Latest census data also shows population growth in LaSalle and Lakeshore
New census data shows the population of Windsor-Essex fell below the national growth rate over the last five years.
Statistics Canada released the first batch of numbers from the 2016 census and the population of what the government agency refers to as the census metropolitan area of Windsor increased by 3.1% since the last census in 2011.
The area's growth rate was below the national growth rate of 5%, while the population of Ontario increased by 4.6%.
When the 2016 census was taken last May 10, the population of the census metropolitan area of Windsor was 329,144, compared with 319,246 from the 2011 census. The population of the actual city of Windsor was 217,188, up from from 210,891 in 2011.
The census indicated that Windsor ranked Number 16 among the country's 35 census metropolitan areas.
Lakeshore posted the biggest population increase at 6-percent followed by LaSalle at 5.4%. Leamington had the biggest loss at -2.8%.
Canada's population on census day was 35,151,728, Statistics Canada reported.
Future census releases will give more insight to explain the reasons behind the population changes - whether it's related mostly to changes in birth and death rates, immigration or interprovincial migration.
Here is a local breakdown of census population information for communities in the Windsor region:
Community 2016 2011 %change
Metropolitan Windsor 329,144 319,246 +3.1
City of Windsor 217,188 210,891 +3.0
Leamington 27,595 28,403 -2.8
Essex 19,600 20,427 +4.2
Kingsville 21,552 21,362 +0.9
Amherstburg 21,936 21,556 +1.8
LaSalle 30,180 28,643 +5.4
Tecumseh 23,229 23,610 -1.6
Lakeshore 36,611 34,546 +6.0
Pelee 235 171 +37.4
- with files from the Canadian Press