459-metadata.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f4399c9fdfa…)
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