Population Characteristics
According to the latest census, Portage la Prairie has a population of around 6,888 people. The township's population is in decreased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Portage la Prairie has decreased by ▼ -1.25%.
| Population in 2016 | Population in 2021 | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 6,975 | 6,888 | --1.25% |
2026 Population Projection
Portage la Prairie's population declined between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, so a 2026 growth projection is not shown. The most recent confirmed figure remains the 6,888 people recorded in the 2021 census.
Portage la Prairie Population Trend & Context
Portage la Prairie is the 18th-largest township in Manitoba, with a 2021 census population of 6,888 — a decline of 87 (▼ 1.25%) people from the 6,975 recorded in 2016.
The township's population has seen a slight decline over this period, reflecting broader pressures facing Manitoba townships. The township's median age of 38.8 years — below the national median of 41.9 — suggests a younger, potentially growing population.
How does Portage la Prairie compare to other Manitoba townships?
- Macdonald: 8,120 (2021)
- Ritchot: 7,469 (2021)
- Portage la Prairie: 6,888 (2021) ← 18th largest
- La Broquerie: 6,725 (2021)
- West St. Paul: 6,682 (2021)
Population By Genders
The male population of Portage la Prairie is around 3,495 while the female population is around 3,390.
Of the 6,888 total population in Portage la Prairie, the largest gender is male with around 3,495 women within the population.
| Male | Female | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 3,495 | 3,390 | -3.00% |
Is Portage la Prairie a Good Place to Live?
Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Portage la Prairie compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against Manitoba, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.
Employment & Economy
Income & Affordability
Commute
Housing Character
Household Composition
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.
Portage la Prairie Population Compared to Manitoba
Manitoba's population in 2021 was 1,342,153, spread across the area. Here's how Portage la Prairie compares to the township's key indicators:
| Indicator | Portage la Prairie | Manitoba |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $89,000 | $79,500 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% | 8.3% |
| Median age | 38.8 | 38.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 25.9% |
| Immigrants (%) | 4.9% | 19.7% |
Population by Age Characteristics
Portage la Prairie has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 60 to 64 years old, accounting for 7.90% of the total population. The township median age is 38.80.
| Data | Male | Female | Difference | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 to 64 years | 275 7.90% | 270 8.00% | 1.82% | 545 7.90% |
| 5 to 9 years | 255 7.30% | 275 8.10% | 7.27% | 530 7.70% |
| 10 to 14 years | 275 7.90% | 225 6.60% | 18.18% | 500 7.30% |
| 0 to 4 years | 245 7.00% | 245 7.20% | 0.00% | 485 7.00% |
| 55 to 59 years | 240 6.90% | 225 6.60% | 6.25% | 460 6.70% |
| 35 to 39 years | 230 6.60% | 215 6.30% | 6.52% | 445 6.50% |
| 30 to 34 years | 215 6.20% | 220 6.50% | 2.27% | 435 6.30% |
| 15 to 19 years | 235 6.70% | 190 5.60% | 19.15% | 425 6.20% |
| 45 to 49 years | 205 5.90% | 215 6.30% | 4.65% | 420 6.10% |
| 65 to 69 years | 200 5.70% | 220 6.50% | 9.09% | 420 6.10% |
| 40 to 44 years | 205 5.90% | 200 5.90% | 2.44% | 405 5.90% |
| 50 to 54 years | 195 5.60% | 200 5.90% | 2.50% | 395 5.70% |
| 25 to 29 years | 180 5.20% | 195 5.80% | 7.69% | 375 5.40% |
| 20 to 24 years | 195 5.60% | 170 5.00% | 12.82% | 365 5.30% |
| 70 to 74 years | 155 4.40% | 150 4.40% | 3.23% | 305 4.40% |
| 75 to 79 years | 110 3.10% | 100 2.90% | 9.09% | 205 3.00% |
| 80 to 84 years | 60 1.70% | 40 1.20% | 33.33% | 100 1.50% |
| 85 years and over | 30 0.90% | 30 0.90% | 0.00% | 65 0.90% |
| 85 to 89 years | 25 0.70% | 25 0.70% | 0.00% | 45 0.70% |
| Median age of the population | 38 38.40% | 39 39.20% | 2.55% | 39 38.80% |
| Average age of the population | 39 38.50% | 39 39.00% | 2.56% | 39 38.70% |
Broader Age Groups
If the township's population is divided into broader age groups, most of the population falls into the 15 to 64 years age group. The group accounts for 62.00% of the population. The other age groups, 0 to 14 years and 65 years and over, account for 22.10% and 15.90%, respectively.
