Shawinigan Profile

Explore population, households, income, employment, languages, and dwellings for Shawinigan. Compare trends since 2016 and dig into the full demographic profile below.

National Rank:103 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Shawinigan Population

Total Population (2021)

49,620

Total Population (2016)

49,349

Population Growth

+0.5% (+271)

Growth Rank

#551 of 688Same geo level

Male

48.7%24,165

Female

51.3%25,455

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.949

Average Age

49.2

Median Age

54.4

Age Rank

#631 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

1,990(4.0%)

5–9

2,215(4.5%)

10–14

2,085(4.2%)

15–19

1,880(3.8%)

20–24

1,945(3.9%)

25–29

2,280(4.6%)

30–34

2,415(4.9%)

35–39

2,555(5.1%)

40–44

2,675(5.4%)

45–49

2,380(4.8%)

50–54

2,675(5.4%)

55–59

4,045(8.2%)

60–64

5,125(10.3%)

65–69

4,700(9.5%)

70–74

3,815(7.7%)

75–79

2,790(5.6%)

80–84

1,860(3.7%)

85+

2,180(4.4%)

Shawinigan Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

1.9

Total Private Dwellings

27,444

Occupied Private Dwellings

25,060

Size Distribution

1 Person

11,055 (44.1%)

2 Persons

9,220 (36.8%)

3 Persons

2,315 (9.2%)

4 Persons

1,605 (6.4%)

5+ Persons

865 (3.5%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

3,450(13.8%)

Couples without children

7,225(28.8%)

One-parent families

2,050(8.2%)

One-person households

11,055(44.1%)

Multigenerational

165(0.7%)

Multiple-family

20(0.1%)

Shawinigan Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$57,700After tax

Median Household Income

$48,400After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$35,480After tax

Median Individual Income

$31,800After tax

Income Rank

#676 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

70.8%

Employment Income

52.8%

Government Transfers

29.2%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

2,515(6.2%)

$10k–$20k

6,105(15.0%)

$20k–$30k

8,415(20.7%)

$30k–$40k

6,175(15.2%)

$40k–$50k

5,775(14.2%)

$50k–$60k

4,175(10.3%)

$60k–$70k

2,535(6.2%)

$70k–$80k

1,635(4.0%)

$80k–$90k

1,080(2.7%)

$90k–$100k

765(1.9%)

$100k+

1,545(3.8%)

Shawinigan Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

48.2%

Unemployment Rate

7.5%

Total Labour Force

21,555

Employed

19,930

Unemployed

1,625

Not in Labour Force

19,795

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

18.7%

Children (0–17)

14.5%

Adults (18–64)

15.4%

Seniors (65+)

27.6%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3020 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.261

Shawinigan Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

95 (0.2%)

French Only

36,360 (74.8%)

English & French

12,095 (24.9%)

Neither

90 (0.2%)

Mother Tongue

English

570 (1.2%)

French

46,925 (96.5%)

Non-official languages

670 (1.4%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

French

46,925(96.5%)

English

570(1.2%)

Spanish

175(0.4%)

Arabic

155(0.3%)

Portuguese

35(0.1%)

Mandarin

25(0.1%)

Italian

25(0.1%)

Greek

25(0.1%)

Russian

15(0.0%)

Vietnamese

10(0.0%)

Shawinigan Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

12,495(49.9%)

Semi-detached

705(2.8%)

Row house

225(0.9%)

Duplex

2,415(9.6%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

8,820(35.2%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

10(0.0%)

Other attached

300(1.2%)

Movable

90(0.4%)

Community snapshot

About Shawinigan

Shawinigan is in Mauricie, on the rivière Saint-Maurice north of Trois-Rivières. It grew as a hydroelectric and aluminum city at a set of falls and remains a regional centre for the middle Saint-Maurice valley. The amalgamated city includes Shawinigan-Sud and riverside neighbourhoods facing the gorge. About 50,000 people live in Shawinigan.

Known for

Hydroelectric falls on the Saint-Maurice
La Cité de l’énergie science site and tower
Former aluminum and chemical-industry town
Shawinigan Cataractes junior hockey
Parc de l’Île Melville on an island in the river

See & do

La Cité de l’énergie
Science museum, historic generating station, and a tall observation tower.
Parc de l’Île Melville
River island park with beaches, trails, and a seasonal water park.
Chutes de Shawinigan
Falls and gorge that first drew hydroelectric development to the site.
Centre des arts de Shawinigan
Performing-arts centre downtown.
Centre Gervais Auto
Arena home of the Shawinigan Cataractes.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution