Population Characteristics
According to the latest census, Cold Lake has a population of around 15,661 people. The city's population is in increased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Cold Lake has increased by 4.57%.
| Population in 2016 | Population in 2021 | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 14,976 | 15,661 | +4.57% |
2026 Population Projection
Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.90% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Cold Lake's population is projected to reach approximately 16,377 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 245.86 people per km².
| Population in 2021 | Projected Population in 2026 | Projected Density in 2026 (per km²) |
|---|---|---|
| 15,661 | 16,377 | 245.86 |
This projection is an estimate calculated by CAPopulation from the compound annual growth rate between the 2016 and 2021 censuses. Official 2026 complete census data expected to be released in late 2027.
Population By Genders
The male population of Cold Lake is around 8,100 while the female population is around 7,560.
Of the 15,661 total population in Cold Lake, the largest gender is male with around 8,100 women within the population.
| Male | Female | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 8,100 | 7,560 | +6.67% |
Is Cold Lake a Good Place to Live?
Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Cold Lake compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against Alberta, 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.
Population by Age Characteristics
Cold Lake has a young population. The majority of the population is people aged 30 to 34 years old, accounting for 10.80% of the total population. The city median age is 32.40.
| Data | Male | Female | Difference | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 to 34 years | 900 11.10% | 795 10.50% | 11.67% | 1,695 10.80% |
| 25 to 29 years | 775 9.60% | 695 9.20% | 10.32% | 1,465 9.40% |
| 35 to 39 years | 755 9.30% | 685 9.10% | 9.27% | 1,440 9.20% |
| 5 to 9 years | 630 7.80% | 635 8.40% | 0.79% | 1,265 8.10% |
| 0 to 4 years | 615 7.60% | 570 7.50% | 7.32% | 1,190 7.60% |
| 10 to 14 years | 595 7.30% | 540 7.10% | 9.24% | 1,135 7.20% |
| 40 to 44 years | 575 7.10% | 540 7.10% | 6.09% | 1,110 7.10% |
| 20 to 24 years | 585 7.20% | 460 6.10% | 21.37% | 1,045 6.70% |
| 55 to 59 years | 450 5.60% | 445 5.90% | 1.11% | 900 5.70% |
| 15 to 19 years | 465 5.70% | 425 5.60% | 8.60% | 885 5.70% |
| 45 to 49 years | 415 5.10% | 400 5.30% | 3.61% | 815 5.20% |
| 60 to 64 years | 390 4.80% | 355 4.70% | 8.97% | 750 4.80% |
| 50 to 54 years | 350 4.30% | 345 4.60% | 1.43% | 695 4.40% |
| 65 to 69 years | 230 2.80% | 225 3.00% | 2.17% | 450 2.90% |
| 70 to 74 years | 150 1.90% | 155 2.10% | 3.23% | 305 1.90% |
| 75 to 79 years | 90 1.10% | 115 1.50% | 21.74% | 200 1.30% |
| 85 years and over | 70 0.90% | 95 1.30% | 26.32% | 160 1.00% |
| 80 to 84 years | 65 0.80% | 85 1.10% | 23.53% | 155 1.00% |
| 85 to 89 years | 40 0.50% | 60 0.80% | 33.33% | 105 0.70% |
| 90 to 94 years | 20 0.20% | 25 0.30% | 20.00% | 45 0.30% |
| Average age of the population | 34 33.50% | 34 34.30% | 2.92% | 34 33.90% |
Broader Age Groups
If the city'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 69.00% of the population. The other age groups, 0 to 14 years and 65 years and over, account for 22.90% and 8.10%, respectively.
If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Cold Lake are within the 15 to 64 years age group.
| Data | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age of the population | 32.00% | 32.80% | 32.40% |
| 0 to 14 years | 22.70% | 23.10% | 22.90% |
| 65 years and over | 7.40% | 8.90% | 8.10% |
Photos of Places & Sceneries in Cold Lake
Explore Cold Lake Through Videos
Population of Cold Lake by Ethnicity and Origin
The population of Cold Lake is quite diverse, which contributes to the city's vibrant cultural landscape. Cold Lake is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the province appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.
The top 5 ethnicities and origins in the province are English, which accounts for 20.92% of the total population, followed by Canadian (17.63%), Irish (17.27%), Scottish (16.52%), and German (15.18%).
Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include French, Ukrainian, British Isles, Filipino, and Polish.
| Ethnicity and Origin | Male | Female | Percentage in Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 20.94% | 20.83% | 20.92% |
| Canadian | 17.71% | 17.54% | 17.63% |
| Irish | 17.20% | 17.27% | 17.27% |
| Scottish | 16.26% | 16.80% | 16.52% |
| German | 14.86% | 15.52% | 15.18% |
| French | 12.52% | 13.84% | 13.13% |
| Ukrainian | 8.22% | 8.06% | 8.15% |
| British Isles | 4.49% | 4.10% | 4.30% |
| Filipino | 3.73% | 4.84% | 4.30% |
| Polish | 5.00% | 3.49% | 4.27% |
Immigration Profile
Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Cold Lake's population profile.
About 9.2% of Cold Lake's population are immigrants (1,415 people).
The top countries of origin for Cold Lake's immigrant population are Philippines (540), United Kingdom (175), India (75), Jamaica (70), United States of America (70).
| Country of Birth | Population |
|---|---|
| Philippines | 540 |
| United Kingdom | 175 |
| India | 75 |
| Jamaica | 70 |
| United States of America | 70 |
Household and Dwelling Characteristics
About 4,015 of Cold Lake's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.
Household Size
About 16.55% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 13.40% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 8.10%, 7.40%, and 4.55%, respectively.
| Number of Person(s) in Household | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 2 persons | 2,025 | 16.55% |
| 1 person | 1,640 | 13.40% |
| 3 persons | 990 | 8.10% |
| 4 persons | 905 | 7.40% |
| 5 or more persons | 555 | 4.55% |
Income in Cold Lake
Analyzing income distribution in Cold Lake can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.
Per Capita Income
According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Cold Lake is $54,800.
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 city's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.
Most of Cold Lake population or around 2,510 people falls in the $50,000 to $79,999 group. The next largest groups are the $10,000 to $29,999, and $30,000 to $49,999 with around 1,600 and 1,450 people, respectively.
Household Income
The Cold Lake's median household income is $105,000, according to 2020 data.
Above national average Cold Lake's median household income is 21,000 dollars above the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).
The data provides important insights into the city'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 city's income distribution, disparities, and trends.
Education Levels in Cold Lake
This data sheds light on the distribution of Cold Lake 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.
58.25% or most of the Cold Lake population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 29.55% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, 17.25% has a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 12.15% has No certificate, diploma or degree.
| Degree | Men | Women | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree | 5,885 | 5,970 | 11,855 | 58.25% |
| High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate | 3,330 | 2,775 | 6,100 | 29.55% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,330 | 2,155 | 3,495 | 17.25% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 1,350 | 1,245 | 2,590 | 12.15% |
Below national average 17.3% of Cold Lake's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).
Employment in Cold Lake
This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Cold Lake. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.
The data shows that the unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is at 5.82% which is quite high.
| Status | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Employment rate | 68.41% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.82% |
Working as an Employee
The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the city who work as an employee. The majority of Cold Lake's population (around 74.70%) are working permanent position as an employee.
Self-employed
In the city, there are 345 men and 290 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 630.
| Status | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed | 345 | 290 | 630 |
Employment Industry Sectors
The Cold Lake industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Cold Lake is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.
Cold Lake has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (25%) works in the public administration sector. The Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector comes second at 13%, followed by Retail trade at 11%.
| Industry | Men | Women | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public administration | 1,545 | 640 | 25% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 975 | 140 | 13% |
| Retail trade | 350 | 635 | 11% |
| Health care and social assistance | 60 | 790 | 10% |
| Construction | 550 | 65 | 7% |
| Educational services | 120 | 410 | 6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 160 | 305 | 5% |
| Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services | 210 | 175 | 4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 145 | 160 | 4% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 155 | 130 | 3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 145 | 95 | 3% |
| Finance and insurance | 20 | 120 | 2% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 40 | 75 | 1% |
| Manufacturing | 90 | 0 | 1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20 | 60 | 1% |
| Wholesale trade | 50 | 25 | 1% |
| Information and cultural industries | 25 | 40 | 1% |
| Utilities | 35 | 0 | 1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 10 | 15 | 0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Labour Market Snapshot
A quick snapshot of where Cold Lake residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.
Top employer sectors in Cold Lake: Public administration (25%), Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (13%), -45 Retail trade (11%)
Top occupation categories in Cold Lake: Sales and service occupations (22%), Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (22%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (18%)
Places of Work
The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the city. 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 | 2,915 | 2,865 | 5,780 | 71.80% |
| No fixed workplace address | 1,330 | 395 | 1,730 | 21.50% |
| Worked at home | 210 | 330 | 545 | 6.80% |
| Worked outside Canada | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Commuting
The data sheds light on how Cold Lake 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 Cold Lake residents and sustainable urban planning.
