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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Map of Canada with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador shaded in green

Map of Newfoundland and Labrador

Interactive version of map

In 2011, the enumerated population of Newfoundland and Labrador was 514,536 which represents a change of 1.8% from 2006. This compares to the national average of 5.9%.

The land area of Newfoundland and Labrador is 370,510.76 square kilometres with a population density of 1.4 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the national land area of 8,965,121.42 square kilometres with a population density of 3.7 persons per square kilometre.

In total, there were 208,842 private dwellings occupied by usual residents in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011. This represents an increase of 5.9% of the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006. For Canada as a whole, the total number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Population and dwelling counts

Canada, provinces and territories – Population, percentage change between 2006 and 2011

Chart A: Canada, provinces and territories - Population, percentage change between 2006 and 2011

Chart A description: Canada, provinces and territories - Population, percentage change between 2006 and 2011

Table 1 Canada, provinces and territories – Population change, 2006 to 2011
Geographic name Population
2011 2006 Change % change % of nat. pop.
Canada † 33,476,688 31,612,897 1,863,791 5.9 100.00
Newfoundland and Labrador 514,536 505,469 9,067 1.8 1.54
Prince Edward Island 140,204 135,851 4,353 3.2 0.42
Nova Scotia 921,727 913,462 8,265 0.9 2.75
New Brunswick 751,171 729,997 21,174 2.9 2.24
Quebec † 7,903,001 7,546,131 356,870 4.7 23.61
Ontario † 12,851,821 12,160,282 691,539 5.7 38.39
Manitoba † 1,208,268 1,148,401 59,867 5.2 3.61
Saskatchewan † 1,033,381 968,157 65,224 6.7 3.09
Alberta † 3,645,257 3,290,350 354,907 10.8 10.89
British Columbia † 4,400,057 4,113,487 286,570 7.0 13.14
Yukon 33,897 30,372 3,525 11.6 0.10
Northwest Territories 41,462 41,464 -2 0.0 0.12
Nunavut 31,906 29,474 2,432 8.3 0.10

Newfoundland and Labrador – Census metropolitan areas (CMAs), census agglomerations (CAs) and regions outside CMAs and CAs

In 2011, 48.3% of the population of Newfoundland and Labrador lived inside a census metropolitan area (CMA) or census agglomeration (CA). That represents 248,764 persons.


The number of persons living outside a census metropolitan area (CMA) and a census agglomeration (CA) was 265,772 which accounts for 51.7% of the provincial population.

Chart B: Newfoundland and Labrador - population living inside a CMA or CA compared to population living outside a CMA or CA

Chart B description: Newfoundland and Labrador - population living inside a CMA or CA compared to population living outside a CMA or CA

Table 2 Newfoundland and Labrador - Metropolitan areas, population rank and population change, 2006 to 2011
CMA or CA name Type Population Rank
2011 2006 % change Nat. Prov.
St. John's CMA 196,966 181,113 8.8 20 1
Corner Brook CA 27,202 27,194 A 0.0 94 2
Grand Falls-Windsor CA 13,725 13,558 1.2 128 3
Bay Roberts CA 10,871 10,507 3.5 147 4

Newfoundland and Labrador – Census subdivisions, with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth

Table 3 Newfoundland and Labrador – 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
Paradise T 17,695 12,584 40.6
Torbay T 7,397 6,281 17.8
Clarenville T 6,036 5,274 14.4
Conception Bay South T 24,848 21,966 13.1
Portugal Cove-St. Philip's T 7,366 6,575 12.0

Newfoundland and Labrador – Census subdivisions, with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth

Table 4 Newfoundland and Labrador – 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
Mount Pearl CY 24,284 24,671 -1.6
Corner Brook CY 19,886 20,083 -1.0
Happy Valley-Goose Bay T 7,552 7,572 -0.3
Grand Falls-Windsor T 13,725 13,558 1.2
Marystown T 5,506 5,436 1.3

Age and sex

Newfoundland and Labrador – Age distribution

Chart C: Newfoundland and Labrador - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Newfoundland and Labrador - Population by broad age groups

Table 5 Newfoundland and Labrador – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 14.9% 15.7% 14.2%
15 to 64 69.1% 69.4% 69.0%
65 and over 16.0% 15.0% 16.9%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Newfoundland and Labrador was 16.0%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 69.1% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 14.9%. 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.