If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Portage la Prairie are within the 15 to 64 years age group.
| Data | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 14 years | 22.30% | 21.80% | 22.10% |
| 65 years and over | 15.90% | 16.10% | 15.90% |
Photos of Places & Sceneries in Portage la Prairie
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Population of Portage la Prairie by Ethnicity and Origin
The population of Portage la Prairie is quite diverse, which contributes to the township's vibrant cultural landscape. Portage la Prairie is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the township appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.
The top 5 ethnicities and origins in Portage la Prairie are English, which accounts for 28.85% of the total population, followed by Scottish (26.27%), Irish (18.71%), German (18.71%), and Canadian (14.75%).
Other ethnicities and origins in Portage la Prairie include Ukrainian, French, Dutch, Mennonite, and Polish.
| Ethnicity and Origin | Male | Female | Percentage in Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 28.73% | 29.40% | 28.85% |
| Scottish | 26.73% | 25.47% | 26.27% |
| Irish | 18.00% | 19.66% | 18.71% |
| German | 17.27% | 20.22% | 18.71% |
| Canadian | 14.91% | 14.42% | 14.75% |
| Ukrainian | 11.27% | 12.92% | 12.07% |
| French | 9.09% | 10.86% | 9.95% |
| Dutch | 5.64% | 5.24% | 5.35% |
| Mennonite | 5.09% | 5.43% | 5.16% |
| Polish | 4.55% | 3.18% | 3.87% |
Immigration Profile
Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Portage la Prairie's population profile.
About 4.9% of Portage la Prairie's population are immigrants (265 people).
The top countries of origin for Portage la Prairie's immigrant population are United Kingdom (50), Germany (50), United States of America (35), Netherlands (25), Greece (10).
| Country of Birth | Population |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 50 |
| Germany | 50 |
| United States of America | 35 |
| Netherlands | 25 |
| Greece | 10 |
Household and Dwelling Characteristics
About 1,900 of Portage la Prairie's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.
Household Size
About 20.55% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 11.30% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 7.15%, 6.00%, and 4.95%, respectively.
| Number of Person(s) in Household | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 2 persons | 890 | 20.55% |
| 1 person | 490 | 11.30% |
| 3 persons | 310 | 7.15% |
| 4 persons | 260 | 6.00% |
| 5 or more persons | 215 | 4.95% |
Income in Portage la Prairie
Analyzing income distribution in Portage la Prairie can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.
Per Capita Income
According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Portage la Prairie is $44,400.
A region's per capita data sheds light on the average income earned per person living in it. Since per capita income is calculated by dividing the region's total income by its population, it quantifies the population's economic situation on an individual basis.
Such data offers insights into the township's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.
Most of Portage la Prairie population or around 755 people falls in the $50,000 to $79,999 group. The next largest groups are the $10,000 to $29,999, and $10,000 to $29,999 with around 700 and 700 people, respectively.
Household Income
The Portage la Prairie's median household income is $89,000, according to 2020 data.
Above national average Portage la Prairie's median household income is 5,000 dollars above the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).
The data provides important insights into the township's economic landscape as well as the living standards of its population.
Analyzing such data enables researchers, policymakers, and businesses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the township's income distribution, disparities, and trends.
Education Levels in Portage la Prairie
This data sheds light on the distribution of Portage la Prairie residents across educational milestones.
Such information is crucial in shaping the province’s policies on education, workforce development strategies, and initiatives that aim to improve access to quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.
49.20% or most of the Portage la Prairie population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 33.95% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, 17.00% has a No certificate, diploma or degree, and 13.60% has Bachelor's degree or higher.
| Degree | Men | Women | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree | 1,700 | 1,840 | 3,540 | 49.20% |
| High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate | 1,180 | 1,280 | 2,470 | 33.95% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 805 | 485 | 1,295 | 17.00% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 355 | 620 | 975 | 13.60% |
Below national average 13.6% of Portage la Prairie's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).
Employment in Portage la Prairie
This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Portage la Prairie. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.
The data shows that the unemployment rate in Portage la Prairie is at 4.06% which is pretty low.
| Status | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Employment rate | 65.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.06% |
Working as an Employee
The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the township who work as an employee. The majority of Portage la Prairie's population (around 67.70%) are working permanent position as an employee.
Self-employed
In the township, there are 405 men and 210 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 620.
| Status | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed | 405 | 210 | 620 |
Employment Industry Sectors
The Portage la Prairie industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Portage la Prairie is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.
Portage la Prairie has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (16%) works in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector. The Health care and social assistance sector comes second at 15%, followed by Manufacturing at 9%.
| Industry | Men | Women | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 340 | 160 | 16% |
| Health care and social assistance | 65 | 385 | 15% |
| Manufacturing | 215 | 65 | 9% |
| Retail trade | 135 | 115 | 8% |
| Construction | 220 | 25 | 8% |
| Public administration | 120 | 115 | 7% |
| Educational services | 40 | 185 | 7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 115 | 45 | 5% |
| Wholesale trade | 120 | 25 | 5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 40 | 80 | 4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 75 | 40 | 4% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 50 | 50 | 3% |
| Finance and insurance | 20 | 55 | 3% |
| Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services | 40 | 20 | 2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20 | 15 | 1% |
| Utilities | 30 | 0 | 1% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 15 | 0 | 1% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 0 | 15 | 1% |
| Information and cultural industries | 0 | 10 | 0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Labour Market Snapshot
A quick snapshot of where Portage la Prairie residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.
Top employer sectors in Portage la Prairie: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (16%), Health care and social assistance (15%), -33 Manufacturing (9%)
Top occupation categories in Portage la Prairie: Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (22%), Sales and service occupations (15%), Business, finance and administration occupations (14%)
Places of Work
The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the township. It provides a snapshot of workplaces, showing their geographic distribution and the flow of workers across different areas.
| Work Location | Men | Women | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual place of work | 1,040 | 1,005 | 2,045 | 70.00% |
| Worked at home | 275 | 245 | 520 | 17.80% |
| No fixed workplace address | 275 | 80 | 350 | 12.00% |
| Worked outside Canada | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Commuting
The data sheds light on how Portage la Prairie residents travel to school or work. It highlights the frequency of different modes of transportation like walking, cycling, carpooling, and public transit.
The data is pivotal in the making of transportation policies as well as the development of transit systems. Ultimately commuting data contributes to improving the quality of life of Portage la Prairie residents and sustainable urban planning.
Commuting Duration
This data reveals the average time that the residents of Portage la Prairie spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the township's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the township.
| Duration | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 15 to 29 minutes | 49.50% |
| Less than 15 minutes | 33.20% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 8.60% |
| 60 minutes and over | 6.50% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 2.30% |
Marital Status
The statistics on marital status in Portage la Prairieshed light on its societal dynamics. It captures the diverse types of marital statuses of the population.
Long-term commitments, such as common-law partnerships, civil unions, and marriages, reflect the township's social fabric. We can gain insights into Portage la Prairie's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.
Language Spoken
The data below highlights township's linguistic diversity, showing elegances of solo language as well as bilingual harmonies. Other than language, it also shows the cultural landscape in Canada.
English is the most spoken official language in Portage la Prairie. About 6,620 people living in the province speak English, 130 people speak Neither English nor French, 125 people speak French language, and 5 people speak English and French language.
| Language | Population |
|---|---|
| English | 6,620 |
| Neither English nor French | 130 |
| French | 125 |
| English and French | 5 |
Mother Tongue & Home Language
Useful for newcomers researching an area: this shows the language residents first learned at home in childhood (mother tongue) and the language they speak most often at home now, which can differ as families settle in.
| Language | Mother Tongue | Spoken Most Often at Home |
|---|---|---|
| English | 71.8% | 79.8% |
| Non-official languages | 24.6% | 18.4% |
| French | 2.0% | 0.5% |
Religion
Portage la Prairie is predominantly Christian. About 2,815 of its population is Christian (1,415 males and 1,415 females).
