Manitoba Population – Historic, Growth Rate and Present
If you are looking at settling in Canada for whatever reason, consider settling in Manitoba. Do not worry if you’re curious about what the city looks like. We will be looking at the city of Manitoba, Manitoba’s population, including its history, growth rate, and current distribution of immigrants.
Manitoba is the easternmost of the three prairie provinces of Canada. Manitoba borders Saskatchewan to the west, Nunavut to the north, Ontario to the east, and the US states of North Dakota and Minnesota to the south.
The northernmost areas of Manitoba are permafrost or permanently frozen ground, with some tundra bordering Hudson Bay.
With a population of more than 1.3 million, Manitoba is the fifth-largest province in Canada. Manitoba’s population represents 3.64 percent of the country’s population. It is home to Canada’s seventh city, Winnipeg.
Winnipeg is also the capital of Manitoba. Manitoba is one of the thirteen Providence in Canada on the southern side of Canada with an area of 548,360 km2.
History of Manitoba
Manitoba was first inhabited by indigenous people shortly after the last Ice Age glaciers retreated about 10,000 years ago. Various tribes came to the area and established settlements.
One of the first Europeans to reach the area was Henry Hudson, who sailed to Hudson Bay in 1611. The following year, Sir Thomas Button was the first European to reach central and southern Manitoba and attempted to save Hudson after his crew abandoned him.
In 1668, a British ship named Nonsuch entered the bay and was the first merchant ship to reach the area. This voyage led to the establishment of the Hudson’s Bay Company. The British Government gave it complete control of the area.
In the 1730s, French explorers began exploring the area, and the Northwest Company began to trade with the Aboriginals. Hudson’s Bay Company and North West Company built trading forts and competed with each other until they merged in 1821.
In 1763, Britain secured the area after defeating France during the French-Indian War. The first farming community was established north of Winnipeg in 1812.
The Hudson’s Bay Company ceded the area to Canada in 1869, incorporated it into the Northwest Territories, and became a province of Canada in 1870.
There was a treaty to give lands to each family of the various First Nations peoples of the region. But unfortunately, the exact amount of land was only sometimes handed over, and claims still exist through indigenous peoples’ land claims.
Cities in Manitoba
The largest cities in Manitoba by population are:
Winnipeg: This is the capital and largest city of Manitoba. It is also the seventh-largest community in Canada and is home to approximately 60% of Manitoba’s total population. Winnipeg has an urban population of 673,000 and a metropolitan population of 735,000. The main city has a density of 3,700 inhabitants per square mile or 1,430 per square kilometer.
Brandon: It is the second-largest city and is located in the southwest of the province. The population of Brandon is about 47,000.
Steinbach: With a population of about 14,000, Steinbach is the third-largest city and the largest parish in the Eastman region of Manitoba. The city today has a solid German and Mennonite influence, as Mennonites founded it in the late 19th century, and more than 50% of the population has German ancestors.
Portage la Prairie: This small town, about 47 miles west of Winnipeg, has a population of about 13,000. Portage la Prairie has the sunniest days in the warmer months in a Canadian city.
Thompson: (residents: 12,500) is 459 miles north of Winnipeg and has a business population of up to 65,000.
Manitoba Demographics
So far, various people from different places have settled in Manitoba. In the 2006 census, Manitoba’s ethnic makeup was 69.9% White, 13.08% Visible Minorities, and 17 Originals (11% First Nations, 6.5% Metis). Visible minority groups include:
Filipino: 5%
South Asian: 2.2%
Black: 1.7%
Chinese: 1.5%
Latin American: 0.8%
Southeast Asian: 0.7%
Arab: 0.3%
Korean: 0.3%
West Asian: 0.2%
Japanese: 0.2%
The following are the most common ethnic origins in Manitoba:
English: 22.1%
German: 19.1%
Scottish: 18.5%
Canadian: 18.2%
Ukrainian: 14.7%
Irish: 13.4%
French: 13.1%
North American Indian: 10.6%
Polish: 7.3%
Metis: 6.4%
Dutch: 4.9%
Russian: 4.0%
Icelandic: 2.7%
Manitoba has the largest Icelandic population outside of Iceland, with about 35% living in Manitoba. At least 40 languages are spoken in Manitoba.
Approximately 43% of the population is Protestant, followed by 29% Roman Catholic, 4.0% Christian, 1.5% Orthodox Christian, and 1.1% Jewish. Those with no religious affiliation represent almost 19% of the population.
Manitoba Population Growth Rate
Looking back over the past ten years of Manitoba’s population, the growth rate has been steady and robust, ranging from 1.06% to 1.19%, adding around 13,697 to 14,976 people to the total population each year.
Many workers moved to Manitoba to take advantage of job opportunities there, helping to increase the population.
On the other hand, Manitoba is a very popular city for immigrants. As a result, Manitoba had the fastest population growth in 2019 (1.19%). Between 2011 and 2016, Manitoba’s population increased by 70,097, or 5.80%.
