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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Big Lakes, MD - Alberta 1

Map of Big Lakes, MD (shaded in green), Alberta

Map of Big Lakes, MD

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Big Lakes, MD - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Big Lakes, MD - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
76
Nat. rank
621

In 2011, Big Lakes (Municipal district) had a population of 5,912, representing a percentage change of -1.3% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 13,928.13 square kilometres with a population density of 0.4 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the provincial land area of 640,081.87 square kilometres with a population density of 5.7 persons per square kilometre.

In 2011, Big Lakes (Municipal district) had 2,143 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 4.3%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Population and dwelling counts

Big Lakes (Municipal district) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Big Lakes (Municipal district) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Woodlands County, Alta. MD 4,306 4,158 3.6
High Prairie, Alta. T 2,600 2,785 A -6.6
Swan Hills, Alta. T 1,465 1,645 -10.9
Northern Sunrise County, Alta. MD 1,791 1,747 2.5
Lesser Slave River No.124, Alta. MD 2,929 2,820 3.9
Utikoomak Lake 155, Alta. IRI 644 786 -18.1
Drift Pile River 150, Alta. IRI 800 720 11.1
Sucker Creek 150A, Alta. IRI 677 594 14.0
Kapawe'no First Nation (Pakashan 150D), Alta. IRI 5 0  ···
Swan River 150E, Alta. IRI 312 305 2.3
Kapawe'no First Nation (Freeman 150B), Alta. IRI 115 143 -19.6
Kapawe'no First Nation (Halcro 150C), Alta. IRI 0 0  ···
Kapawe'no First Nation (Grouard 230), Alta. IRI 0 0  ···
Greenview No. 16, Alta. MD 5,299 5,464 -3.0
Smoky River No. 130, Alta. MD 2,126 2,442 -12.9

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

Table 2 Alberta – 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
Chestermere T 14,824 9,923 A 49.4
Beaumont T 13,284 8,961 48.2
Airdrie CY 42,564 28,927 47.1
Leduc CY 24,279 16,967 43.1
Okotoks T 24,511 17,150 A 42.9

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

Table 3 Alberta – 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
Lac la Biche County MD 8,402 9,123 A -7.9
Willow Creek No. 26 MD 5,107 5,337 -4.3
Crowsnest Pass SM 5,565 5,749 -3.2
Greenview No. 16 MD 5,299 5,464 -3.0
Lethbridge County MD 10,061 10,254 A -1.9

Age and sex

Big Lakes, MD – Age distribution

Table 4 Big Lakes, MD – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 24.0% 23.8% 24.3%
15 to 64 64.2% 63.5% 65.1%
65 and over 11.8% 12.6% 10.7%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Big Lakes, MD was 11.8%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 64.2% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 24.0%. 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.

Big Lakes, MD – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Big Lakes, MD – 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 5,910 6,015 -105 -1.7
0 to 14 1,420 1,590 -170 -10.7
15 to 64 3,795 3,845 -50 -1.3
65 and over 695 580 115 19.8
Males
Total 3,010 3,085 -75 -2.4
0 to 14 715 805 -90 -11.2
15 to 64 1,910 1,935 -25 -1.3
65 and over 380 345 35 10.1
Females
Total 2,905 2,930 -25 -0.9
0 to 14 705 785 -80 -10.2
15 to 64 1,890 1,915 -25 -1.3
65 and over 310 235 75 31.9

Big Lakes, MD – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Big Lakes, MD – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 5,910 3,010 2,905
0 to 4 years 450 235 215
5 to 9 years 475 240 235
10 to 14 years 495 245 250
15 to 19 years 485 240 250
20 to 24 years 310 155 155
25 to 29 years 275 135 145
30 to 34 years 290 145 150
35 to 39 years 360 175 185
40 to 44 years 395 205 190
45 to 49 years 460 230 225
50 to 54 years 490 235 255
55 to 59 years 405 225 180
60 to 64 years 330 170 160
65 to 69 years 265 140 125
70 to 74 years 190 115 75
75 to 79 years 115 65 50
80 to 84 years 75 35 40
85 years and over 45 25 25
Median age 37.2 38.4 36.3

Big Lakes, MD – Median age2 of the population

In 2011, the median age in Big Lakes, MD was 37.2 years. In comparison, the median age of Alberta was 36.5 years.

Table 7 Canada, Alberta and Big Lakes, MD – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
Alberta 36.0 36.5
Big Lakes, MD 33.9 37.2

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families3 in Big Lakes was 1,685, which represents a change of 2.1% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Big Lakes, 58.2% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 21.1% were common-law-couples and 21.1% were lone-parent families.

