Winnipeg’s population has surpassed 850,000 people

Winnipeg’s population has crossed a major milestone. Harrison Shin explains what this means for the city.

Winnipeg is celebrating a major milestone, surpassing 850,000 residents, according to new data from Statistics Canada.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the city came in fifth for the largest total population increase in Canada.

“We’re just pushing the million population. That creates, as I said, I think a real sense of momentum, growth and excitement,” Gillingham said on Tuesday.

On Friday, the federal statistics agency released population estimates for municipalities.

As of July 1, 2025, 855,628 people called Winnipeg their home - a net increase of 8,438 compared to the year before.

In 2023, 820,084 residents were recorded, with 847,190 for 2024.

The agency also disclosed reasons for the increase between 2024 and 2025: 610 due to a natural increase, meaning birth and death; and 13,160 for net international migration, but the city also lost 5,332 people to other Manitoba regions and other provinces.

Lori Wilkinson, Canada research chair in migration futures, said the increase relies on immigration — meaning, the growth may not last given recent federal immigration cuts.

“If you’re looking long term, it doesn’t look like we’re going to grow all that much because nobody’s going to grow all that much,” she said. “Because we’ve cut back the major driver of population growth.”

Wilkinson said the deep cuts to immigration can hit as early as this year.

She added the “million-dollar question” is, “can the city keep up with the growth?”

Gillingham admitted the city may not have enough housing stock.

“Even (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) has said ‘no we don’t.’ That’s why... we partnered with (the federal government) on some of their federal programs, like the Housing Accelerator Fund, to get more housing built, and built sooner and faster.”

From a healthcare perspective, the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP) said the numbers explain the current situation in the field.

“The frontline is stretched beyond capacity. The demand for specialized services, like respiratory therapy or diagnostic imaging, is growing and staffing has not kept up with population growth,” said Jason Linklater, president of the MAHCP.

Other aspects, like mental health and social work, are going to see an increased demand too, he added.