New census data shows the population of metropolitan Saskatoon outpaced the national growth rate during the past five years.
Statistics Canada released initial numbers from the 2011 census on Wednesday that showed the region's population increased by 11.4 per cent since the last census in 2006.
The area's growth rate topped the national growth rate of 5.9 per cent, while the population of Saskatchewan increased by 6.7 per cent.
When the 2011 census was taken last May 10, Saskatoon region was 260,600, compared with 233,923 from the 2006 census. The population of the actual city of Saskatoon in 2011 was 222,189, up from 202,408 in 2006.
Statistics Canada defines census metropolitan areas as a metropolitan area with a population of at least 100,000, where the urban core of that area has at least 50,000 people. Commuting patterns and other factors are used in determining those areas.
The census indicated that Saskatoon ranked No. 17 among the country's 33 census metropolitan areas.
Canada's population on census day was 33,476,688, Statistics Canada reported.
