St. John's: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in St. John's: The median total income of households in St. John's was C$75,000 in 2020, as reported in the 2021 Census, 16th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the median for Canada was C$84,000.
- Education in St. John's: 38.2% of people aged 25 to 64 in St. John's held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, joint 22nd highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, above the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in St. John's: 14.8% of people in private households in St. John's, 15,885 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), 8th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of St. John's?
Statistics Canada estimates that St. John's (the municipality) had 128,693 residents on 1 July 2025, 18th smallest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 1.5% more than a year earlier (126,751) and 12.3% more than on 1 July 2021 (114,601).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is St. John's growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of St. John's changed by +12.3%, 21st fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and St. John's held 0.31% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in St. John's at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 110,525 people in St. John's, +1.5% on the 108,860 counted in 2016 (6th slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 446 square kilometres, or 248 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in St. John's?
The median age in St. John's was 42.0 years at the 2021 Census, 24th oldest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 19.7% of residents were 65 or older and 13.2% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs St. John's?
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
- Cambridge 165,354
- Langley 163,885
- 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
- Terrebonne 126,872
- Saanich 126,011
- Delta 124,670
- Brantford 123,521
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.