Open table for Manitoba population and its growth rate
Below is a table of the population of Manitoba and its growth rate for the past ten years:
Year Population Growth Rate
2011 1,208,268 n/a
2012 1,222,287 1.16%
2013 1,236,263 1.14%
2014 1,250,585 1.16%
2015 1,263,865 1.06%
2016 1,278,365 1.15%
2017 1,293,341 1.17%
2018 1,307,038 1.06%
2019 1,322,248 1.19%
2020 1,336,396 1.07%
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Manitoba Population Density
The population of Manitoba is anticipated to be 1.272 million, up from 1.208 million in 2011. The population density of the province is two persons per square kilometer or six people per square mile.
Manitoba is Canada’s easternmost of the three prairie provinces. Manitoba is bordered on the west by Saskatchewan, on the north by Nunavut, on the east by Ontario, and on the south by the US states of North Dakota and Minnesota.
Permafrost, or permanently frozen subsoil, covers the northernmost parts of Manitoba, with some tundra along Hudson Bay.
10 Largest Cities in Manitoba by Population
According to the 2016 census by Statistics Canada, there are 80 communities in Manitoba. This excludes rural communities which have a population of 1,000 or more.
These communities include cities, towns, villages, local urban counties, unincorporated urban communities, dissolved cities, First Nations reservations, a local county with urban character, and population centers.
According to Statistics Canada, a population center is an area with at least 1,000 inhabitants and a population density of 400 or more people per square kilometer.
Check out list of most populated cities in Manitoba by population
Here’s a list of the most populated cities in Manitoba by population:
Rank City 2016 Census
1 Winnipeg 711925
2 Brandon 48324
3 Steinbach 14753
4 Thompson 12878
5 Portage la Prairie 12949
6 Winkler 14311
7 Selkirk 9839
8 Morden 7907
9 Dauphin 8095
10 The Pas 5368
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Population of Immigrants in Manitoba
The statistics below show the number of recent immigrants in Manitoba, Canada from the year 2001 to 2021.
See table for number of recent immigrants in Manitoba
Year Number of immigrants
2000-2001 4,8374,837
2001-2002 4,8254,825
2002-2003 4,9024,902
2003-2004 7,4177,417
2004-2005 7,6867,686
2005-2006 8,8808,880
2006-2007 10,78910,789
2007-2008 10,73910,739
2008-2009 12,96312,963
2009-2010 14,11714,117
2010-2011 15,83915,839
2011-2012 15,09115,091
2012-2013 12,70112,701
2013-2014 15,48215,482
2014-2015 14,80114,801
2015-2016 17,40717,407
2016-2017 15,68415,684
2017-2018 14,16014,160
2018-2019 15,91515,915
2019-2020 14,78214,782
2020-2021 10,19410,194
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Population of International Students in Manitoba
International student enrollment in Manitoba increased by 17 percent in 2018, with 18,725 students from 100 countries attending schools and post-secondary institutions throughout the province. As of December 2019, there were 642,480 international students in Canada.
Due to its popularity as a great destination to study, work and immigrate, Canada’s international student population has tripled in the last decade.
Facts About Manitoba
Interestingly, there are some facts about Manitoba that you will love to know. Below are some of them:
The people of Manitoba are not only great but also very friendly. You may find that more than 200 ethnic or cultural backgrounds have been reported in the province.
Manitoba is the only province in Canada where more than 55% of the population lives in a city.
Manitoba has the most extensive breeding caves in the world, red-sided garter snakes.
Winnipeg has the largest urban elm forest in North America, with nearly 160,000 elm trees.
Manitoba’s climate is very continental. Temperatures and rainfall typically decrease from south to north and increase from east to west. The provincial motto, “Where the heart of Canada beats,” is a clear nod to the fact that Manitoba is in the heart of Canada.
Manitoba means “where the spirit lives” in the native language of Cree.
During the summer, southern Manitoba has up to 16 hours of daylight daily.
Folklorama, held each August in Winnipeg, is the world’s longest and most significant cultural event, with more than 44 cultural pavilions.
In the 1880s, the Icelandic settlers of Gimli proclaimed a brief “republic” called New Iceland.
Manitoba has the largest Icelandic population outside of Iceland.
Manitoba’s most popular tourist activities include beluga whale watching, horseback riding, polar bear watching, and camping.
Winnipeg has the lowest travel time (less than five miles) of any Canadian city with a population of 500,000 or more.
Manitoba is one of the cheapest places in Canada to buy a home.
Winnie the Pooh belonged to Harry Colebourn, a Winnipeg lieutenant. Winnie is named after Winnipeg.
Churchill, Manitoba, is named the Polar Bear Capital of the World because it is the most accessible place to observe wild polar bears.
A Winnipeg native and WWII spymaster Sir William Stephenson was the inspiration for James Bond.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the population of Manitoba has experienced a significant growth rate over the past century, with the present-day population standing at just over 1.3 million people. Despite this growth, Manitoba still maintains a relatively small population compared to other provinces in Canada. However, with continued economic growth and improvement, Manitoba may soon experience a population boom that will make it one of the most populous provinces in the country.
