British Columbia Population
Total Population (2021)
5,000,879
Total Population (2016)
4,648,055
Population Growth
+7.6% (+352,824)
Growth Rank
#2 of 10Same geo level
Male
49.1%2,457,515
Female
50.9%2,543,365
Male-to-Female Ratio
0.966
Average Age
43.1
Median Age
42.8
Age Rank
#6 of 10Same geo level
Population Age Distribution
0–4
216,825(4.3%)
5–9
244,290(4.9%)
10–14
255,790(5.1%)
15–19
253,690(5.1%)
20–24
294,650(5.9%)
25–29
337,090(6.7%)
30–34
358,585(7.2%)
35–39
353,350(7.1%)
40–44
319,740(6.4%)
45–49
310,035(6.2%)
50–54
329,005(6.6%)
55–59
356,345(7.1%)
60–64
355,130(7.1%)
65–69
319,405(6.4%)
70–74
272,365(5.4%)
75–79
181,075(3.6%)
80–84
121,055(2.4%)
85+
122,465(2.4%)
British Columbia Households
Household Size
Average Household Size
2.4
Total Private Dwellings
2,211,694
Occupied Private Dwellings
2,041,834
Size Distribution
1 Person
600,705 (29.4%)
2 Persons
719,865 (35.3%)
3 Persons
296,200 (14.5%)
4 Persons
256,700 (12.6%)
5+ Persons
168,355 (8.2%)
Household Composition
Couples with children
463,945(22.7%)
Couples without children
538,825(26.4%)
One-parent families
154,745(7.6%)
One-person households
600,705(29.4%)
Multigenerational
75,700(3.7%)
Multiple-family
20,325(1.0%)
British Columbia Incomes
Summary
Avg. Household Income
$91,100After tax
Median Household Income
$76,000After tax
Avg. Individual Income
$45,600After tax
Median Individual Income
$37,200After tax
Income Rank
#3 of 10Same geo level
Income Composition
Market Income
83.2%
Employment Income
65.8%
Government Transfers
16.8%
Individual Income Distribution
Under $10k
385,230(9.5%)
$10k–$20k
474,245(11.6%)
$20k–$30k
627,895(15.4%)
$30k–$40k
515,780(12.7%)
$40k–$50k
442,130(10.8%)
$50k–$60k
363,335(8.9%)
$60k–$70k
284,130(7.0%)
$70k–$80k
221,755(5.4%)
$80k–$90k
172,110(4.2%)
$90k–$100k
136,185(3.3%)
$100k+
453,550(11.1%)
British Columbia Employment
Labour Force
Employment Rate
57.9%
Unemployment Rate
8.4%
Total Labour Force
2,657,275
Employed
2,433,600
Unemployed
223,675
Not in Labour Force
1,543,145
Low Income Prevalence
Overall Low-Income Rate
10.8%
Children (0–17)
11.4%
Adults (18–64)
9.7%
Seniors (65+)
13.7%
Gini Coefficient (Total)
0.3460 = perfect equality
Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)
0.306
British Columbia Languages
Language Knowledge
English Only
4,461,290 (90.1%)
French Only
1,785 (0.0%)
English & French
326,865 (6.6%)
Neither
161,720 (3.3%)
Mother Tongue
English
3,325,035 (67.1%)
French
57,420 (1.2%)
Non-official languages
1,379,145 (27.9%)
Top Mother Tongue Languages
English
3,325,035(67.1%)
Punjabi
240,865(4.9%)
Mandarin
205,205(4.1%)
Cantonese
192,140(3.9%)
Tagalog
82,835(1.7%)
Spanish
60,465(1.2%)
Korean
59,935(1.2%)
Persian
57,700(1.2%)
French
57,420(1.2%)
Vietnamese
32,560(0.7%)
British Columbia Dwellings
Dwelling Type
Single-detached
866,340(42.4%)
Semi-detached
62,890(3.1%)
Row house
168,590(8.3%)
Duplex
249,835(12.2%)
Apt. < 5 storeys
417,475(20.4%)
Apt. ≥ 5 storeys
221,845(10.9%)
Other attached
3,760(0.2%)
Movable
51,100(2.5%)
Population by city
85 municipalities in British Columbia, largest first. Each name links to its full profile.
