About Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury
Spanning a vast expanse in Northern Ontario lies Greater Sudbury, a unique city known for its rich heritage, diverse communities, and resilient economy. As the largest city in Northern Ontario, its significance cannot be understated.
Situated between a sea of lakes, the region’s natural beauty is a testament to the balance between urban development and nature preservation. But more than its geographical charm, the story of Greater Sudbury is that of reinvention and adaptability.
Back in the day, the city was known for its mining, particularly for nickel. The rocks and terrain, rich in minerals, made it a hub for the mining sector, laying the foundation of its economy. But like every dynamic city, Greater Sudbury wasn’t content to rest on its laurels. Over the decades, it diversified, extending its roots into education, healthcare, and technology, among other sectors.
Today, with a population surpassing 166,000, Greater Sudbury’s growth is more than just in numbers. The city takes pride in its multicultural fabric, where various communities converge and add vibrancy. Numerous festivals, events, and cultural activities mark the city’s calendar, bringing together locals and tourists alike.
Education plays a significant role in Greater Sudbury’s urban narrative. With renowned institutions paving the way for cutting-edge research and innovation, the city is fast becoming a hub for academic excellence. The ripple effects of such academic endeavors are evident in the city’s growing tech and innovation sectors.
Yet, the economy of Greater Sudbury remains a blend of the old and the new. While mining continues to play a significant role, the sectors of technology, healthcare, and retail have gained prominence. Diverse employment opportunities attract talents from different corners of the country, making it a melting pot of skills and expertise.
Infrastructure development in the city is noteworthy. An efficient transit system, modern amenities, and sustainable urban planning underscore its commitment to progress. Yet, amidst this development, the city retains its natural charm, offering green spaces and recreational avenues for its residents.
Greater Sudbury symbolizes the journey of a city that has constantly evolved. Its foundations are deeply rooted in history, yet its gaze is firmly set on the future. A place where tradition meets innovation, Greater Sudbury is truly a marvel in the heartland of Northern Ontario.
Population Characteristics
According to the latest census, Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury has a population of around 166,004 people. The city's population is in increased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury has increased by 2.77%.
| Population in 2016 | Population in 2021 | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 161,531 | 166,004 | +2.77% |
2026 Population Projection
Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.55% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury's population is projected to reach approximately 170,601 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 53.54 people per km².
| Population in 2021 | Projected Population in 2026 | Projected Density in 2026 (per km²) |
|---|---|---|
| 166,004 | 170,601 | 53.54 |
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 Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury is around 81,645 while the female population is around 84,355.
Of the 166,004 total population in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury, the largest gender is female with around 84,355 women within the population.
| Male | Female | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 81,645 | 84,355 | +3.21% |
Is Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury a Good Place to Live?
Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against Ontario, 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
Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 55 to 59 years old, accounting for 7.70% of the total population. The city median age is 43.20.
