North Bay has experienced a 2.2 per cent population increase from 2016 to May 2021, according to the latest census data from Statistics Canada.
The population increase amounts to an additional 1,109 North Bay residents over the 2016 Census, a rise from 51,553 to 52,662 in 2021.
North Bay recorded a 3.9 per cent population decrease, from 53,651 in 2011 to 51,553 in 2016.
Total private dwellings in North Bay are slightly up in 2021 to 25,077 from 24,799 in 2016. In the category of "Private dwellings occupied by usual residents," are up to 23,467 over 22,614 in the same time period.
Population density per square kilometre is up in 2021 to 166.9 from 161.6 in 2016.
The 2021 Census data is being released in waves from now until November, beginning with population and dwelling characteristics.
According to Statistics Canada, "The Census of Population provides a snapshot of the population at a specific moment in time (May 11, 2021, for this census) and its consistent methodology allows for robust historical comparisons with data from previous censuses."
Canada's population has risen 5.2 per cent since the 2016 Census, to 36,991,981 from 35,151,728. The 2021 Census counted 16,284,235 private dwellings in Canada, with 17.8 per cent of the population residing in rural areas and 82.2 per cent in "population centres." The national population density is 4.2 people per square kilometre.
Statistics Canada notes data collection took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and the overall response rate was 98 per cent, slightly lower than the response rate for the 2016 census.
