Thunder Bay Profile

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

National Rank:51 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Thunder Bay Population

Total Population (2021)

108,843

Total Population (2016)

107,909

Population Growth

+0.9% (+934)

Growth Rank

#539 of 688Same geo level

Male

49.2%53,505

Female

50.8%55,330

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.967

Average Age

43.7

Median Age

Age Rank

#389 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

4,825(4.4%)

5–9

5,165(4.7%)

10–14

5,435(5.0%)

15–19

5,405(5.0%)

20–24

7,325(6.7%)

25–29

8,070(7.4%)

30–34

6,970(6.4%)

35–39

6,500(6.0%)

40–44

5,920(5.4%)

45–49

6,235(5.7%)

50–54

6,785(6.2%)

55–59

7,990(7.3%)

60–64

8,390(7.7%)

65–69

7,215(6.6%)

70–74

6,255(5.7%)

75–79

4,075(3.7%)

80–84

2,960(2.7%)

85+

3,320(3.1%)

Thunder Bay Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.2

Total Private Dwellings

50,995

Occupied Private Dwellings

48,405

Size Distribution

1 Person

16,765 (34.6%)

2 Persons

16,960 (35.0%)

3 Persons

6,670 (13.8%)

4 Persons

5,385 (11.1%)

5+ Persons

2,625 (5.4%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

9,800(20.2%)

Couples without children

12,310(25.4%)

One-parent families

4,865(10.1%)

One-person households

16,765(34.6%)

Multigenerational

845(1.7%)

Multiple-family

150(0.3%)

Thunder Bay Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$79,700After tax

Median Household Income

$69,000After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$43,600After tax

Median Individual Income

$38,800After tax

Income Rank

#461 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

79.4%

Employment Income

62.1%

Government Transfers

20.6%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

5,825(6.6%)

$10k–$20k

10,045(11.4%)

$20k–$30k

13,250(15.0%)

$30k–$40k

11,850(13.4%)

$40k–$50k

10,805(12.2%)

$50k–$60k

8,940(10.1%)

$60k–$70k

7,060(8.0%)

$70k–$80k

5,380(6.1%)

$80k–$90k

3,805(4.3%)

$90k–$100k

3,040(3.4%)

$100k+

8,230(9.3%)

Thunder Bay Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

51.9%

Unemployment Rate

11.2%

Total Labour Force

53,355

Employed

47,395

Unemployed

5,960

Not in Labour Force

37,885

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

11.6%

Children (0–17)

15.3%

Adults (18–64)

10.9%

Seniors (65+)

11.0%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3120 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.277

Thunder Bay Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

98,045 (91.5%)

French Only

70 (0.1%)

English & French

8,565 (8.0%)

Neither

500 (0.5%)

Mother Tongue

English

91,050 (84.9%)

French

2,080 (1.9%)

Non-official languages

11,560 (10.8%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

91,050(84.9%)

Italian

2,180(2.0%)

French

2,080(1.9%)

Polish

670(0.6%)

Mandarin

370(0.3%)

Arabic

360(0.3%)

Spanish

360(0.3%)

Gujarati

320(0.3%)

Portuguese

300(0.3%)

Punjabi

250(0.2%)

Thunder Bay Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

31,685(65.5%)

Semi-detached

2,075(4.3%)

Row house

1,445(3.0%)

Duplex

2,430(5.0%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

7,865(16.2%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

2,575(5.3%)

Other attached

110(0.2%)

Movable

220(0.5%)

Community snapshot

About Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay sits at the western end of Lake Superior in northwestern Ontario, formed by amalgamating the former cities of Fort William and Port Arthur. It is a Great Lakes port and regional service centre, with grain elevators on the waterfront and the Sleeping Giant headland across the bay. The city is a gateway to the boreal Shield and to road and rail links toward Winnipeg and southern Ontario. About 109,000 people live in Thunder Bay.

Known for

Lake Superior harbour and grain elevators
Sleeping Giant on the Sibley Peninsula
Amalgamated Fort William and Port Arthur
Gateway between the Prairie and the Upper Great Lakes
Mount McKay overlooking the south side

See & do

Fort William Historical Park
Reconstructed fur-trade post on the Kaministiquia River.
Marina Park
Waterfront park with views across the harbour to the Sleeping Giant.
Hillcrest Park
Lookout over the bay and the north-side grain terminals.
Thunder Bay Museum
Regional history in a former police station and court building.
Cascades Conservation Area
Waterfalls and trails on the Current River in the city.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution