Southern Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador Population & Demographics: Is It a Good Place to Live?

Data source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population — View the official Southern Harbour census dataset on Statistics Canada

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Southern Harbour. It is a town in Canada that encompasses a land area of 5.39 km2. The town has a population density of 58.10 people per km2.

We highlight the Southern Harbour town's various population characteristics. From gender, age distribution, ethnicity, household and dwelling, and income to spoken languages, occupation, and religion.

Southern Harbour on the Map

Southern Harbour location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Southern Harbour has a population of around 313 people. The town's population is in decreased. Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Southern Harbour has decreased by ▼ -20.76%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
395313 --20.76%

2026 Population Projection

Southern Harbour's population declined between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, so a 2026 growth projection is not shown. The most recent confirmed figure remains the 313 people recorded in the 2021 census.

Southern Harbour Population Trend & Context

Southern Harbour had a 2021 census population of 313 — a decline of 82 (▼ 20.76%) people from the 395 recorded in 2016.

The town's population has declined noticeably over this period, reflecting broader pressures facing Newfoundland and Labrador towns. The town's median age of 58 years — above the national median of 41.9 — suggests a mature, established community rather than a rapidly growing one.

Population By Genders

The male population of Southern Harbour is around 155 while the female population is around 155.

Of the 313 total population in Southern Harbour, the largest gender is female with around 155 female within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
155155 -0.00%

Is Southern Harbour a Good Place to Live?

Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Southern Harbour compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against Newfoundland and Labrador, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.

Employment & Economy

25.9%
Unemployment rate
10.7 pts above the province
41.2%
Employment rate
6.3 pts below the province
52.9%
Participation rate
3.2 pts below the province

Income & Affordability

$66,500
Median household income
$5,000 below the province
17.5%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
2.3 pts above the province

Commute

61.9%
Commute under 30 minutes
20.6 pts below the province
81.0%
Commute by car
7.9 pts below the province
0.0%
Commute by public transit
2.0 pts below the province

Housing Character

96.7%
Single-detached houses
24.4 pts above the province
0.0%
Apartments (any building size)
18.2 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.10 people
Average household size
0.20people below the province
26.7%
One-person households
1.2 pts below the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Southern Harbour Population Compared to Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador's population in 2021 was 510,550, spread across the area. Here's how Southern Harbour compares to the town's key indicators:

IndicatorSouthern HarbourNewfoundland and Labrador
Median household income$66,500$71,500
Unemployment rate25.9%15.2%
Median age5848.4
Bachelor's degree or higher0.0%18.7%
Immigrants (%)0.0%2.8%

Population by Age Characteristics

Southern Harbour has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 55 to 59 years old, accounting for 12.70% of the total population. The town median age is 58.00.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal

Broader Age Groups

If the town'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 58.70% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 31.70% and 9.50%, respectively.

If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Southern Harbour are within the 15 to 64 years age group.

DataMaleFemaleTotal
15 to 64 years54.80%64.50%58.70%
65 years and over35.50%29.00%31.70%
0 to 14 years10.00%15.00%30.00%
0 to 14 years6.50%9.70%9.50%

Explore Southern Harbour Through Videos

Population of Southern Harbour by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Southern Harbour is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Southern Harbour is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the town appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in Southern Harbour are Irish, which accounts for 51.92% of the total population, followed by English (46.15%), Scottish (17.31%), Canadian (7.69%), and Newfoundlander (3.85%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Southern Harbour include Malay, Goan, Bantu, Tibetan, and Zimbabwean.

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
Irish59.26%40.00%51.92%
English33.33%56.00%46.15%
Scottish18.52%20.00%17.31%
Canadian7.41%8.00%7.69%
Newfoundlander7.41%0.00%3.85%
Malay0.00%0.00%0.00%
Goan0.00%0.00%0.00%
Bantu0.00%0.00%0.00%
Tibetan0.00%0.00%0.00%
Zimbabwean0.00%0.00%0.00%

Indigenous Identity in Southern Harbour

About 7.84% of Southern Harbour's population (20 people) identify with an Indigenous identity, compared to 92.16% who report a non-Indigenous identity.

Of the Indigenous population, 0 people (0.00% of the total population) hold Registered or Treaty Indian status.

Indigenous identity
7.84%
Non-Indigenous identity
92.16%

Immigration Profile

Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Southern Harbour's population profile.

About 0.0% of Southern Harbour's population are immigrants (0 people).

The top countries of origin for Southern Harbour's immigrant population are Brazil (0), Colombia (0), El Salvador (0), Guyana (0), Haiti (0).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
Brazil0
Colombia0
El Salvador0
Guyana0
Haiti0

100.0% of Southern Harbour's residents (260 people) are Canadian citizens, and 0.0% are not.

By generation status, 0.0% of residents are first generation (born outside Canada), 0.0% are second generation, and 96.2% are third generation or more.

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 145 of Southern Harbour's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 26.65% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 13.35% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 6.65%, 3.35%, and 0.00%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
2 persons8026.65%
1 person4013.35%
3 persons206.65%
4 persons103.35%
5 or more persons00.00%

Family and Household Structure in Southern Harbour

Of census families in Southern Harbour, 86.4% are couple families and 13.6% are one-parent families. The average census family has 2.4 people.

Couple families
86.36%
One-parent families
13.64%

25.8% of households in Southern Harbour are one-person households, 61.3% are couple-family households, 6.5% are one-parent-family households, and 0.0% are multigenerational households.

Household TypeHouseholdsPercentage
One-person households4025.8%
Couple-family households9561.3%
One-parent-family households106.5%
Multigenerational households00.0%

Income in Southern Harbour

Analyzing income distribution in Southern Harbour can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Southern Harbour is $33,600.

