Population Characteristics
According to the latest census, Spirit River has a population of around 849 people. The town's population is in decreased. Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Spirit River has decreased by ▼ -14.67%.
| Population in 2016 | Population in 2021 | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 995 | 849 | --14.67% |
2026 Population Projection
Spirit River's population declined between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, so a 2026 growth projection is not shown. The most recent confirmed figure remains the 849 people recorded in the 2021 census.
Spirit River Population Trend & Context
Spirit River had a 2021 census population of 849 — a decline of 146 (▼ 14.67%) people from the 995 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 50.8 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 Spirit River is around 415 while the female population is around 430.
Of the 849 total population in Spirit River, the largest gender is female with around 430 female within the population.
| Male | Female | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 415 | 430 | -3.49% |
Is Spirit River a Good Place to Live?
Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Spirit River 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.
Spirit River Population Compared to Alberta
Alberta's population in 2021 was 4,262,635, spread across the area. Here's how Spirit River compares to the town's key indicators:
| Indicator | Spirit River | Alberta |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,500 | $96,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 10.5% | 11.5% |
| Median age | 50.8 | 38.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.9% | 28.4% |
| Immigrants (%) | 8.3% | 23.2% |
Population by Age Characteristics
Spirit River has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 55 to 59 years old, accounting for 9.40% of the total population. The town median age is 50.80.
| 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 56.50% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 28.80% and 14.70%, respectively.
If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Spirit River are within the 15 to 64 years age group.
| Data | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 to 64 years | 57.80% | 57.00% | 56.50% |
| 65 years and over | 25.30% | 32.60% | 28.80% |
| 0 to 14 years | 15.70% | 12.80% | 14.70% |
Population of Spirit River by Ethnicity and Origin
The population of Spirit River is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Spirit River 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 Spirit River are Scottish, which accounts for 23.08% of the total population, followed by German (20.71%), English (20.12%), Irish (20.12%), and Ukrainian (20.12%).
Other ethnicities and origins in Spirit River include Canadian, Polish, French, Russian, and European.
| Ethnicity and Origin | Male | Female | Percentage in Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish | 26.58% | 18.89% | 23.08% |
| German | 12.66% | 25.56% | 20.71% |
| English | 13.92% | 25.56% | 20.12% |
| Irish | 17.72% | 22.22% | 20.12% |
| Ukrainian | 20.25% | 18.89% | 20.12% |
| Canadian | 11.39% | 12.22% | 11.83% |
| Polish | 11.39% | 10.00% | 10.06% |
| French | 11.39% | 6.67% | 9.47% |
| Russian | 3.80% | 10.00% | 7.10% |
| European | 8.86% | 3.33% | 5.92% |
Indigenous Identity in Spirit River
About 8.28% of Spirit River's population (70 people) identify with an Indigenous identity, compared to 91.72% who report a non-Indigenous identity.
Of the Indigenous population, 10 people (1.20% 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 Spirit River's population profile.
About 8.3% of Spirit River's population are immigrants (70 people).
The top countries of origin for Spirit River's immigrant population are Philippines (15), United States of America (10), Brazil (0), Colombia (0), El Salvador (0).
| Country of Birth | Population |
|---|---|
| Philippines | 15 |
| United States of America | 10 |
| Brazil | 0 |
| Colombia | 0 |
| El Salvador | 0 |
99.4% of Spirit River's residents (840 people) are Canadian citizens, and 0.0% are not.
By generation status, 8.3% of residents are first generation (born outside Canada), 15.4% are second generation, and 76.9% are third generation or more.
Household and Dwelling Characteristics
About 310 of Spirit River's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.
Household Size
About 19.10% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 18.40% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 5.25%, 3.95%, and 3.30%, respectively.
| Number of Person(s) in Household | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 2 persons | 145 | 19.10% |
| 1 person | 140 | 18.40% |
| 3 persons | 40 | 5.25% |
| 4 persons | 30 | 3.95% |
| 5 or more persons | 25 | 3.30% |
Family and Household Structure in Spirit River
Of census families in Spirit River, 82.2% are couple families and 17.8% are one-parent families. The average census family has 2.7 people.
37.3% of households in Spirit River are one-person households, 48.0% are couple-family households, 8.0% are one-parent-family households, and 1.3% are multigenerational households.
| Household Type | Households | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| One-person households | 140 | 37.3% |
| Couple-family households | 180 | 48.0% |
| One-parent-family households | 30 | 8.0% |
| Multigenerational households | 5 | 1.3% |
Income in Spirit River
Analyzing income distribution in Spirit River can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.
Per Capita Income
According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Spirit River is $47,600.
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 Spirit River population or around 115 people falls in the $10,000 to $29,999 group. The next largest groups are the $50,000 to $79,999, and $30,000 to $49,999 with around 95 and 80 people, respectively.
Household Income
The Spirit River's median household income is $78,500, according to 2020 data.
Below national average Spirit River's median household income is 5,500 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 Spirit River
This data sheds light on the distribution of Spirit River 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.
50.00% or most of the Spirit River population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 34.80% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 14.10% 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 | 140 | 230 | 50.00% |
| High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate | 85 | 75 | 160 | 34.80% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 30 | 40 | 65 | 14.10% |
Below national average 9.8% of Spirit River's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).
Employment in Spirit River
This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Spirit River. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.