Newfoundland and Labrador – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 6 Newfoundland and Labrador – Population by broad age groups, sex and population change between 2006 and 2011, 2006 and 2011 censuses
Broad age groups by sex Population
2011 2006 change % change
Both sexes
Total 514,540 505,465 9,075 1.8
0 to 14 76,630 78,225 -1,595 -2.0
15 to 64 355,800 356,975 -1,175 -0.3
65 and over 82,110 70,265 11,845 16.9
Males
Total 250,570 245,730 4,840 2.0
0 to 14 39,260 40,030 -770 -1.9
15 to 64 173,780 174,105 -325 -0.2
65 and over 37,525 31,600 5,925 18.8
Females
Total 263,970 259,735 4,235 1.6
0 to 14 37,370 38,200 -830 -2.2
15 to 64 182,020 182,875 -855 -0.5
65 and over 44,580 38,665 5,915 15.3

Newfoundland and Labrador – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Newfoundland and Labrador - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Newfoundland and Labrador - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 7 Newfoundland and Labrador – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 514,540 250,570 263,970
0 to 4 years 24,495 12,615 11,875
5 to 9 years 25,105 12,845 12,260
10 to 14 years 27,030 13,800 13,235
15 to 19 years 29,585 15,175 14,410
20 to 24 years 30,050 15,075 14,975
25 to 29 years 28,310 13,605 14,705
30 to 34 years 29,275 13,840 15,435
35 to 39 years 33,375 15,895 17,485
40 to 44 years 38,020 18,385 19,635
45 to 49 years 42,220 20,550 21,680
50 to 54 years 43,180 21,070 22,110
55 to 59 years 42,645 20,950 21,695
60 to 64 years 39,130 19,240 19,895
65 to 69 years 28,740 14,095 14,645
70 to 74 years 20,115 9,775 10,340
75 to 79 years 14,620 6,745 7,870
80 to 84 years 10,070 4,110 5,965
85 to 89 years 5,690 2,080 3,610
90 to 94 years 2,300 625 1,680
95 to 99 years 510 85 425
100 years and over 55 15 45
Median age 44.0 43.4 44.5

Newfoundland and Labrador – Median age1 of the population in the last 60 years

The median age in Newfoundland and Labrador was 44 years. In comparison, the median age of Canada was 40.6 years.

Chart E: Newfoundland and Labrador - Median age of the population in the last 60 years

Chart E description: Newfoundland and Labrador - Median age of the population in the last 60 years

Table 8 Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada – Median age of the population, 1951 to 2011 censuses
Median age Census year
1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011
Canada 23.9 24.7 27.0 27.7 26.3 26.2 29.6 33.5 37.6 40.6
Newfoundland and Labrador ··· ··· ··· 21.6 19.1 20.7 25.2 30.8 38.4 44.0

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Newfoundland and Labrador was 159,385, which represents a change of 2.3% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Newfoundland and Labrador, 71.7% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 12.9% were common-law-couples and 15.3% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Newfoundland and Labrador - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Newfoundland and Labrador - Census families by family structure

Family structure

Table 9 Canada, provinces and territories – 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
Newfoundland and Labrador 159,385 114,335 71.7 20,630 12.9 24,420 15.3 2.3
Prince Edward Island 40,850 29,695 72.7 4,570 11.2 6,580 16.1 4.2
Nova Scotia 270,065 184,870 68.5 38,460 14.2 46,735 17.3 1.0
New Brunswick 224,590 152,455 67.9 35,945 16.0 36,190 16.1 3.1
Quebec † 2,203,625 1,143,370 51.9 694,750 31.5 365,515 16.6 3.9
Ontario † 3,612,205 2,612,890 72.3 394,670 10.9 604,645 16.7 5.5
Manitoba † 327,875 232,635 71.0 39,060 11.9 56,185 17.1 4.8
Saskatchewan † 285,375 202,770 71.1 35,785 12.5 46,825 16.4 6.7
Alberta † 999,525 719,355 72.0 135,660 13.6 144,510 14.5 10.5
British Columbia † 1,238,155 887,990 71.7 160,360 13.0 189,805 15.3 6.6
Yukon 9,330 5,080 54.4 2,340 25.1 1,915 20.5 11.9
Northwest Territories 10,930 5,465 50.0 3,135 28.7 2,330 21.3 0.5
Nunavut 7,780 3,035 39.0 2,545 32.7 2,195 28.2 10.5

Newfoundland and Labrador – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in Newfoundland and Labrador, 41.2% 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.

Among couples with children aged 24 and under at home in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, 88.3% were intact families, that is, in which all children were the biological or adopted children of both parents, while 11.7% were stepfamilies, in which at least one child was the biological or adopted child of only one married spouse or common-law partner. For Canada as a whole in 2011, 12.6% of couples with children aged 24 and under at home were stepfamilies.

Chart G: Newfoundland and Labrador - Presence of children within couple families

Chart G description: Newfoundland and Labrador - Presence of children within couple families



Newfoundland and Labrador – Marital status

Chart H: Newfoundland and Labrador - Marital status Chart H description: Newfoundland and Labrador - Marital status

In Newfoundland and Labrador, 62.4% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (52.9%) or living with a common-law partner (9.4%).


