Kitchener: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Kitchener: The median total income of households in Kitchener was C$87,000 in 2020, as reported in the 2021 Census, 30th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the median for Canada was C$84,000.
- Education in Kitchener: 34.0% of people aged 25 to 64 in Kitchener held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 35th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, above the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in Kitchener: 9.9% of people in private households in Kitchener, 25,145 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), joint 29th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of Kitchener?
Statistics Canada estimates that Kitchener (the municipality) had 323,917 residents on 1 July 2025, 21st largest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 0.9% more than a year earlier (321,038) and 20.4% more than on 1 July 2021 (269,009).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is Kitchener growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of Kitchener changed by +20.4%, 2nd fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and Kitchener held 0.78% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in Kitchener at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 256,885 people in Kitchener, +10.1% on the 233,222 counted in 2016 (10th fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 137 square kilometres, or 1,878 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in Kitchener?
The median age in Kitchener was 37.2 years at the 2021 Census, 6th youngest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 14.7% of residents were 65 or older and 17.5% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs Kitchener?
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
- Mississauga 764,597
- Vancouver 740,454
- Surrey 703,531
- Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo 701,568
- Hamilton 640,465
- Québec 592,658
- Halifax 516,822
- St. Catharines-Niagara 503,670
- London 494,785
- Laval 461,509
- Markham 371,504
- Vaughan 358,535
- Saskatoon 318,067
- Gatineau 306,105
- Burnaby 299,682
- Windsor 269,614
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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