Moose Jaw is one of seven Saskatchewan cities that lost population in the five years ending in 2021.
The census taken last year shows the city had 33,655 residents – a decline of 245 or .7 per cent.
Moose Jaw’s population was 32,132 in the 2001 census reaching a high of 33,890 in the 2016 census.
The population decline still leaves Moose Jaw as the fourth largest city in Saskatchewan
Third largest is Prince Albert, 35,916, growing 5.1 per cent.
Second is Regina, 226,404, growing by 5.3 per cent while Saskatoon, 266,141 grew by 7.7 per cent.
Fastest growing city was Warman, just outside Saskatoon by 12.7 per cent to 12,419.
Martensville, also within Saskatoon’s orbit, grew by 9.3 per cent to 10,549.
Swift Current, 16,750, grew by .9 per cent with Weyburn, 11,019, up by four per cent.
The oil city of Estevan, 10,851, had the largest loss at 5.5 per cent while the Saskatchewan side of Lloydminster, anther oil patch region, lost 3.3 per cent to 13,836.
Humboldt gained 2.8 per cent to 6,033 while Melville lost 1.5 per cent to 4,493. Melfort gained .6 per cent to 5,955 while Yorkton gained four per cent to 16,280.
Saskatchewan gained 3.1 per cent population for 1,132,505.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]