The data shows that the unemployment rate in Spirit River is at 10.47% which is very high.
| Status | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Employment rate | 54.23% |
| Unemployment rate | 10.47% |
Work Activity During the Reference Year
Of the population aged 15 and over in Spirit River, 31.7% worked full year full time in the reference year, 34.5% worked part year and/or part time, and 33.8% did not work.
| Work Activity | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Worked full year full time | 225 | 31.7% |
| Worked part year and/or part time | 245 | 34.5% |
| Did not work | 240 | 33.8% |
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 Spirit River's population (around 73.30%) are working permanent position as an employee.
Self-employed
In the town, there are 20 men and 25 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 40.
| Status | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed | 20 | 25 | 40 |
Employment Industry Sectors
The Spirit River industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Spirit River is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.
Spirit River has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (16%) works in the health care and social assistance sector. The Public administration sector comes second at 9%, followed by Educational services at 8%.
| Industry | Men | Women | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 10 | 60 | 16% |
| Public administration | 20 | 15 | 9% |
| Educational services | 10 | 20 | 8% |
| Construction | 25 | 0 | 7% |
| Wholesale trade | 20 | 15 | 7% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 20 | 0 | 7% |
| Retail trade | 15 | 15 | 6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 10 | 6% |
| Finance and insurance | 0 | 25 | 6% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 0 | 20 | 6% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 25 | 0 | 6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 0 | 10 | 5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 10 | 10 | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 0 | 0 | 2% |
| Utilities | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Information and cultural industries | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Labour Market Snapshot
A quick snapshot of where Spirit River residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.
Top employer sectors in Spirit River: Health care and social assistance (16%), Public administration (9%), Educational services (8%)
Top occupation categories in Spirit River: Sales and service occupations (19%), Business, finance and administration occupations (17%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (15%)
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 | 115 | 170 | 285 | 74.00% |
| No fixed workplace address | 45 | 10 | 55 | 14.30% |
| Worked at home | 15 | 30 | 45 | 11.70% |
| Worked outside Canada | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Commuting
The data sheds light on how Spirit River 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 Spirit River residents and sustainable urban planning.
Commuting Duration
This data reveals the average time that the residents of Spirit River 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 | 63.20% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 17.60% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 10.30% |
| 60 minutes and over | 5.90% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 2.90% |
Marital Status
The statistics on marital status in Spirit River 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 Spirit River'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 Spirit River. About 815 people living in the town speak English, 15 people speak French, 0 people speak English and French language, and 0 people speak Neither English nor French language.
| Language | Population |
|---|---|
| English | 815 |
| French | 15 |
| English and French | 0 |
| Neither English nor French | 0 |
Knowledge of Official Languages
About 3.6% of Spirit River's population is bilingual, knowing both English and French. 95.8% know English only, 0.0% know French only, and 0.0% know neither official language.
| Knowledge of Official Languages | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 800 | 95.8% |
| French only | 0 | 0.0% |
| English and French | 30 | 3.6% |
| 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 | 89.8% | 96.4% |
| Non-official languages | 6.6% | 2.4% |
| French | 1.8% | 0.0% |
Religion
Spirit River is predominantly Christian. About 360 of its population is Christian (150 males and 210 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 | 42.6% |
| Buddhist | 0.0% |
| Hindu | 0.0% |
| Jewish | 0.0% |
| Islam | 0.0% |
| Sikh | 0.0% |
Points of Interest in Spirit River
Hospitals
Schools
Nearest Towns to Spirit River
- Sexsmith 48.1 km · 2,427 people
- Wembley 71.9 km · 1,432 people
- Beaverlodge 73.5 km · 2,271 people
- Grimshaw 88.9 km · 2,601 people
- Falher 102.6 km · 1,001 people
- Peace River 108.6 km · 6,619 people
- McLennan 121.5 km · 695 people
- Valleyview 126.3 km · 1,673 people
Frequently Asked Questions about Spirit River
According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Spirit River has a population of 849 people, making it the 141st town in Alberta. The population declined significantly from 995 in 2016, a decrease of 146 people or 14.67%. The town has a population density of 272.8 people per km² across a land area of 3.11 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.
Spirit River's population declined by 14.67% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 995 to 849 people, a loss of 146 residents. This decline is consistent with pressures faced by many other Alberta towns during this period. The median age of 50.80 years suggests an aging population. The relatively high proportion of one-person households (36.8%) may indicate young adults leaving for larger centres. Official 2026 Census data, which will confirm whether this trend continued, is expected from Statistics Canada in February 2027.
Spirit River has a population density of approximately 272.80 people per square kilometre.
Spirit River covers a land area of approximately 3.11 km².
The median age of the population in Spirit River is 50.80 years.
The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Spirit River is Scottish.
The median household income in Spirit River is $78,500, based on 2020 data.
English is the most common first official language spoken in Spirit River.
Christian is the predominant religion in Spirit River.
According to the 2021 Census, 8.3% of Spirit River's population identifies with an Indigenous identity.
99.4% of Spirit River's residents are Canadian citizens, based on 2021 Census data.
One-parent families make up 17.8% of census families in Spirit River, according to the 2021 Census.
Multigenerational households make up 1.3% of all households in Spirit River, per the 2021 Census.
3.6% of Spirit River'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 Spirit River, 31.7% 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.