Chatham-Kent’s population decreases by 2%

Chatham-Kent’s population continues to fall, as the first batch of data was released from the 2016 Census.

Chatham-Kent’s 2016 population sits at 102,042, according to the Census Division numbers.

This number is down 2% compared to the 2011 population of 104,075.

The statistics from the Census subdivision, how it relates to municipality, went from 103,671 to 101,647.

The data shows 46,287 private dwellings within the community as well.

Chatham-Kent is lagging behind the national growth rate, according to the data released early Wednesday.

Overall, a total of 35,151,728 people reported living in Canada on Census Day, May 10, 2016, and a pattern of population growth was shown across the country.

From 2011 to 2016, the population in Canada increased by 1.7 million or 5%, a slightly lower rate than 5.9% from 2006 to 2011.

About two-thirds of Canada’s population growth from 2011 to 2016 was the result of migratory increase, the difference between the number of immigrants and emigrants.

Natural increase, the difference between the number of births and deaths, accounted for the remaining one-third.

In the coming years, population growth in Canada is projected to be increasingly linked to migratory increase rather than natural increase, mainly because of low fertility and an aging population.

Canada led the G7 in population growth from 2011 to 2016, rising on average 1% per year.

As in Canada, migratory increase is the key driver of population growth in other G7 countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy.

Canada’s average annual population growth rate of 1% from 2011 to 2016 was the eighth highest among G20 countries, behind Saudi Arabia, Turkey, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, Indonesia and India.

A total of two-thirds of Canadians live 100 kilometres from the southern Canada–United States border, an area that represents about 4% of Canada’s territory.

With this first batch of data. Statistics Canada is providing Canadians with a first glimpse of the latest national statistical portrait with results of the 2016 Census count on population and dwellings.

Over the coming year—as Canadians celebrate 150 years since Confederation—the agency will unveil the full range of census data that will together paint a factual picture of the lives of Canadians and their communities.

Watch for more on this story.

– Photo credit: Municipality of Chatham-Kent