The second largest religion in the province is Buddhist with 0.0% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Hindu and Jewish, both represent 0.0% and 0.0% of the population, while Muslim represent 0.0% of the population.
| Religion | Population |
|---|---|
| Christian | 51.9% |
| Buddhist | 0.0% |
| Hindu | 0.0% |
| Jewish | 0.0% |
| Islam | 0.0% |
| Sikh | 0.0% |
Points of Interest in Portage la Prairie
Schools
- La Verendrye School
- École Arthur Meighen School
- Portage Collegiate Institute
- Fort La Reine School
- Yellowquill School
- École Arthur Meighen
- Crescentview School
Parks
Libraries
Community Centres
Places to Visit in Portage la Prairie
Attractions
Historic Sites
Theatres
Green Spaces in Portage la Prairie
| Name | Type | Approx. Area |
|---|---|---|
| Rotary Republic of Manitobah Park | Parks | 38.6 ha |
| Henderson Park | Parks | 2.5 ha |
Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.
Other Townships in Manitoba
- Hanover 17,216
- Springfield 16,142
- Tache 11,916
- St. Andrews 11,723
- St. Clements 11,586
- East St. Paul 9,725
- Stanley 8,981
- Rockwood 8,440
- Macdonald 8,120
- Ritchot 7,469
- La Broquerie 6,725
- West St. Paul 6,682
- Gimli 6,569
- Ste. Anne 5,584
- Brokenhead 5,414
- Cornwallis 4,568
- Headingley 4,331
- De Salaberry 3,918
- Alexander 3,854
- Woodlands 3,797
- Lac du Bonnet 3,563
- Killarney - Turtle Mountain 3,520
- Cartier 3,344
- Morris 3,049
- Wallace-Woodworth 2,748
- Dufferin 2,543
- Grey 2,517
- Kelsey 2,181
- Dauphin 2,136
- Armstrong 1,967
- Oakview 1,928
- Fisher 1,845
- Piney 1,843
- Yellowhead 1,841
- Stuartburn 1,731
- Whitehead 1,679
- Whitemouth 1,630
- Prairie Lakes 1,625
- St. Laurent 1,542
- Rosedale 1,524
- Mossey River 1,450
- St. Francois Xavier 1,449
- Riding Mountain West 1,442
- Pipestone 1,422
- Reynolds 1,344
- Coldwell 1,313
- Grahamdale 1,278
- Montcalm 1,278
- Elton 1,276
- Rosser 1,270
- Sifton 1,239
- Alonsa 1,210
- Victoria 1,188
- Lakeshore 1,186
- Roland 1,145
- Argyle 994
- Ellice-Archie 831
- Victoria Beach 689
- Mountain [North] 537
- Mountain [South] 443
Frequently Asked Questions about Portage la Prairie
According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Portage la Prairie has a population of 6,888 people, making it the 18th township in Manitoba. The population declined moderately from 6,975 in 2016, a decrease of 87 people or 1.25%. The township has a population density of 3.5 people per km² across a land area of 1,973.45 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.
Portage la Prairie's population declined by 1.25% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 6,975 to 6,888 people, a loss of 87 residents. This stability is characteristic of many mid-sized other Manitoba townships during this period. The median age of 38.80 years suggests a relatively balanced demographic profile. Official 2026 Census data, which will confirm whether this trend continued, is expected from Statistics Canada in February 2027.
Portage la Prairie has a population density of approximately 3.50 people per square kilometre.
Portage la Prairie covers a land area of approximately 1,973.45 km².
The median age of the population in Portage la Prairie is 38.80 years.
The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Portage la Prairie is English.
The median household income in Portage la Prairie is $89,000, based on 2020 data.
English is the most common first official language spoken in Portage la Prairie.
Christian is the predominant religion in Portage la Prairie.
Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca) conducted the 2026 Census of Population in May 2026. However, census data goes through an extensive processing, validation, and quality-assurance period before public release. Based on the release plan, the 2026 Census results begin rolling out on February 10, 2027, with complete community-level profiles available by December 1, 2027. Until then, this page uses 2021 Census data as its primary source, supplemented by a population projection estimate for 2026 calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from the 2016–2021 Census period.