Big Lakes – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, Alberta, CSD of Big Lakes, MD 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
Alberta  999,525 719,355 72.0 135,660 13.6 144,510 14.5 10.5
Big Lakes, MD 1,685 980 58.2 355 21.1 355 21.1 2.1
Woodlands County, MD 1,320 1,015 76.9 190 14.4 120 9.1 4.8
High Prairie, T 675 365 54.1 150 22.2 160 23.7 -9.4
Swan Hills, T 425 270 63.5 100 23.5 50 11.8 -10.5
Northern Sunrise County, MD 555 430 77.5 70 12.6 55 9.9 7.8
Lesser Slave River No.124, MD 895 680 76.0 155 17.3 60 6.7 10.5
Utikoomak Lake 155, IRI 150 30 20.0 60 40.0 60 40.0 -23.1
Drift Pile River 150, IRI 215 60 27.9 70 32.6 85 39.5 7.5
Sucker Creek 150A, IRI 180 50 27.8 50 27.8 80 44.4 16.1
Swan River 150E, IRI 85 25 29.4 30 35.3 35 41.2 6.3
Kapawe'no First Nation (Freeman 150B), IRI 30 10 33.3 10 33.3 5 16.7 0.0
Greenview No. 16, MD 1,590 1,240 78.0 215 13.5 140 8.8 -0.3
Smoky River No. 130, MD 600 490 81.7 75 12.5 35 5.8 0.0

Big Lakes – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Big Lakes, 47.9% 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 * 430
Married couples without children * 550
Common-law-couples with children * 215
Common-law-couples without children * 140

Big Lakes – Marital status

In Big Lakes, 59.9% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (44.3%) or living with a common-law partner (15.7%).

The remaining 40.2% 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, Alberta, Big Lakes, MD – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Big Lakes, MD Alberta Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 4,485 100.0 2,960,470 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 2,685 59.9 1,756,860 59.3 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 1,985 44.3 1,484,705 50.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 705 15.7 272,155 9.2 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 1,805 40.2 1,203,615 40.7 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 1,300 29.0 823,935 27.8 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 120 2.7 70,855 2.4 698,245 2.5
Divorced 200 4.5 177,375 6.0 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 180 4.0 131,440 4.4 1,584,525 5.7

Big Lakes – Types of private households

There were 2,140 private households4 in Big Lakes in 2011, a change of 3.4% from 2006. Of these, 28.3% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -6.9% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, Alberta, Big Lakes, MD – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type5 Big Lakes, MD Alberta Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 2,140 100.0 1,390,275 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home6
605 28.3 407,145 29.3 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home7
655 30.6 406,380 29.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households8 265 12.4 128,330 9.2 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 495 23.1 342,735 24.7 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households9 75 3.5 27,900 2.0 268,060 2.0
Other households10 50 2.3 77,785 5.6 543,340 4.1

Big Lakes – Structural type of dwelling

In Big Lakes, 78.8% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 0.0% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 11 Canada, Alberta, Big Lakes, MD – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Big Lakes, MD Alberta Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 2,145 100.0 1,390,275 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 1,690 78.8 883,260 63.5 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 10 0.5 71,850 5.2 646,240 4.9
Row house 30 1.4 97,865 7.0 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 0 0.0 58,205 4.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 10 0.5 197,945 14.2 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 0 0.0 33,505 2.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house11 10 0.5 1,060 0.1 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling12 395 18.4 46,590 3.4 183,510 1.4

Language

Big Lakes, MD – Mother tongue

Chart J: Big Lakes, MD - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Big Lakes, MD - 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 Big Lakes, 84.7% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 2.4% reported French only, and 12.1% reported a non-official language only, in 2011. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 77.0% for English only, 1.9% for French only and 19.4% for only non-official languages.

In 2011, 97.5% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.3% spoke only French and 1.5% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 85.7% for only English, 0.7% for only French and 10.5% for only a non-official language.

Table 12 Big Lakes, MD – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 5,915 100.0 5,910 100.0
English 5,010 84.7 5,765 97.5
French 140 2.4 20 0.3
Non-official language 715 12.1 90 1.5
Multiple responses 45 0.8 35 0.6
Table 13 Big Lakes, MD – 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 100.0 99.8 0.2
French 33.3 10.0 23.3
Non-official language 66.2 15.2 51.0

Big Lakes, MD – Non-official languages

In Big Lakes, the three most common mother tongues were Cree, n.o.s. (9.8%), German (0.8%) and Ukrainian (0.7%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the provincial / territorial level were German (2.3%), Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (1.9%) and Panjabi (Punjabi) (1.5%).

Table 14 Big Lakes, MD – 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.
Cree, n.o.s. 580 77.3 9.8
German 50 6.7 0.8
Ukrainian 40 5.3 0.7
Dutch 25 3.3 0.4
Korean 10 1.3 0.2
Polish 10 1.3 0.2

Big Lakes, MD – Bilingualism

Table 15 Big Lakes, MD – 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 3.2 1.3 78.6 1.4
0 to 19 1.0 1.1 0.0 0.0
20 to 44 2.5 1.4 80.0 0.0
45 to 64 4.2 1.2 76.9 1.5
65 and over 7.4 2.4 72.7 0.0
Table 16 Big Lakes, MD – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 5,910 100.0
English only 5,720 96.8
French only 5 0.1
English and French 185 3.1
Neither English nor French 0 0.0

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.
 

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