Guelph’s population grew by nearly 10 per cent in the past five years, surpassing both the provincial and national averages.
Results from the 2021 census, released on Wednesday, show’s the city has nearly 145,000 residents. That’s up 9.1 per cent from the 2016 census when Guelph’s population sat just below 132,000.
The national population growth rate between the two census years is 5.2 per cent, while the Ontario rate is 5.8 per cent.
Guelph’s population boom is far from over. The city is currently mandated by the province to reach 203,000 residents by 2051.
However, earlier this year city council approved a motion asking for that figure to be increased to 208,000 in light of last year’s annexation of the Dolime Quarry lands from Guelph/Eramosa township.
Wednesday’s data release is the first stemming from the 2021 census, with another set for late April highlighting age, gender and types of dwellings.
