Population Characteristics
According to the latest census, Rainbow Lake has a population of around 495 people. The town's population is in decreased. Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Rainbow Lake has decreased by ▼ -37.74%.
| Population in 2016 | Population in 2021 | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 795 | 495 | --37.74% |
2026 Population Projection
Rainbow Lake's population declined between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, so a 2026 growth projection is not shown. The most recent confirmed figure remains the 495 people recorded in the 2021 census.
Rainbow Lake Population Trend & Context
Rainbow Lake had a 2021 census population of 495 — a decline of 300 (▼ 37.74%) people from the 795 recorded in 2016.
The town's population has declined noticeably over this period, reflecting broader pressures facing Alberta towns. The town's median age of 36 years — below the national median of 41.9 — suggests a younger, potentially growing population.
Population By Genders
The male population of Rainbow Lake is around 265 while the female population is around 235.
Of the 495 total population in Rainbow Lake, the largest gender is male with around 265 male within the population.
| Male | Female | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 265 | 235 | -11.32% |
Is Rainbow Lake a Good Place to Live?
Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Rainbow 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.
Rainbow Lake Population Compared to Alberta
Alberta's population in 2021 was 4,262,635, spread across the area. Here's how Rainbow Lake compares to the town's key indicators:
| Indicator | Rainbow Lake | Alberta |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $168,000 | $96,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 11.5% |
| Median age | 36 | 38.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.8% | 28.4% |
| Immigrants (%) | 4.8% | 23.2% |
Population by Age Characteristics
Rainbow Lake has a young population. The majority of the population is people aged 5 to 9 years old, accounting for 10.10% of the total population. The town median age is 36.00.
| Data | Male | Female | Difference | Total |
|---|
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 71.70% of the population. The other age groups, 0 to 14 years and 65 years and over, account for 24.20% and 4.00%, respectively.
If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Rainbow Lake are within the 15 to 64 years age group.
| Data | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 to 64 years | 69.80% | 72.30% | 71.70% |
| 0 to 14 years | 24.50% | 23.40% | 24.20% |
| 65 years and over | 10.00% | 10.00% | 20.00% |
| 65 years and over | 3.80% | 4.30% | 4.00% |
Population of Rainbow Lake by Ethnicity and Origin
The population of Rainbow Lake is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Rainbow Lake 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 Rainbow Lake are Canadian, which accounts for 36.19% of the total population, followed by English (27.62%), Irish (24.76%), French (18.10%), and Scottish (17.14%).
Other ethnicities and origins in Rainbow Lake include German, Welsh, British Isles, Norwegian, and American.
| Ethnicity and Origin | Male | Female | Percentage in Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian | 29.63% | 43.14% | 36.19% |
| English | 27.78% | 25.49% | 27.62% |
| Irish | 24.07% | 25.49% | 24.76% |
| French | 22.22% | 13.73% | 18.10% |
| Scottish | 18.52% | 15.69% | 17.14% |
| German | 24.07% | 5.88% | 15.24% |
| Welsh | 11.11% | 0.00% | 5.71% |
| British Isles | 0.00% | 5.88% | 3.81% |
| Norwegian | 0.00% | 5.88% | 2.86% |
| American | 5.56% | 0.00% | 2.86% |
Indigenous Identity in Rainbow Lake
About 4.72% of Rainbow Lake's population (25 people) identify with an Indigenous identity, compared to 95.28% who report a non-Indigenous identity.
Of the Indigenous population, 0 people (0.00% of the total population) hold Registered or Treaty Indian status.
Immigration Profile
Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Rainbow Lake's population profile.
About 4.8% of Rainbow Lake's population are immigrants (25 people).
The top countries of origin for Rainbow Lake's immigrant population are Brazil (0), Colombia (0), El Salvador (0), Guyana (0), Haiti (0).
| Country of Birth | Population |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 0 |
| Colombia | 0 |
| El Salvador | 0 |
| Guyana | 0 |
| Haiti | 0 |
99.0% of Rainbow Lake's residents (520 people) are Canadian citizens, and 0.0% are not.
