Waterloo: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Waterloo: The median total income of households in Waterloo was C$94,000 in 2020, as reported in the 2021 Census, 18th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the median for Canada was C$84,000.
- Education in Waterloo: 54.5% of people aged 25 to 64 in Waterloo held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 3rd highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, above the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in Waterloo: 11.3% of people in private households in Waterloo, 13,375 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), joint 27th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of Waterloo?
Statistics Canada estimates that Waterloo (the municipality) had 142,450 residents on 1 July 2025, 20th smallest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 1.5% fewer than a year earlier (144,647) and 11.6% more than on 1 July 2021 (127,618).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is Waterloo growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of Waterloo changed by +11.6%, 26th fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and Waterloo held 0.34% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in Waterloo at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 121,436 people in Waterloo, +15.7% on the 104,986 counted in 2016 (2nd fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 64 square kilometres, or 1,896 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in Waterloo?
The median age in Waterloo was 36.0 years at the 2021 Census, the joint youngest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 15.4% of residents were 65 or older and 14.5% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs Waterloo?
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
- 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
- St. Catharines 153,865
- Saguenay 151,972
- Trois-Rivières 149,934
- Kingston 149,527
- Ajax 141,111
- St. John's 128,693
- Terrebonne 126,872
- Saanich 126,011
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.