Commuting Duration
This data reveals the average time that the residents of Cold Lake spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the city's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the city.
| Duration | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Less than 15 minutes | 52.00% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 25.60% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 11.50% |
| 60 minutes and over | 6.20% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 4.80% |
Marital Status
The statistics on marital status in Cold Lakeshed 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 city's social fabric. We can gain insights into Cold Lake's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.
Language Spoken
The data below highlights city'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 Cold Lake. About 14,735 people living in the province speak English, 750 people speak French, 40 people speak English and French language, and 25 people speak Neither English nor French language.
| Language | Population |
|---|---|
| English | 14,735 |
| French | 750 |
| English and French | 40 |
| Neither English nor French | 25 |
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 | 85.4% | 92.2% |
| Non-official languages | 7.2% | 3.3% |
| French | 4.9% | 2.4% |
Religion
Cold Lake is predominantly Christian. About 7,215 of its population is Christian (3,545 males and 3,545 females).
The second largest religion in the province is Muslim with 0.9% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Hindu and Buddhist, both represent 0.6% and 0.1% of the population, while Sikh represent 0.1% of the population.
| Religion | Population |
|---|---|
| Christian | 47.0% |
| Islam | 0.9% |
| Hindu | 0.6% |
| Buddhist | 0.1% |
| Sikh | 0.1% |
| Jewish | 0.0% |
Points of Interest in Cold Lake
Hospitals
Schools
- Cold Lake High School
- Art Smith Aviation Academy
- Cold Lake Elementary School
- Cold Lake Off Campus School
- Nelson Heights Middle School
- North Star Elementary School
- St. Dominic School
- École Voyageur
- Nelson Heights Middle School
Parks
- Bibeau Park
- Cenotaph Park
- Eugene Dery Park
- Forest Heights Park
- Imperial Park
- Ivan Krook Sr. Memorial Park
- Kinosoo Beach
- Lefebvre Heights Park
- Nelson Heights Park
- Nelson Heights Sports Field
- Triangle Park
- Arrowhead Park
- Brady Heights Park
- Hilltop Park
- Joe Heffner Memorial Park
- Kinder Park
- Lions Park
- Meadowlark Park
- Palm Creek Park
- Shipwreck Park
- Steve Wuysk Park
- Bear Park
- Birch Park
- Dogwood Park
- Evergreen Park
- Heritage Park
- Hickory Park
- Jubilee Park
- Maple Park
- Martineau Park
- Oak Park
- Regent Park
- Sentinel Park
- Tamarac Park
Libraries
Community Centres
Places to Visit in Cold Lake
Museums
Attractions
Green Spaces in Cold Lake
| Name | Type | Approx. Area |
|---|---|---|
| Bibeau Park | Parks | 1.3 ha |
| Cenotaph Park | Parks | 0.2 ha |
| Eugene Dery Park | Parks | 0.6 ha |
| Forest Heights Park | Parks | 0.5 ha |
| Imperial Park | Parks | 106.2 ha |
| Ivan Krook Sr. Memorial Park | Parks | 3.9 ha |
| Kinosoo Beach | Parks | 3.0 ha |
| Lefebvre Heights Park | Parks | 1.1 ha |
| Nelson Heights Park | Parks | 0.9 ha |
| Nelson Heights Sports Field | Parks | 0.9 ha |
| Triangle Park | Parks | 0.1 ha |
| Arrowhead Park | Parks | 0.5 ha |
| Brady Heights Park | Parks | 0.9 ha |
| Hilltop Park | Parks | 1.7 ha |
| Joe Heffner Memorial Park | Parks | 0.4 ha |
| Kinder Park | Parks | 0.3 ha |
| Lions Park | Parks | 11.0 ha |
| Meadowlark Park | Parks | 0.3 ha |
| Palm Creek Park | Parks | 7.1 ha |
| Shipwreck Park | Parks | 0.4 ha |
| Steve Wuysk Park | Parks | 0.8 ha |
Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cold Lake
According to the 2021 census, Cold Lake has a population of approximately 15,661 people.
Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Cold Lake increased by 4.57%.
Cold Lake has a population density of approximately 235.10 people per square kilometre.
Cold Lake covers a land area of approximately 66.61 km².
The median age of the population in Cold Lake is 32.40 years.
The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Cold Lake is English.
The median household income in Cold Lake is $105,000, based on 2020 data.
English is the most common first official language spoken in Cold Lake.
Christian is the predominant religion in Cold Lake.
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.