Economic Profile

Niagara is a major gateway to North America, through its 12 municipalities. Located in the heart of Southern Ontario and bordering on the United States, the Niagara Region, of approximately 440,000 people is situated between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.

Its cities and towns are less than a one hour drive to Toronto, Buffalo or Western New York. Businesses are within one day's drive of 55% of all U.S. manufacturing activity, almost half of the U.S. population. Niagara is accessible worldwide through the St. Lawrence Seaway and Welland Canal. The Niagara border is the second busiest commercial crossing between the U.S. and Canada, carrying 19% of all trade between the two countries.

Manufacturing is the region’s major economic driver and includes transportation, machinery, fabricated metal, food processing, primary metal, plastic and rubber. Agriculture, the greenhouse and wine industries are also very important to the region’s economy.

Profile

Population – 442,908
Labour Force – 231,045
Population Density (per square/km) – 230.5
Total Geographical Area – 1,852 km² or 715.1 square miles
Market (500 mile radius) – Estimated 78,147,011 people
Average Income (per capita) – $29,150
Average Household Income – $71,893 
Total Private Dwellings – 179,941
Average Housing Price – $209,563
Housing Starts (2010) – 1,030
Unemployment Rate (November 2011) – 7.6%
Population with Post-Secondary Education – 161,425
Universities within 100km – 18
Retail Sales Estimate – $5,335,805,587
Number of Businesses – 24,453

International Gateway

Value of Trade Crossing Niagara-US Borders, 2010 (CAD) (both ways) – $69,988,947,594
Volume of People Crossing Niagara-US Borders, 2009 (both ways) – 12,729,452

Industrial Composition

Number of Companies by Industry Sector and Employment Size Range, Niagara Region, 2010