Demographics
| Canada 2006 Census | Population | % of Total Population | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visible minority group |
South Asian | 3,820 | 3.3 |
| Chinese | 3,060 | 2.7 | |
| Black | 1,565 | 1.4 | |
| Filipino | 1,945 | 1.7 | |
| Latin American | 1,030 | 0.9 | |
| Arab | 510 | 0.4 | |
| Southeast Asian | 1,600 | 1.4 | |
| West Asian | 1,050 | 0.9 | |
| Korean | 190 | 0.2 | |
| Japanese | 165 | 0.1 | |
| Other visible minority | 230 | 0.2 | |
| Mixed visible minority | 630 | 0.6 | |
| Total visible minority population | 15,800 | 13.8 | |
| Aboriginal group |
First Nations | 785 | 0.7 |
| Métis | 360 | 0.3 | |
| Inuit | 10 | 0 | |
| Total Aboriginal population | 1,295 | 1.1 | |
| White | 97,020 | 85 | |
| Total population | 114,115 | 100 | |
| Ethnic Origin | Population | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| English | 36,975 | 31.93% |
| Canadian | 36,845 | 31.82% |
| Scottish | 27,875 | 24.07% |
| Irish | 24,445 | 21.11% |
| German | 14,505 | 12.52% |
| Italian | 11,135 | 9.61% |
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1841 | 1,240 | — |
| 1851 | 1,860 | +50.0% |
| 1871 | 6,878 | +269.8% |
| 1881 | 9,890 | +43.8% |
| 1891 | 10,537 | +6.5% |
| 1901 | 11,496 | +9.1% |
| 1911 | 15,175 | +32.0% |
| 1921 | 18,128 | +19.5% |
| 1931 | 21,075 | +16.3% |
| 1941 | 23,074 | +9.5% |
| 1951 | 27,386 | +18.7% |
| 1961 | 39,838 | +45.5% |
| 1971 | 60,087 | +50.8% |
| 1981 | 71,207 | +18.5% |
| 1991 | 87,976 | +23.5% |
| 1996 | 105,997 | +20.5% |
| 2001 | 106,170 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 114,943 | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 121,688 | +5.9% |
Guelph is the fifth fastest growing city in Canada with a population growth rate of about 2% per year. Guelph's population according to the Ontario Places to Grow plan is projected to be about 144,500 by the year 2021. Population varies throughout the year because of variations in the University of Guelph student population.
The 2001 census enumerated 114,943 residents of Guelph. 49.1% were male and 50.9% were female. 6.2% were under five. The average age is 35.7 years of age. Between 1996 and 2001, the population of Guelph grew 10.7%. The 2011 metro population density of Guelph was 335.6 people per square kilometre.
Historically, Guelph's population has been principally British in origin, with 92% in 1880 and 87% in 1921.
Now, some 10 percent of the resident population described themselves as visible minorities, predominantly South Asian mostly of Afghan, Indian and Pakistani origin: 2.43%, Chinese: 2.42%, Black Canadian/African Canadians: 1.25%, and many others including Filipino and Vietnamese. The city is mostly Christian: 74.17%, almost evenly split among Protestants and Roman Catholics. The largest non-Christian religion is Buddhism: 1.45%, followed by Hinduism.
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