| Name | Population | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 662,248 | +4.9% |
| Surrey | 568,322 | +9.7% |
| Burnaby | 249,125 | +7.0% |
| Richmond | 209,937 | +5.9% |
| Abbotsford | 153,524 | +8.6% |
| Coquitlam | 148,625 | +6.7% |
| Kelowna | 144,576 | +13.5% |
| Langley | 132,603 | +13.1% |
| Saanich | 117,735 | +3.1% |
| Delta | 108,455 | +6.1% |
| Nanaimo | 99,863 | +10.3% |
| Kamloops | 97,902 | +8.4% |
| Chilliwack | 93,203 | +11.2% |
| Victoria | 91,867 | +7.1% |
| Maple Ridge | 90,990 | +10.6% |
| North Vancouver | 88,168 | +2.9% |
| New Westminster | 78,916 | +11.2% |
| Prince George | 76,708 | +3.7% |
| Port Coquitlam | 61,498 | +4.9% |
| North Vancouver | 58,120 | +9.9% |
| Langford | 46,584 | +31.8% |
| Vernon | 44,519 | +11.0% |
| West Vancouver | 44,122 | +3.9% |
| Mission | 41,519 | +7.7% |
| Penticton | 36,885 | +9.3% |
Show all (60 more)
| Name | Population | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| West Kelowna | 36,078 | +10.5% |
| Campbell River | 35,519 | +7.6% |
| Port Moody | 33,535 | 0.0% |
| North Cowichan | 31,990 | +7.7% |
| Langley | 28,963 | +11.9% |
| Courtenay | 28,420 | +10.8% |
| Squamish | 23,819 | +22.2% |
| White Rock | 21,939 | +10.0% |
| Fort St. John | 21,465 | +5.9% |
| Cranbrook | 20,499 | +2.3% |
| Salmon Arm | 19,432 | +9.7% |
| Pitt Meadows | 19,146 | +3.1% |
| Colwood | 18,961 | +12.5% |
| Port Alberni | 18,259 | +3.3% |
| Oak Bay | 17,990 | -0.6% |
| Esquimalt | 17,533 | -0.7% |
| Central Saanich | 17,385 | +3.4% |
| Lake Country | 15,817 | +22.4% |
| Sooke | 15,086 | +16.0% |
| Comox | 14,806 | +5.5% |
| Whistler | 13,982 | +19.0% |
| Powell River | 13,943 | +6.0% |
| Parksville | 13,642 | +9.5% |
| Dawson Creek | 12,323 | +1.2% |
| Sidney | 12,318 | +5.5% |
| Prince Rupert | 12,300 | +0.7% |
| North Saanich | 12,235 | +8.8% |
| Summerland | 12,042 | +3.7% |
| Terrace | 12,017 | +3.2% |
| Saltspring Island | 11,635 | +10.2% |
| View Royal | 11,575 | +11.2% |
| Coldstream | 11,171 | +4.9% |
| Nelson | 11,106 | +5.1% |
| Williams Lake | 10,947 | +1.8% |
| Sechelt | 10,847 | +6.2% |
| Quesnel | 9,889 | +0.1% |
| Qualicum Beach | 9,303 | +4.0% |
| Comox Valley C (Puntledge - Black Creek) | 9,158 | +6.8% |
| Ladysmith | 8,990 | +5.3% |
| Castlegar | 8,338 | +3.7% |
| Revelstoke | 8,275 | +9.4% |
| Kitimat | 8,236 | +1.3% |
| Kimberley | 8,115 | +9.3% |
| Trail | 7,920 | +2.7% |
| Nanaimo A | 7,481 | +6.0% |
| Merritt | 7,051 | -1.2% |
| Hope | 6,686 | +8.2% |
| Fernie | 6,320 | +17.1% |
| Kent | 6,300 | +3.8% |
| Southern Gulf Islands | 6,101 | +28.9% |
| Peachland | 5,789 | +6.7% |
| Creston | 5,583 | +4.1% |
| Osoyoos | 5,556 | +10.0% |
| Smithers | 5,378 | -0.4% |
| Armstrong | 5,323 | +4.1% |
| Cariboo G | 5,312 | +3.0% |
| Spallumcheen | 5,307 | +3.9% |
| Oliver | 5,094 | +3.4% |
| Metchosin | 5,067 | +7.6% |
| Duncan | 5,047 | +2.1% |
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