Manitoba Population Overview (2026)
Manitoba is a province located in Central Canada, bordered by Ontario to the east, Saskatchewan to the west, Nunavut to the north, and the U.S. states of North Dakota and Minnesota to the south. Manitoba is Canada’s fifth-most populous province and the eighth-largest by land area.
According to Statistics Canada, Manitoba’s population was 1,342,153 at the 2021 Census. Rapid population growth driven by immigration and interprovincial migration pushed the province’s estimated population to 1,507,057 by Q4 2025.
👉 Projected Population of Manitoba (2026): ~1.5 million
Source: Statistics Canada
Manitoba Population Growth (2021–2026)
Manitoba has a population growth rate of 12.29% during 2021-2026. It has population increase of 164,904 since 2021.
Manitoba Census Q4 2025 Snapshot
| Indiacator | Data |
| Total Population | 1,507,057 |
| Percentage Change since 2016 | 12.29% |
| Population Rank | 5th |
| Total Land Area | 548,310 sq. km2(211,720 sq mi) |
| Area Rank | 8th |
| Population Density | 6.5/sq mi (2.5/km2) |
| Capital City | Winnipeg |
| Largest City | Winnipeg |
Source: Statistics Canada
Manitoba Population Projection
Based on recent growth momentum and long-term demographic trends, Manitoba’s population is expected to grow steadily but moderately over the coming decades. After a strong 12.29% growth during 2021–2026, driven mainly by immigration and urban expansion around Winnipeg, the growth rate is projected to gradually slow after 2035, reflecting aging demographics and lower natural increase. However, Manitoba is likely to cross 1.6 million by 2030 and approach 2 million by mid-century under a stable immigration scenario.
Manitoba Population Projections Table
| Year | Projected Population |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 1.51 million |
| 2030 | 1.62 million |
| 2040 | 1.78 million |
| 2050 | 1.90 million |
| 2060 | 1.98 million |
| 2070 | 2.04 million |
| 2080 | 2.09 million |
| 2090 | 2.12 million |
| 2100 | 2.15 million |
👉 Projected Population of Manitoba (2100): ~2.15 million
Manitoba Historical Population
From 1871 to 2021, Manitoba’s population grew from just 25,228 to 1.34 million, reflecting a long-term expansion of over 1.3 million people. The province experienced explosive growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with population increases exceeding 140% per decade between 1871 and 1891, driven by settlement and agricultural development. Growth moderated after the 1930s, remaining relatively slow through the late 20th century, before re-accelerating after 2006. Between 2011 and 2021, Manitoba added nearly 134,000 residents, marking a renewed phase of steady population growth.
Manitoba Population by Year (1871–2021)
| Year | Pop. | Actual Change | Percentage Change |
| 1871 | 25,228 | – | – |
| 1881 | 62,260 | 37,032 | 146.79% |
| 1891 | 152,506 | 90,246 | 144.95% |
| 1901 | 255,211 | 102,705 | 67.34% |
| 1911 | 461,394 | 206,183 | 80.79% |
| 1921 | 610,118 | 148,724 | 32.23% |
| 1931 | 700,139 | 90,021 | 14.75% |
| 1941 | 729,744 | 29,605 | 4.23% |
| 1951 | 776,541 | 46,797 | 6.41% |
| 1956 | 850,040 | 73,499 | 9.46% |
| 1961 | 921,686 | 71,646 | 8.43% |
| 1966 | 963,066 | 41,380 | 4.49% |
| 1971 | 988,245 | 25,179 | 2.61% |
| 1976 | 1,021,505 | 33,260 | 3.37% |
| 1981 | 1,026,241 | 4,736 | 0.46% |
| 1986 | 1,063,015 | 36,774 | 3.58% |
| 1991 | 1,091,942 | 28,927 | 2.72% |
| 1996 | 1,113,898 | 21,956 | 2.01% |
| 2001 | 1,119,583 | 5,685 | 0.51% |
| 2006 | 1,148,401 | 28,818 | 2.57% |
| 2011 | 1,208,268 | 59,867 | 5.21% |
| 2016 | 1,278,365 | 70,097 | 5.80% |
| 2021 | 1,342,153 | 63,788 | 5% |
Source: Statistics Canada
Ethnic composition of Manitoba
Manitoba has a diverse population with European origins accounting for 59.7% of residents. The most commonly reported ancestries include English, German, Scottish, Canadian, Ukrainian, Irish, and French. Manitoba stands out nationally for its large Indigenous population, which makes up 18.1% of the total population, the highest share among Canadian provinces. The major Indigenous groups are First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.
Visible minorities represent 22.2% of Manitoba’s population, with Filipino being the largest group, followed by South Asian, Chinese, Black, and Latin American communities.
atino, and Arab.
read in detail about Race and Ethnicity in Manitoba
Top Cities in Manitoba
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, with a 2021 population of 749,607 and a metro population of 834,678, making it one of Canada’s largest urban centers. Brandon is the second-largest city with 51,313 residents, followed by cities such as Steinbach, Thompson, Portage la Prairie, Winkler, Selkirk, Morden, and Dauphin.
| # | City | Population 2021 |
| 1 | Winnipeg | 749,607 |
| 2 | Brandon | 51,313 |
| 3 | Steinbach | 17,806 |
| 4 | Thompson | 13,035 |
| 5 | Portage la Prairie | 13,270 |
| 6 | Winkler | 13,745 |
| 7 | Selkirk | 10,504 |
| 8 | Morden | 9,929 |
| 9 | Dauphin | 8,638 |
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
Sources
All population data is sourced from official Canadian and international statistical agencies:
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