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 town's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Southern Harbour population or around 55 people falls in the $10,000 to $29,999 group. The next largest groups are the $30,000 to $49,999, and Under $10,000 with around 30 and 15 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Southern Harbour's median household income is $66,500, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Southern Harbour's median household income is 17,500 dollars below the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the town'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 town's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Southern Harbour

This data sheds light on the distribution of Southern Harbour 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.

53.10% or most of the Southern Harbour population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 25.00% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 25.00% has a No certificate, diploma or degree. (Individual figures may not sum to exactly 100% due to Statistics Canada's random rounding of small-area 25% sample data.)

Population aged 25 to 64 years, using 25% sample data. Individual values may not sum exactly to totals due to Statistics Canada's random rounding.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree40458553.10%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate25104025.00%
No certificate, diploma or degree20204025.00%

Below national average 0.0% of Southern Harbour's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Southern Harbour

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Southern Harbour. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Southern Harbour is at 25.00% which is very high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate41.18%
Unemployment rate25.00%

Work Activity During the Reference Year

Of the population aged 15 and over in Southern Harbour, 15.7% worked full year full time in the reference year, 41.2% worked part year and/or part time, and 43.1% did not work.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work ActivityPopulationPercentage
Worked full year full time4015.7%
Worked part year and/or part time10541.2%
Did not work11043.1%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the town who work as an employee. The majority of Southern Harbour's population (around 51.90%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 10 men and 0 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 10.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed10010

Employment Industry Sectors

The Southern Harbour industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Southern Harbour is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.

Southern Harbour has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (37%) works in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector. The Manufacturing sector comes second at 19%, followed by Construction at 15%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting351537%
Manufacturing201019%
Construction15015%
Transportation and warehousing007%
Educational services007%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction000%
Utilities000%
Wholesale trade000%
Retail trade000%
Information and cultural industries000%
Finance and insurance000%
Real estate and rental and leasing000%
Professional, scientific and technical services000%
Management of companies and enterprises000%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services000%
Health care and social assistance000%
Arts, entertainment and recreation000%
Accommodation and food services000%
Other services (except public administration)000%
Public administration000%

Labour Market Snapshot

A quick snapshot of where Southern Harbour residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.

Top employer sectors in Southern Harbour: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (37%), Manufacturing (19%), Construction (15%)

Top occupation categories in Southern Harbour: Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (33%), Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations (26%), Sales and service occupations (19%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the town. It provides a snapshot of workplaces, showing their geographic distribution and the flow of workers across different areas.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work LocationMenWomenTotalPercentage
Usual place of work25255555.00%
No fixed workplace address30154545.00%
Worked at home0000.00%
Worked outside Canada0000.00%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Southern Harbour 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 Southern Harbour residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Southern Harbour spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the town's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the town.

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
Less than 15 minutes47.60%
60 minutes and over23.80%
15 to 29 minutes14.30%
30 to 44 minutes9.50%
45 to 59 minutes0.00%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Southern Harbour shed 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 town's social fabric. We can gain insights into Southern Harbour's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
65.52%
Married or living common-law
34.48%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights town'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 Southern Harbour. About 315 people living in the town speak English, 0 people speak French, 0 people speak English and French language, and 0 people speak Neither English nor French language.

LanguagePopulation
English315
French0
English and French0
Neither English nor French0

Knowledge of Official Languages

About 0.0% of Southern Harbour's population is bilingual, knowing both English and French. 100.0% know English only, 0.0% know French only, and 0.0% know neither official language.

Knowledge of Official LanguagesPopulationPercentage
English only315100.0%
French only00.0%
English and French00.0%
Neither English nor French00.0%

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.

LanguageMother TongueSpoken Most Often at Home
English100.0%100.0%
French0.0%0.0%
Non-official languages0.0%0.0%

Religion

Southern Harbour is predominantly Christian. About 230 of its population is Christian (125 males and 105 females).

The second largest religion in the town 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.

ReligionPopulation
Christian88.5%
Buddhist0.0%
Hindu0.0%
Jewish0.0%
Islam0.0%
Sikh0.0%

Nearest Towns to Southern Harbour

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Harbour

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Southern Harbour has a population of 313 people, making it the 171st town in Newfoundland and Labrador. The population declined significantly from 395 in 2016, a decrease of 82 people or 20.76%. The town has a population density of 58.1 people per km² across a land area of 5.39 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.

Southern Harbour's population declined by 20.76% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 395 to 313 people, a loss of 82 residents. This decline is consistent with pressures faced by many other Newfoundland and Labrador towns during this period. The median age of 58.00 years suggests an aging population. Official 2026 Census data, which will confirm whether this trend continued, is expected from Statistics Canada in February 2027.

Southern Harbour has a population density of approximately 58.10 people per square kilometre.

Southern Harbour covers a land area of approximately 5.39 km².

The median age of the population in Southern Harbour is 58.00 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Southern Harbour is Irish.

The median household income in Southern Harbour is $66,500, based on 2020 data.

English is the most common first official language spoken in Southern Harbour.

Christian is the predominant religion in Southern Harbour.

According to the 2021 Census, 7.7% of Southern Harbour's population identifies with an Indigenous identity.

100.0% of Southern Harbour's residents are Canadian citizens, based on 2021 Census data.

One-parent families make up 13.6% of census families in Southern Harbour, according to the 2021 Census.

Multigenerational households make up 0.0% of all households in Southern Harbour, per the 2021 Census.

0.0% of Southern Harbour's population knows both English and French, based on 2021 Census data on knowledge of official languages.

Of the population aged 15 and over in Southern Harbour, 15.7% worked full year full time in the 2021 Census reference year.

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.