Saskatchewan Population reaches new all-time high

Saskatchewan's population hit a new all-time high on Jan. 1, when 1,038,018 people were living in the province.

The new population total is an increase of 15,760 from Jan. 1, 2009. The jump comprised an interprovincial migration of 2,680 people, a natural increase (births minus deaths) of 4,509 and an 8,571 net international migration — the highest number of immigrants to the province in one year since records started being kept in 1946.

According to data released Thursday by Statistics Canada, in the last quarter of 2009, Saskatchewan's population grew by 3,044 from 1,034,974 — an increase of 0.29 per cent, the third highest rate of growth in the country.

Only British Columbia (0.32 per cent) and Nunavut (0.38 per cent) saw greater increases.

Across Canada, the population grew 0.17 per cent from 33,873,357 to 33,930,830 between Oct. 1 and Jan. 1.

Every province and territory saw positive growth in the quarter with the exception of Prince Edward Island, which lost 152 people. The highest rate of growth was in the four Western provinces, which all recorded growth above the national average.

Fact Box:

Provincial population as of Jan. 1, 2010 

Newfoundland and Labrador — 510,805

Prince Edward Island — 141,232

Nova Scotia — 940,744

New Brunswick — 750,658

Quebec — 7,870,026

Ontario — 13,134,455

Manitoba — 1,228,984

Saskatchewan — 1,038,018

Alberta — 3,711,845

British Columbia — 4,494,232

Yukon — 33,992

Northwest Territories — 43,281

Nunavut — 32,558

- The Regina Leader Post