By generation status, 3.8% of residents are first generation (born outside Canada), 10.5% are second generation, and 84.8% are third generation or more.
Household and Dwelling Characteristics
About 110 of Rainbow Lake's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.
Household Size
About 16.25% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 15.00% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 8.75%, 7.50%, and 3.75%, respectively.
| Number of Person(s) in Household | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 2 persons | 65 | 16.25% |
| 1 person | 60 | 15.00% |
| 3 persons | 35 | 8.75% |
| 4 persons | 30 | 7.50% |
| 5 or more persons | 15 | 3.75% |
Family and Household Structure in Rainbow Lake
Of census families in Rainbow Lake, 82.8% are couple families and 17.2% are one-parent families. The average census family has 3.0 people.
29.3% of households in Rainbow Lake are one-person households, 53.7% are couple-family households, 9.8% are one-parent-family households, and 0.0% are multigenerational households.
| Household Type | Households | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| One-person households | 60 | 29.3% |
| Couple-family households | 110 | 53.7% |
| One-parent-family households | 20 | 9.8% |
| Multigenerational households | 0 | 0.0% |
Income in Rainbow Lake
Analyzing income distribution in Rainbow Lake can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.
Per Capita Income
According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Rainbow Lake is $70,500.
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 Rainbow Lake population or around 80 people falls in the $150,000 and over group. The next largest groups are the $30,000 to $49,999, and $30,000 to $49,999 with around 50 and 50 people, respectively.
Household Income
The Rainbow Lake's median household income is $168,000, according to 2020 data.
Above national average Rainbow Lake's median household income is 84,000 dollars above 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 Rainbow Lake
This data sheds light on the distribution of Rainbow 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.
60.00% or most of the Rainbow Lake population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 23.30% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 15.00% 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.)
| Degree | Men | Women | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree | 90 | 95 | 180 | 60.00% |
| High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate | 30 | 45 | 70 | 23.30% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 30 | 15 | 45 | 15.00% |
Below national average 6.7% of Rainbow Lake's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).
Employment in Rainbow Lake
This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Rainbow Lake. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.
The data shows that the unemployment rate in Rainbow Lake is at 3.28% which is pretty low.
| Status | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Employment rate | 74.68% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.28% |
Work Activity During the Reference Year
Of the population aged 15 and over in Rainbow Lake, 45.0% worked full year full time in the reference year, 32.5% worked part year and/or part time, and 21.3% did not work.
| Work Activity | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Worked full year full time | 180 | 45.0% |
| Worked part year and/or part time | 130 | 32.5% |
| Did not work | 85 | 21.3% |
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 Rainbow Lake's population (around 75.80%) are working permanent position as an employee.
Self-employed
In the town, there are 15 men and 0 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 15.
| Status | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed | 15 | 0 | 15 |
Employment Industry Sectors
The Rainbow Lake industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Rainbow Lake is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.
Rainbow Lake has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (34%) works in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector. The Educational services sector comes second at 8%, followed by Manufacturing at 7%.
| Industry | Men | Women | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 85 | 20 | 34% |
| Educational services | 0 | 25 | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 0 | 0 | 7% |
| Retail trade | 0 | 20 | 7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 0 | 7% |
| Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services | 10 | 0 | 7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 0 | 20 | 7% |
| Public administration | 0 | 0 | 7% |
| Wholesale trade | 15 | 0 | 5% |
| Construction | 0 | 0 | 3% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 0 | 0 | 3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 0 | 10 | 3% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Utilities | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Information and cultural industries | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Finance and insurance | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Labour Market Snapshot
A quick snapshot of where Rainbow Lake residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.
