Wood Buffalo Profile

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

National Rank:80 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Wood Buffalo Population

Total Population (2021)

72,326

Total Population (2016)

71,594

Population Growth

+1.0% (+732)

Growth Rank

#536 of 688Same geo level

Male

52.7%38,100

Female

47.3%34,225

Male-to-Female Ratio

1.113

Average Age

33.4

Median Age

34.4

Age Rank

#13 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

5,795(8.0%)

5–9

5,900(8.2%)

10–14

4,850(6.7%)

15–19

3,885(5.4%)

20–24

3,895(5.4%)

25–29

5,120(7.1%)

30–34

7,445(10.3%)

35–39

7,975(11.0%)

40–44

6,495(9.0%)

45–49

5,375(7.4%)

50–54

4,835(6.7%)

55–59

4,430(6.1%)

60–64

3,180(4.4%)

65–69

1,665(2.3%)

70–74

785(1.1%)

75–79

390(0.5%)

80–84

180(0.2%)

85+

130(0.2%)

Wood Buffalo Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.8

Total Private Dwellings

30,451

Occupied Private Dwellings

25,934

Size Distribution

1 Person

5,660 (21.8%)

2 Persons

7,670 (29.6%)

3 Persons

4,780 (18.4%)

4 Persons

4,620 (17.8%)

5+ Persons

3,205 (12.4%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

8,675(33.4%)

Couples without children

5,325(20.5%)

One-parent families

1,890(7.3%)

One-person households

5,660(21.8%)

Multigenerational

960(3.7%)

Multiple-family

250(1.0%)

Wood Buffalo Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$152,200After tax

Median Household Income

$144,000After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$75,200After tax

Median Individual Income

$61,600After tax

Income Rank

#1 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

93.2%

Employment Income

88.6%

Government Transfers

6.7%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

4,695(8.9%)

$10k–$20k

3,310(6.3%)

$20k–$30k

4,265(8.1%)

$30k–$40k

3,795(7.2%)

$40k–$50k

3,520(6.7%)

$50k–$60k

3,120(5.9%)

$60k–$70k

2,715(5.2%)

$70k–$80k

2,380(4.5%)

$80k–$90k

2,290(4.4%)

$90k–$100k

2,200(4.2%)

$100k+

20,195(38.5%)

Wood Buffalo Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

70.4%

Unemployment Rate

8.7%

Total Labour Force

42,650

Employed

38,920

Unemployed

3,730

Not in Labour Force

12,595

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

3.9%

Children (0–17)

5.3%

Adults (18–64)

3.3%

Seniors (65+)

4.8%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3020 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.270

Wood Buffalo Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

67,405 (93.3%)

French Only

75 (0.1%)

English & French

4,310 (6.0%)

Neither

475 (0.7%)

Mother Tongue

English

55,090 (76.2%)

French

1,365 (1.9%)

Non-official languages

12,500 (17.3%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

55,090(76.2%)

Tagalog

3,040(4.2%)

French

1,365(1.9%)

Gujarati

875(1.2%)

Arabic

865(1.2%)

Urdu

770(1.1%)

Spanish

615(0.9%)

Mandarin

420(0.6%)

Punjabi

360(0.5%)

Hindi

250(0.3%)

Wood Buffalo Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

12,480(48.1%)

Semi-detached

1,225(4.7%)

Row house

2,745(10.6%)

Duplex

475(1.8%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

5,645(21.8%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

845(3.3%)

Movable

2,520(9.7%)

Community snapshot

About Wood Buffalo

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is a specialized municipality in northeastern Alberta, covering a vast boreal territory larger than many countries. Fort McMurray is the urban service area, not a separate city; hamlets such as Anzac, Janvier, and Fort Chipewyan sit far from that core. Oil-sands work camps and fly-in industry shape the regional economy along the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers. About 72,000 people live in Wood Buffalo.

Known for

Fort McMurray as an urban service area, not a standalone city
Athabasca oil-sands industry and work camps
Huge northern land area including Fort Chipewyan
Clearwater and Athabasca river confluence
Fly-in and highway gateway to remote hamlets

See & do

Oil Sands Discovery Centre
Industry interpretation centre in Fort McMurray.
Heritage Park
Historic buildings and river-valley site in the urban service area.
MacDonald Island Park
Recreation complex on an island in the Clearwater River.
Clearwater River and the Snye
Riverfront trails and the waterway at the heart of Fort McMurray.
Beacon Hill lookout
Hilltop view over the Clearwater and Athabasca valleys.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution