Saanich: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Saanich: The median total income of households in Saanich 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 Saanich: 43.6% of people aged 25 to 64 in Saanich held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 18th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, above the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in Saanich: 8.2% of people in private households in Saanich, 9,465 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), joint 11th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of Saanich?
Statistics Canada estimates that Saanich (the municipality) had 126,011 residents on 1 July 2025, 16th smallest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 0.2% fewer than a year earlier (126,219) and 2.5% more than on 1 July 2021 (122,889).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is Saanich growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of Saanich changed by +2.5%, 3rd slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and Saanich held 0.30% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in Saanich at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 117,735 people in Saanich, +3.1% on the 114,148 counted in 2016 (13th slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 104 square kilometres, or 1,137 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in Saanich?
The median age in Saanich was 44.4 years at the 2021 Census, joint 9th oldest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 23.1% of residents were 65 or older and 12.9% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs Saanich?
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
- Whitby 162,413
- Lévis V 160,882
- Guelph 160,760
- Milton 157,345
- St. Catharines 153,865
- Saguenay 151,972
- Trois-Rivières 149,934
- Kingston 149,527
- Waterloo 142,450
- Ajax 141,111
- St. John's 128,693
- Terrebonne 126,872
- Delta 124,670
- Brantford 123,521
- Thunder Bay 117,671
- Red Deer 115,409
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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.