The remaining 37.6% 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 10 Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Newfoundland and Labrador Canada
number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 437,905 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 273,040 62.4 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 231,745 52.9 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 41,295 9.4 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 164,870 37.6 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 107,375 24.5 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 8,700 2.0 698,245 2.5
Divorced 19,855 4.5 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 28,930 6.6 1,584,525 5.7

Newfoundland and Labrador – Types of private households

There were 208,840 private households3 in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011, a change of 5.9% from 2006. Of these, 25.9% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -10.0% compared with five years earlier.

Table 11 Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Newfoundland and Labrador Canada
number % number %
Total - Private households 208,840 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children5 54,010 25.9 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children6 75,980 36.4 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 21,745 10.4 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 46,325 22.2 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple-family households8 3,780 1.8 268,060 2.0
Other households9 6,995 3.3 543,340 4.1

Newfoundland and Labrador – Size of private households

The average household size in Newfoundland and Labrador was 2.4 persons in 2011, compared to the Canadian average household size of 2.5 persons.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the proportion of total private households with only one person has increased over time, while the proportion of larger households (five or more persons) has decreased.

Chart I: Newfoundland and Labrador – Size of private households, 1961 to 2011 Chart I description: Newfoundland and Labrador – Size of private households
Table 12 Newfoundland and Labrador – Proportion of total private households with one person and five or more persons, 1961 to 2011 censuses
Private household size 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011
One person 4.4 4.7 5.9 6.8 9.2 10.2 12.3 14.6 18.0 20.2 22.2
Five or more persons 51.4 50.0 44.4 36.6 30.0 24.9 17.9 12.4 8.3 6.2 5.3

Newfoundland and Labrador – Structural type of dwelling

In Newfoundland and Labrador, 74.4% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 0.3% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 13 Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Newfoundland and Labrador Canada
number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 208,845 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 155,295 74.4 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 8,330 4.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 10,050 4.8 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 705 0.3 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 11,375 5.4 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 21,305 10.2 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 415 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 1,365 0.7 183,510 1.4

Language

Newfoundland and Labrador – Mother tongue

Chart J: Newfoundland and Labrador - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Newfoundland and Labrador - 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 Newfoundland and Labrador, 97.6% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 0.5% reported French only, and 1.7% reported only a non-official language, in 2011. In comparison, the national percentages were 56.9% for English only, 21.3% for French only and 19.8% for non-official languages only.

In 2011, 98.5% of the population spoke English only most often at home, 0.2% spoke only French, and 1.0% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the national percentages were 64.8% for English only, 20.6% for French only and 11.1% for only a non-official language.

Table 14 Newfoundland and Labrador – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected language Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 509,950 100.0 509,950 100.0
English 497,565 97.6 502,475 98.5
French 2,480 0.5 1,145 0.2
Non-official language 8,790 1.7 5,005 1.0
Aboriginal language 2,715 0.5 2,050 0.4
Non-Aboriginal language 6,075 1.2 2,955 0.6
Multiple responses 1,120 0.2 1,330 0.3
Table 15 Newfoundland and Labrador – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention12
(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 99.9 99.8 0.0
French 47.6 26.9 20.7
Non-official language 79.8 58.6 21.1
Aboriginal language 86.4 75.1 11.3
Non-Aboriginal language 76.8 51.7 25.2

Newfoundland and Labrador – Non-official languages

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the three most common mother tongues were Innu/Montagnais (0.4%), Chinese, n.o.s. (0.2%) and Inuktitut (0.1%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the national level were Panjabi (Punjabi) (1.4%), Chinese, n.o.s. (1.3%) and Spanish (1.3%).

Table 16 Newfoundland and Labrador – 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.
Innu/Montagnais 2,050 21.7 0.4
Chinese, n.o.s. 890 9.4 0.2
Inuktitut 685 7.3 0.1
Arabic 660 7.0 0.1
Spanish 450 4.8 0.1
German 395 4.2 0.1
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 315 3.3 0.1
Urdu 230 2.4 0.0
Russian 215 2.3 0.0
Bengali 210 2.2 0.0

Newfoundland and Labrador – Bilingualism

Table 17 Newfoundland and Labrador – 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 4.5 4.2 72.2 5.9
0 to 19 8.8 8.7 67.3 5.0
20 to 44 5.9 5.5 80.4 5.7
45 to 64 2.0 1.6 71.7 6.1
65 and over 1.3 0.8 65.2 8.2
Table 18 Newfoundland and Labrador – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 509,950 100.0
English only 485,740 95.3
French only 135 0.0
English and French 23,450 4.6
Neither English nor French 625 0.1

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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