Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Archived Content

Content is archived.

Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Thunder Bay, CY - Ontario 1

Map of Thunder Bay, CY (shaded in green), Ontario

Map of Thunder Bay, CY

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Thunder Bay, CY - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Thunder Bay, CY - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
23
Nat. rank
46

In 2011, Thunder Bay (City) had a population of 108,359, representing a percentage change of -0.7% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 328.24 square kilometres with a population density of 330.1 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the provincial land area of 908,607.67 square kilometres with a population density of 14.1 persons per square kilometre.

In 2011, Thunder Bay (City) had 46,946 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 1.5%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Thunder Bay (City) is part of the census metropolitan area of Thunder Bay.

Population and dwelling counts

Thunder Bay (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Thunder Bay (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Neebing, Ont. MU 1,986 2,184 -9.1
Fort William 52, Ont. IRI 860 889 A -3.3
Oliver Paipoonge, Ont. MU 5,732 5,757 -0.4
Shuniah, Ont. TP 2,737 2,913 -6.0
Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ont. NO 5,909 6,585 -10.3

Ontario – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth

Table 2 Ontario – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Milton T 84,362 53,889 A 56.5
Whitchurch-Stouffville T 37,628 24,390 54.3
Ajax T 109,600 90,167 21.6
Brampton CY 523,911 433,806 20.8
Vaughan CY 288,301 238,866 20.7

Ontario – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth

Table 3 Ontario – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Thunder Bay, Unorganized NO 5,909 6,585 -10.3
Hearst T 5,090 5,620 -9.4
Dryden CY 7,617 8,195 -7.1
The Blue Mountains T 6,453 6,825 -5.5

Age and sex

Thunder Bay, CY – Age distribution

Chart C: Thunder Bay, CY - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Thunder Bay, CY - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 Thunder Bay, CY – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 14.8% 15.4% 14.2%
15 to 64 67.6% 68.9% 66.5%
65 and over 17.6% 15.7% 19.4%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Thunder Bay, CY was 17.6%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 67.6% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 14.8%. In comparison, the national percentages were 68.5% for the population aged 15 to 64 and 16.7% for the population aged 0 to 14.

Thunder Bay, CY – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Thunder Bay, CY – Population by broad age groups, sex and population change between 2006 and 2011, 2006 to 2011 censuses
Broad age groups by sex Population
2011 2006 change % change
Both sexes
Total 108,355 109,140 -785 -0.7
0 to 14 15,990 17,795 -1,805 -10.1
15 to 64 73,295 73,300 -5 0.0
65 and over 19,070 18,045 1,025 5.7
Males
Total 52,475 52,845 -370 -0.7
0 to 14 8,065 9,100 -1,035 -11.4
15 to 64 36,160 36,105 55 0.2
65 and over 8,255 7,635 620 8.1
Females
Total 55,885 56,295 -410 -0.7
0 to 14 7,915 8,690 -775 -8.9
15 to 64 37,140 37,195 -55 -0.1
65 and over 10,820 10,410 410 3.9

Thunder Bay, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Thunder Bay, CY - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Thunder Bay, CY - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Thunder Bay, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 108,355 52,475 55,885
0 to 4 years 5,110 2,555 2,555
5 to 9 years 5,130 2,600 2,525
10 to 14 years 5,745 2,910 2,835
15 to 19 years 6,910 3,500 3,415
20 to 24 years 7,345 3,660 3,685
25 to 29 years 6,640 3,320 3,325
30 to 34 years 6,125 3,005 3,120
35 to 39 years 6,455 3,125 3,335
40 to 44 years 7,095 3,480 3,610
45 to 49 years 8,310 4,075 4,235
50 to 54 years 9,015 4,395 4,615
55 to 59 years 8,145 4,015 4,130
60 to 64 years 7,260 3,585 3,675
65 to 69 years 5,170 2,505 2,665
70 to 74 years 4,260 1,995 2,275
75 to 79 years 3,560 1,595 1,970
80 to 84 years 3,000 1,220 1,780
85 years and over 3,075 945 2,135
Median age 43.3 42.2 44.4

Thunder Bay, CY – Median age2 of the population

Chart E: Canada, Ontario and Thunder Bay, CY - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, Ontario and Thunder Bay, CY - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

In 2011, the median age in Thunder Bay, CY was 43.3 years. In comparison, the median age of Ontario was 40.4 years.

Table 7 Canada, Ontario and Thunder Bay, CY – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
Ontario 39.0 40.4
Thunder Bay, CY 41.7 43.3

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families3 in Thunder Bay was 30,350, which represents a change of -1.5% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Thunder Bay, 66.5% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 13.8% were common-law-couples and 19.7% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Thunder Bay - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Thunder Bay - Census families by family structure

Thunder Bay – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, Ontario, CSD of Thunder Bay, CY and neighbouring census subdivisions – Distribution of census families by family structure, 2011 Census
Geographic name Total families Married-couple families Common-law-couple families Lone-parent families % change, census families, 2006 to 2011
number % number % number %
Canada † 9,389,695 6,293,950 67.0 1,567,905 16.7 1,527,840 16.3 5.5
Ontario † 3,612,205 2,612,890 72.3 394,670 10.9 604,645 16.7 5.5
Thunder Bay, CY 30,350 20,180 66.5 4,185 13.8 5,990 19.7 -1.5
Neebing, MU 650 505 77.7 80 12.3 65 10.0 -0.8
Fort William 52, IRI 250 95 38.0 50 20.0 105 42.0 -2.0
Oliver Paipoonge, MU 1,765 1,390 78.8 220 12.5 155 8.8 1.1
Shuniah, TP 925 735 79.5 120 13.0 75 8.1 -4.1
Thunder Bay, Unorganized, NO 1,870 1,415 75.7 295 15.8 160 8.6 -7.9

Thunder Bay – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Thunder Bay, 42.2% were couples with children aged 24 and under at home. In comparison, as a whole, 46.9% of couples in Canada had children aged 24 and under at home.

