The new census numbers released today show Northeastern Ontario is a little less populated than it was five years ago.

In a report released Wedneday, Statistics Canada said about 508,982 people live in the Northeast, down 1,344 from the last census in 2006. The northeast covers an area north to the James Bay coast, south to the Mattawa area, east to the Quebec border and west toward Wawa.

The region of Greater Sudbury saw an increase, however — with 2,400 more residents now than in 2006.

Growth still below national average

Even with the increase in population, Greater Sudbury still fell below the national growth rate over the last five years — a period of time that saw the country spiral into the most serious economic tailspin since the Great Depression. The area's growth rate was below the national growth rate of 5.9 per cent, while the population of Ontario increased by 5.7 per cent.

When the 2011 census was taken last May 10, the population of the metropolitan area of Greater Sudbury was 160,770, compared with 158, 258 from the 2006 census. The population of the actual city of Greater Sudbury was 160,274 — up from 157,857 in 2006.

Canada's population on census day was 33,476,688, Statistics Canada reported. The census indicated that Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury ranked No. 24 among the country's 33 census metropolitan areas.

The national census is conducted every five years. The information published Wednesday is the first of several releases of data to come from Statistics Canada over the next year and longer. The data will eventually paint a detailed picture of the country, right down to the local level — including age breakdowns of the population, family makeup, languages spoken, immigration and ethnic origin, the level of education attained and income earned.

At the national level, the 2011 census showed Canada's population grew the fastest of the G8 countries over the last five years — ahead of the United States (4.4 per cent), the United Kingdom (3.5 per cent), Italy (3.2 per cent), France (2.8 per cent), Russia (0.1 per cent), Japan (no change) and Germany (which had a population decrease of 0.8 per cent).

Looking west

The western provinces, where the recession had less of an impact than in central and eastern Canada, led the way in population growth. Alberta saw the highest increase at 10.8 per cent, followed by British Columbia (7.0 per cent) and Saskatchewan (6.7 per cent). Manitoba (5.2 per cent) was the only western province with a population increase below the national average.

Other provinces below the national growth rate were Nova Scotia (0.9 per cent), Newfoundland and Labrador (1.8 per cent), New Brunswick (2.9 per cent), Prince Edward Island (3.2 per cent), Quebec (4.7 per cent) and Ontario (5.7 per cent).

Among the northern territories, the population changed by 0.0 per cent in the Northwest Territories, 11.6 per cent in the Yukon and 8.3 in Nunavut. Ontario is still the country's most populous province, with a population of 12,851,821.

The population of other provinces and territories: Quebec, 7,903,001; British Columbia, 4,400,057; Alberta, 3,645,257; Manitoba, 1,208,268; Saskatchewan, 1,033,381; Nova Scotia, 921,727; New Brunswick, 751,171; Newfoundland and Labrador, 514,536; Prince Edward Island, 140,204; Northwest Territories, 41,462; Yukon, 33,897 and Nunavut, 31,906.

Here is a local breakdown of census population information for communities in the Greater Sudbury region:

Community	2011	2006	% Change
Greater Sudbury	160,274	157,857	1.5
Sudbury, unorganized, north	2,306	2,415	-4.5
St. Charles	1,282	1,159	10.6
Markstay-Warren	2,297	2,457	-7.2
Espanola	5,364	5,314	0.9
Sables-Spanish Rivers	3,705	3,237	-5.0
Northeastern Manitoulin & Islands	2,706	2,711	-0.2
Sheguiandah	154	160	-3.8
Gore Bay	850	924	-8.0
Temiskaming Shores	10,400	10,442	-0.4

With files from Canadian Press