Top employer sectors in Rainbow Lake: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (34%), Educational services (8%), Manufacturing (7%)
Top occupation categories in Rainbow Lake: Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (29%), Occupations in manufacturing and utilities (15%), Business, finance and administration occupations (13%)
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.
| Work Location | Men | Women | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual place of work | 95 | 110 | 205 | 69.50% |
| No fixed workplace address | 60 | 0 | 60 | 20.30% |
| Worked at home | 15 | 20 | 35 | 11.90% |
| Worked outside Canada | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Commuting
The data sheds light on how Rainbow 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 Rainbow Lake residents and sustainable urban planning.
Commuting Duration
This data reveals the average time that the residents of Rainbow Lake 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.
| Duration | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Less than 15 minutes | 58.50% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 37.70% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 3.80% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 0.00% |
| 60 minutes and over | 0.00% |
Marital Status
The statistics on marital status in Rainbow Lake 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 Rainbow Lake's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.
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 Rainbow Lake. About 490 people living in the town speak English, 5 people speak French, 0 people speak English and French language, and 0 people speak Neither English nor French language.
| Language | Population |
|---|---|
| English | 490 |
| French | 5 |
| English and French | 0 |
| Neither English nor French | 0 |
Knowledge of Official Languages
About 6.1% of Rainbow Lake's population is bilingual, knowing both English and French. 94.9% know English only, 0.0% know French only, and 0.0% know neither official language.
| Knowledge of Official Languages | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 470 | 94.9% |
| French only | 0 | 0.0% |
| English and French | 30 | 6.1% |
| Neither English nor French | 0 | 0.0% |
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.
| Language | Mother Tongue | Spoken Most Often at Home |
|---|---|---|
| English | 88.9% | 96.0% |
| Non-official languages | 8.1% | 3.0% |
| French | 1.0% | 0.0% |
Religion
Rainbow Lake is predominantly Christian. About 280 of its population is Christian (135 males and 145 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.
| Religion | Population |
|---|---|
| Christian | 52.8% |
| Buddhist | 0.0% |
| Hindu | 0.0% |
| Jewish | 0.0% |
| Islam | 0.0% |
| Sikh | 0.0% |
Points of Interest in Rainbow Lake
Schools
Nearest Towns to Rainbow Lake
- High Level 131.1 km · 3,922 people
- Manning 204.7 km · 1,126 people
- Grimshaw 278.9 km · 2,601 people
- Peace River 282.2 km · 6,619 people
- Spirit River 304.5 km · 849 people
- Falher 335.1 km · 1,001 people
- McLennan 345.1 km · 695 people
- Sexsmith 352.6 km · 2,427 people
Frequently Asked Questions about Rainbow Lake
According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Rainbow Lake has a population of 495 people, making it the 182nd town in Alberta. The population declined significantly from 795 in 2016, a decrease of 300 people or 37.74%. The town has a population density of 46.0 people per km² across a land area of 10.76 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.
Rainbow Lake's population declined by 37.74% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 795 to 495 people, a loss of 300 residents. This decline is consistent with pressures faced by many other Alberta towns during this period. The median age of 36.00 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.
Rainbow Lake has a population density of approximately 46.00 people per square kilometre.
Rainbow Lake covers a land area of approximately 10.76 km².
The median age of the population in Rainbow Lake is 36.00 years.
The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Rainbow Lake is Canadian.
The median household income in Rainbow Lake is $168,000, based on 2020 data.
English is the most common first official language spoken in Rainbow Lake.
Christian is the predominant religion in Rainbow Lake.
According to the 2021 Census, 4.7% of Rainbow Lake's population identifies with an Indigenous identity.
99.0% of Rainbow Lake's residents are Canadian citizens, based on 2021 Census data.
One-parent families make up 17.9% of census families in Rainbow Lake, according to the 2021 Census.
Multigenerational households make up 0.0% of all households in Rainbow Lake, per the 2021 Census.
6.1% of Rainbow Lake'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 Rainbow Lake, 45.0% 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.