| Data | Male | Female | Difference | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 to 59 years | 6,275 7.70% | 6,540 7.80% | 4.05% | 12,810 7.70% |
| 60 to 64 years | 5,775 7.10% | 6,440 7.60% | 10.33% | 12,210 7.40% |
| 25 to 29 years | 5,555 6.80% | 5,235 6.20% | 5.76% | 10,785 6.50% |
| 50 to 54 years | 5,225 6.40% | 5,285 6.30% | 1.14% | 10,510 6.30% |
| 20 to 24 years | 5,505 6.70% | 4,970 5.90% | 9.72% | 10,475 6.30% |
| 65 to 69 years | 4,880 6.00% | 5,465 6.50% | 10.70% | 10,340 6.20% |
| 30 to 34 years | 5,140 6.30% | 5,160 6.10% | 0.39% | 10,305 6.20% |
| 45 to 49 years | 5,180 6.30% | 5,080 6.00% | 1.93% | 10,260 6.20% |
| 35 to 39 years | 5,055 6.20% | 5,170 6.10% | 2.22% | 10,230 6.20% |
| 40 to 44 years | 4,950 6.10% | 5,235 6.20% | 5.44% | 10,185 6.10% |
| 10 to 14 years | 4,760 5.80% | 4,390 5.20% | 7.77% | 9,150 5.50% |
| 5 to 9 years | 4,595 5.60% | 4,375 5.20% | 4.79% | 8,965 5.40% |
| 15 to 19 years | 4,535 5.60% | 4,295 5.10% | 5.29% | 8,825 5.30% |
| 70 to 74 years | 4,190 5.10% | 4,410 5.20% | 4.99% | 8,600 5.20% |
| 0 to 4 years | 3,850 4.70% | 3,655 4.30% | 5.06% | 7,510 4.50% |
| 75 to 79 years | 2,765 3.40% | 3,290 3.90% | 15.96% | 6,055 3.60% |
| 85 years and over | 1,540 1.90% | 2,880 3.40% | 46.53% | 4,425 2.70% |
| 80 to 84 years | 1,885 2.30% | 2,475 2.90% | 23.84% | 4,355 2.60% |
| 85 to 89 years | 1,060 1.30% | 1,715 2.00% | 38.19% | 2,770 1.70% |
| 90 to 94 years | 395 0.50% | 850 1.00% | 53.53% | 1,250 0.80% |
| 95 to 99 years | 75 0.10% | 270 0.30% | 72.22% | 345 0.20% |
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 64.20% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 20.30% and 15.40%, respectively.
If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury are within the 15 to 64 years age group.
| Data | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age of the population | 41.60% | 44.80% | 43.20% |
| Average age of the population | 41.70% | 44.00% | 42.90% |
| 65 years and over | 18.70% | 22.00% | 20.30% |
| 0 to 14 years | 16.20% | 14.70% | 15.40% |
Photos of Places & Sceneries in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury
Explore Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury Through Videos
Population of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury by Ethnicity and Origin
The population of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury is quite diverse, which contributes to the city's vibrant cultural landscape. Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury 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 French, which accounts for 27.97% of the total population, followed by Irish (18.39%), Canadian (17.15%), English (16.44%), and Scottish (15.44%).
Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include Italian, German, French Canadian, Finnish, and Ukrainian.
| Ethnicity and Origin | Male | Female | Percentage in Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | 27.41% | 28.51% | 27.97% |
| Irish | 17.83% | 18.93% | 18.39% |
| Canadian | 17.24% | 17.06% | 17.15% |
| English | 16.66% | 16.23% | 16.44% |
| Scottish | 15.31% | 15.56% | 15.44% |
| Italian | 8.00% | 7.74% | 7.87% |
| German | 7.38% | 7.66% | 7.52% |
| French Canadian | 6.88% | 7.73% | 7.31% |
| Finnish | 4.68% | 4.88% | 4.78% |
| Ukrainian | 4.45% | 4.69% | 4.57% |
Immigration Profile
Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury's population profile.
About 6.0% of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury's population are immigrants (9,850 people).
The top countries of origin for Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury's immigrant population are Italy (1,210), United Kingdom (1,020), India (770), United States of America (510), Germany (440).
| Country of Birth | Population |
|---|---|
| Italy | 1,210 |
| United Kingdom | 1,020 |
| India | 770 |
| United States of America | 510 |
| Germany | 440 |
Household and Dwelling Characteristics
About 43,325 of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.
Household Size
About 18.20% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 15.40% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 7.35%, 6.20%, and 2.85%, respectively.
| Number of Person(s) in Household | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 2 persons | 25,990 | 18.20% |
| 1 person | 22,040 | 15.40% |
| 3 persons | 10,510 | 7.35% |
| 4 persons | 8,890 | 6.20% |
| 5 or more persons | 4,050 | 2.85% |
Income in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury
Analyzing income distribution in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.
Per Capita Income
According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury is $44,800.
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 Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury population or around 19,180 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 18,235 and 15,860 people, respectively.
Household Income
The Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury's median household income is $84,000, according to 2020 data.
Above national average Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury's median household income is 0 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 Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury
This data sheds light on the distribution of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury 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.
