Population Distribution
Population Overview
Grey Bruce Public Health serves a population of 174,300: 100,905 of whom live in Grey County and 73,400 of whom live in Bruce County. The census period between 2016 and 2021 was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was declared in March of 2020. The pandemic and its effects on how Canadians live, and work caused rapid growth in some small population centres within a 2-hour drive of Toronto.1 During this time, the population of Grey Bruce increased by 7.6%. With the exception of the two First Nations, the population of every municipality in Grey Bruce increased over this time period.
The average age in Grey Bruce in 2021 was 45.5 years. Grey Bruce’s population remains older on average than the populations of Ontario and Canada. The age distribution between Grey Bruce’s municipalities and First Nations varies significantly. Average age ranges from 37.5 years in Southgate to 55.4 years in Northern Bruce Peninsula. Most Grey Bruce municipalities have older populations compared to Ontario and Canada.
Geography
|
2021 Population
|
Population % change,
2016 to 2021
|
Average age
|
% Aged 0 to 14 years
|
% Aged 15 to 64 years
|
% Aged 65+
|
Grey Bruce
|
174,300
|
7.6
|
45.6
|
16
|
58
|
26
|
Grey County
|
100,905
|
7.5
|
45.9
|
15
|
58
|
26
|
Chatsworth
|
7,080
|
6.8
|
43.3
|
18
|
60
|
22
|
Georgian Bluffs
|
11,100
|
5.9
|
46.5
|
14
|
60
|
26
|
Grey Highlands
|
10,425
|
6.3
|
44.0
|
18
|
59
|
24
|
Hanover
|
7,965
|
3.6
|
46.9
|
15
|
56
|
30
|
Meaford
|
11,485
|
4.5
|
48.8
|
13
|
56
|
31
|
Owen Sound
|
21,615
|
1.3
|
46.3
|
14
|
59
|
27
|
Southgate
|
8,715
|
18.5
|
37.6
|
23
|
62
|
15
|
The Blue Mountains
|
9,390
|
33.7
|
52.3
|
10
|
56
|
34
|
West Grey
|
13,130
|
4.9
|
45.5
|
16
|
59
|
25
|
Bruce County
|
73,400
|
7.7
|
45.2
|
17
|
58
|
26
|
Arran-Elderslie
|
6,915
|
1.6
|
42.2
|
20
|
57
|
22
|
Brockton
|
9,785
|
3.4
|
43.7
|
18
|
59 |
23 |
Huron-Kinloss
|
7,720
|
9.3
|
43.8
|
19
|
56 |
25 |
Kincardine
|
12,270
|
7.7
|
43.9
|
18
|
59 |
24 |
Neyaashiinigmiing 27
|
580
|
-5.7
|
43.1
|
16
|
63
|
22
|
Northern Bruce Peninsula
|
4,405
|
10.1
|
55.4
|
8
|
51
|
41
|
Saugeen 29
|
785
|
-24.7
|
40.9
|
18
|
65
|
17
|
Saugeen Shores
|
15,905
|
16.0
|
45.2
|
16
|
58
|
26
|
South Bruce
|
5,880
|
4.3
|
41.1
|
20
|
61
|
20
|
South Bruce Peninsula
|
9,135
|
8.6
|
50.3
|
12
|
55
|
33
|
Ontario
|
14,223,945
|
5.8
|
41.8
|
16
|
66
|
19
|
Canada
|
36,991,980
|
5.2
|
41.9
|
16
|
65
|
19
|
Read the full report
Sources:
[1] Government of Canada, S.C. (2022) Canada at a glance, 2022 impacts of covid-19, Impacts of COVID-19 - Canada at a Glance, 2022. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/12-581-x/2022001/sec14-eng.htm (Accessed: 05 June 2023).
Statistics Canada. 2023. Census Profile. 2021 Census of Population. Statistics Canada Catalogue number 98-316-X2021001. Ottawa. Released March 29, 2023. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E (accessed June 5, 2023).