The Context of Niagara and Key Information About Its Residents

The more we know about our Region and the people we share this community with, at this point in time in history, the better. The context for this report is the Region of Niagara that is made up if 12 unique and distinct municipalities that include the urban and rural areas of: Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Niagara Falls, Welland, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Pelham, St. Catharines, Thorold, Wainfleet, West Lincoln, Grimsby and Lincoln.

Niagara residents share space, resources, ideas, talents and time together. They live, shop, work, play and relate. Differences in ages, backgrounds, ethnicities and perspectives make Niagara alive with diversity with a variety of talents, contributions and needs. Identifying relevant trends, patterns and population demographics at this point in time will help Niagara to plan its future.

For statistical data purposes, Niagara is described in different ways and this affects the data collection, trend analyses and possible comparisons with other municipalities. Niagara is described by Census Canada as the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) of St. Catharines-Niagara and as the Regional Municipality of Niagara. Its boundaries and statistics are also gathered as a Census Tract by the clusters of postal codes within the area. Niagara statistics are also summarized as part of the Local Integrated Health Network (LIHN) that includes Hamilton, Niagara, Halton and Brant.

The Population of Niagara

Census 2006 reports a Niagara population of 427,421, up 4.1% from 2001. Ontario’s population increased 6.6% from 2001 and Canada’s rose 5.4%. By 2012, Niagara is projected to have 489,500 residents. The foreign-born population in Niagara was 18% of the population (10.4% recent immigrants from 2001-2006). In 2006, 6,930 people declared they were Aboriginal in Niagara.

The median age of Niagara’s population was 41.9 years in 2006, compared to 39.0 years in Ontario and 83.2% of the population of Niagara is over 15 years of age (81.8% in Ontario). A total of 16.8% are 0-14 years of age, 65.8% are 15- 65 years of age and 17.4% are over 65. By 2006, 13.6% of Ontario’s population was 65 and older, up from 12.9% in 2001 (Ontario 13.6% and Canada 13.7%).

The Regional Municipality of Niagara is home to 73.3% married couple families; 10.3% common-law couple families; 13.1% female, lone parent families; and 3.2% male lone-parent families. A total of 163,334 households are in Niagara.

In Ontario, 86% of individuals live in some form of family unit (married, common-law or lone parent families). The remaining 14% live as unattached individuals (12%) or reside with relatives (2%). From 2001 to 2006, there has been a 9% increase in the number of unattached individuals. The divorced population grew by 13.8%, separated couples by 10.8% and legally married couples by 5.5%.