61.60% or most of the Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 25.50% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, 21.40% has a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 12.90% has No certificate, diploma or degree.
| Degree | Men | Women | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree | 64,215 | 70,990 | 135,205 | 61.60% |
| High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate | 29,350 | 28,450 | 57,795 | 25.50% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19,615 | 27,315 | 46,935 | 21.40% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 16,455 | 14,650 | 31,095 | 12.90% |
Below national average 21.4% of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).
Employment in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury
This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury. 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 6.33% which is quite high.
| Status | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Employment rate | 54.79% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.33% |
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 Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury's population (around 75.00%) are working permanent position as an employee.
Self-employed
In the city, there are 4,230 men and 2,955 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 7,185.
| Status | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed | 4,230 | 2,955 | 7,185 |
Employment Industry Sectors
The Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.
Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (16%) works in the health care and social assistance sector. The Retail trade sector comes second at 12%, followed by Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction at 9%.
| Industry | Men | Women | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 2,150 | 10,910 | 16% |
| Retail trade | 4,910 | 5,105 | 12% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 6,720 | 905 | 9% |
| Public administration | 2,885 | 4,660 | 9% |
| Educational services | 1,920 | 4,865 | 8% |
| Construction | 5,650 | 815 | 8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,815 | 2,595 | 5% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,405 | 1,815 | 5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 2,710 | 700 | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 2,810 | 575 | 4% |
| Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services | 1,855 | 1,455 | 4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 1,690 | 1,520 | 4% |
| Wholesale trade | 1,860 | 525 | 3% |
| Finance and insurance | 775 | 1,285 | 3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 680 | 525 | 1% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 450 | 545 | 1% |
| Information and cultural industries | 550 | 445 | 1% |
| Utilities | 425 | 125 | 1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 235 | 140 | 0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 65 | 60 | 0% |
Labour Market Snapshot
A quick snapshot of where Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.
Top employer sectors in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury: Health care and social assistance (16%), -45 Retail trade (12%), Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (9%)
Top occupation categories in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury: Sales and service occupations (24%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (18%), Business, finance and administration occupations (17%)
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 | 26,250 | 24,905 | 51,155 | 67.90% |
| Worked at home | 5,595 | 8,795 | 14,395 | 19.10% |
| No fixed workplace address | 7,420 | 2,270 | 9,690 | 12.90% |
| Worked outside Canada | 55 | 10 | 65 | 0.10% |
Commuting
The data sheds light on how Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury 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 Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury residents and sustainable urban planning.
Commuting Duration
This data reveals the average time that the residents of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury 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 |
|---|---|
| 15 to 29 minutes | 40.60% |
| Less than 15 minutes | 35.90% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 15.10% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 4.60% |
| 60 minutes and over | 3.90% |
Marital Status
The statistics on marital status in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudburyshed 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 Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury'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 Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury. About 125,690 people living in the province speak English, 36,980 people speak French, 1,095 people speak English and French language, and 380 people speak Neither English nor French language.
| Language | Population |
|---|---|
| English | 125,690 |
| French | 36,980 |
| English and French | 1,095 |
| Neither English nor French | 380 |
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 | 66.5% | 83.8% |
| French | 22.6% | 10.6% |
| Non-official languages | 6.5% | 2.6% |
Religion
Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury is predominantly Christian. About 103,785 of its population is Christian (48,895 males and 48,895 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 Sikh, both represent 0.8% and 0.3% of the population, while Buddhist represent 0.2% of the population.
| Religion | Population |
|---|---|
| Christian | 63.7% |
| Islam | 0.9% |
| Hindu | 0.8% |
| Sikh | 0.3% |
| Buddhist | 0.2% |
| Jewish | 0.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions about Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury
According to the 2021 census, Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury has a population of approximately 166,004 people.
Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury increased by 2.77%.
Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury has a population density of approximately 52.10 people per square kilometre.
Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury covers a land area of approximately 3,186.26 km².
The median age of the population in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury is 43.20 years.
The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury is French.
The median household income in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury is $84,000, based on 2020 data.
English is the most common first official language spoken in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury.
Christian is the predominant religion in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury.
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.