St. Catharines: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in St. Catharines: The median total income of households in St. Catharines was C$72,500 in 2020, as reported in the 2021 Census, 14th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the median for Canada was C$84,000.
- Education in St. Catharines: 26.8% of people aged 25 to 64 in St. Catharines held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 19th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, below the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in St. Catharines: 12.4% of people in private households in St. Catharines, 16,700 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), 17th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of St. Catharines?
Statistics Canada estimates that St. Catharines (the municipality) had 153,865 residents on 1 July 2025, 24th smallest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 1.2% more than a year earlier (152,000) and 8.1% more than on 1 July 2021 (142,359).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is St. Catharines growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of St. Catharines changed by +8.1%, 26th slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and St. Catharines held 0.37% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in St. Catharines at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 136,803 people in St. Catharines, +2.8% on the 133,113 counted in 2016 (joint 10th slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 96 square kilometres, or 1,422 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in St. Catharines?
The median age in St. Catharines was 44.8 years at the 2021 Census, 8th oldest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 23.3% of residents were 65 or older and 14.1% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs St. Catharines?
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
- Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury 188,504
- Sherbrooke 184,135
- Abbotsford 175,358
- Barrie 174,469
- Coquitlam 173,599
- Kelowna 167,654
- Cambridge 165,354
- Langley 163,885
- Whitby 162,413
- Lévis V 160,882
- Guelph 160,760
- Milton 157,345
- Saguenay 151,972
- Trois-Rivières 149,934
- Kingston 149,527
- Waterloo 142,450
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.