Presence of children within couple families
* Children aged 24 and under at home
Married couples with children * 8,630
Married couples without children * 11,550
Common-law-couples with children * 1,660
Common-law-couples without children * 2,525

Thunder Bay – Marital status

Chart H: Thunder Bay - Marital status

Chart H description: Thunder Bay - Marital status

In Thunder Bay, 53.7% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (44.6%) or living with a common-law partner (9.1%).

The remaining 46.3% were not married and not living with a common-law partner, including those who were single (never-married), separated, divorced or widowed.

Note: Percentages may not total 100 percent due to random rounding.

Table 9 Canada, Ontario, Thunder Bay, CY – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Thunder Bay, CY Ontario Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 92,375 100.0 10,671,050 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 49,605 53.7 6,158,605 57.7 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 41,205 44.6 5,367,400 50.3 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 8,400 9.1 791,210 7.4 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 42,765 46.3 4,512,440 42.3 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 26,345 28.5 2,985,020 28.0 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 3,430 3.7 319,805 3.0 698,245 2.5
Divorced 5,815 6.3 593,730 5.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 7,180 7.8 613,880 5.8 1,584,525 5.7

Thunder Bay – Types of private households

There were 46,945 private households4 in Thunder Bay in 2011, a change of 1.5% from 2006. Of these, 21.5% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -12.5% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, Ontario, Thunder Bay, CY – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type5 Thunder Bay, CY Ontario Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 46,945 100.0 4,887,505 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home6		 10,090 21.5 1,402,420 28.7 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home7		 13,645 29.1 1,408,120 28.8 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households8 5,570 11.9 535,825 11.0 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 15,415 32.8 1,230,980 25.2 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households9 520 1.1 128,660 2.6 268,060 2.0
Other households10 1,705 3.6 181,500 3.7 543,340 4.1

Thunder Bay – Structural type of dwelling

In Thunder Bay, 66.2% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 5.4% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 11 Canada, Ontario, Thunder Bay, CY – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Thunder Bay, CY Ontario Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 46,945 100.0 4,887,510 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 31,095 66.2 2,718,880 55.6 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 2,045 4.4 279,470 5.7 646,240 4.9
Row house 1,305 2.8 415,230 8.5 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 2,550 5.4 789,975 16.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 7,365 15.7 498,160 10.2 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 2,270 4.8 160,460 3.3 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house11 120 0.3 9,535 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling12 205 0.4 15,795 0.3 183,510 1.4

Language

Thunder Bay, CY – Mother tongue

Chart J: Thunder Bay, CY - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Thunder Bay, CY - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Note: Counts for mother tongue as well as those for language spoken most often at home include single responses only.

In Thunder Bay, 84.5% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 2.4% reported French only, and 11.9% reported a non-official language only, in 2011. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 68.2% for English only, 3.9% for French only and 25.7% for only non-official languages.

In 2011, 94.2% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.7% spoke only French and 3.4% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 79.0% for only English, 2.2% for only French and 14.4% for only a non-official language.

Table 12 Thunder Bay, CY – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 106,695 100.0 106,695 100.0
English 90,145 84.5 100,545 94.2
French 2,515 2.4 770 0.7
Non-official language 12,710 11.9 3,680 3.4
Multiple responses 1,330 1.2 1,700 1.6
Table 13 Thunder Bay, CY – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention13
(in percentage)
Total retention; language spoken at home at least on a regular basis Complete retention; language spoken most often at home Partial retention; language spoken at home on a regular basis
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
English 99.8 99.7 0.1
French 55.1 29.7 25.4
Non-official language 60.9 34.6 26.4

Thunder Bay, CY – Non-official languages

In Thunder Bay, the three most common mother tongues were Italian (3.1%), Finnish (2.0%) and Polish (0.9%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the provincial / territorial level were Italian (2.1%), Chinese, n.o.s. (1.6%) and Cantonese (1.5%).

Table 14 Thunder Bay, CY – The most common non-official-language mother tongues, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Number Percentage of non-official language mother-tongue population Percentage of total population
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
Italian 3,300 24.0 3.1
Finnish 2,105 15.3 2.0
Polish 995 7.2 0.9
Ukrainian 920 6.7 0.9
Ojibway 810 5.9 0.8

Thunder Bay, CY – Bilingualism

Table 15 Thunder Bay, CY – Rate of English-French bilingualism by mother tongue and age groups, 2011 Census
Age groups Mother tongue
Total English French Non-official language
Note: Counts for mother tongue include single responses only. Consequently, the total excludes multiple responses.
Total 7.3 5.7 84.9 3.3
0 to 19 10.9 10.1 83.3 10.4
20 to 44 8.4 6.8 89.2 4.7
45 to 64 5.3 2.6 85.3 3.5
65 and over 4.6 2.1 80.5 1.5
Table 16 Thunder Bay, CY – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 106,695 100.0
English only 98,010 91.9
French only 120 0.1
English and French 8,030 7.5
Neither English nor French 535 0.5

Symbols:

···
not applicable
†
excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements. For further information, refer to Notes.
incompletely enumerated Indian reserve or Indian settlement. For further information, refer to Notes.
A
adjusted figure due to boundary change. For further information, refer to Content considerations.
E
use with caution. For further information, refer to Cautionary note.


Source:

Statistics Canada. 2012. Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-310-XWE2011004. Ottawa, Ontario. Analytical products, 2011 Census. Last updated October 24, 2012.
 

Related data:

Date modified: