Saskatchewan, Canada

Saskatchewan is a province in Western Canada, bordered by Alberta to the west, the Northwest Territories to the north, Nunavut to the northeast, Manitoba to the east, and the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota to the south. Along with Alberta, it is one of only two landlocked provinces in the country. As of 2025, the population is estimated at 1,266,234. The province covers 651,900 square kilometres, of which nearly 10% is fresh water made up of rivers, reservoirs, and lakes.

Geography

Saskatchewan is the only province in Canada without a natural border. Its boundaries follow lines of latitude and longitude, giving the province a roughly four-sided shape. The southern edge runs along the 49th parallel and the northern edge along the 60th parallel, while the eastern boundary follows survey lines laid out before the Dominion Lands Act homestead program of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The province has two major natural regions. The southern half is dominated by open prairie, while the northern half is largely covered by boreal forest. Between them lies a strip of aspen parkland that runs along the North Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan rivers. Most residents live in the southern third of the province, below the 53rd parallel.
Saskatchewan also features some surprising landscapes for a province best known for flat farmland. The Lake Athabasca Sand Dunes, on the southern shore of Lake Athabasca, are the largest active sand dunes in the world north of the 58th parallel. The Great Sand Hills in the south cover more than 300 square kilometres. The Cypress Hills in the southwest and the Killdeer Badlands of Grasslands National Park are unusual in that they were not covered by ice during the last glaciation, giving them landforms and ecosystems different from the surrounding plains.

The highest point in the province sits in the Cypress Hills at 1,392 metres, less than two kilometres from the Alberta border. The lowest point is the shore of Lake Athabasca at 213 metres. Saskatchewan contains 14 major drainage basins, with rivers feeding into the Arctic Ocean, Hudson Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Cities and Population

About half of Saskatchewan’s residents live in its two largest cities: Saskatoon, the largest city in the province, and Regina, the capital. Other notable cities include Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Swift Current, North Battleford, Estevan, Weyburn, Melfort, and the border city of Lloydminster, which is shared with Alberta. English is the primary language, spoken as a first language by 82.4% of the population. Saskatchewan’s economy is built on agriculture, mining, and energy. The province is one of the world’s leading producers of wheat, canola, and pulses, and a major source of potash and uranium. Oil, natural gas, and renewable energy also play a significant role in the provincial economy.

Quick Facts

Capital: Regina
Largest city: Saskatoon
Largest metropolitan area: Greater Saskatoon
Total area: 651,900 km² (7th in Canada)
Land area: 591,670 km²
Water area: 59,366 km² (9.1% of total)
Population (Q4 2025 estimate): 1,266,234