Unlike many major North American urbanized areas, yet similarly to other prairie centers in Canada, Saskatoon has absorbed numerous neighbouring communities in its history.

In the past, when the city limits reached the borders of neighbouring municipalities, such as Sutherland and Nutana, they were simply annexed into Saskatoon's jurisdiction.

[4] Census metropolitan area (CMA) is the term Statistics Canada uses to determine the demographics of greater Saskatoon (as well as other large Canadian cities).

According to Canada's 2021 census, the Saskatoon CMA has surpassed a quarter of a million people and is the 17th largest metropolitan area in the country with an estimated population of 317,480.

[2] It is also the largest CMA in Saskatchewan and has a land area of 5,864 square kilometres (2,264 sq mi).