Nanaimo Profile

Explore population, households, income, employment, languages, and dwellings for Nanaimo. Compare trends since 2016 and dig into the full demographic profile below.

National Rank:57 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Nanaimo Population

Total Population (2021)

99,863

Total Population (2016)

90,504

Population Growth

+10.3% (+9,359)

Growth Rank

#124 of 688Same geo level

Male

48.3%48,220

Female

51.7%51,640

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.934

Average Age

44.8

Median Age

45.2

Age Rank

#460 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

4,055(4.1%)

5–9

4,870(4.9%)

10–14

5,215(5.2%)

15–19

4,625(4.6%)

20–24

5,660(5.7%)

25–29

6,250(6.3%)

30–34

6,520(6.5%)

35–39

6,725(6.7%)

40–44

5,910(5.9%)

45–49

5,610(5.6%)

50–54

5,970(6.0%)

55–59

6,725(6.7%)

60–64

7,215(7.2%)

65–69

7,300(7.3%)

70–74

6,485(6.5%)

75–79

4,525(4.5%)

80–84

3,010(3.0%)

85+

3,195(3.2%)

Nanaimo Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.3

Total Private Dwellings

45,138

Occupied Private Dwellings

43,164

Size Distribution

1 Person

13,510 (31.3%)

2 Persons

16,535 (38.3%)

3 Persons

5,940 (13.8%)

4 Persons

4,565 (10.6%)

5+ Persons

2,615 (6.1%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

7,910(18.3%)

Couples without children

12,200(28.3%)

One-parent families

3,715(8.6%)

One-person households

13,510(31.3%)

Multigenerational

980(2.3%)

Multiple-family

325(0.8%)

Nanaimo Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$79,600After tax

Median Household Income

$68,500After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$42,440After tax

Median Individual Income

$36,800After tax

Income Rank

#494 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

78.6%

Employment Income

60.6%

Government Transfers

21.4%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

6,090(7.5%)

$10k–$20k

9,505(11.8%)

$20k–$30k

13,300(16.4%)

$30k–$40k

11,640(14.4%)

$40k–$50k

10,160(12.6%)

$50k–$60k

7,810(9.7%)

$60k–$70k

5,825(7.2%)

$70k–$80k

4,300(5.3%)

$80k–$90k

3,220(4.0%)

$90k–$100k

2,420(3.0%)

$100k+

6,610(8.2%)

Nanaimo Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

55.2%

Unemployment Rate

8.4%

Total Labour Force

49,970

Employed

45,770

Unemployed

4,200

Not in Labour Force

32,935

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

11.1%

Children (0–17)

12.7%

Adults (18–64)

9.8%

Seniors (65+)

13.1%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3030 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.272

Nanaimo Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

91,025 (92.5%)

French Only

30 (0.0%)

English & French

6,675 (6.8%)

Neither

690 (0.7%)

Mother Tongue

English

84,170 (85.5%)

French

1,200 (1.2%)

Non-official languages

11,105 (11.3%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

84,170(85.5%)

Mandarin

1,540(1.6%)

French

1,200(1.2%)

Punjabi

1,165(1.2%)

Tagalog

700(0.7%)

Spanish

580(0.6%)

Vietnamese

535(0.5%)

Korean

520(0.5%)

Arabic

450(0.5%)

Cantonese

410(0.4%)

Nanaimo Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

22,215(51.5%)

Semi-detached

2,145(5.0%)

Row house

1,970(4.6%)

Duplex

6,040(14.0%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

8,235(19.1%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

1,385(3.2%)

Other attached

85(0.2%)

Movable

1,085(2.5%)

Community snapshot

About Nanaimo

Nanaimo is a harbour city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, across the Strait of Georgia from Metro Vancouver. It grew around coal mining and a protected harbour and is now a ferry, service, and recreation centre for mid-Island. Departure Bay and Duke Point terminals link the city to the mainland. About 100,000 people live in Nanaimo.

Known for

Protected harbour and the Hudson’s Bay Bastion
BC Ferries at Departure Bay and Duke Point
Former coal-mining port
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island) just offshore
Gateway to mid-Island beaches and parks

See & do

Nanaimo Bastion
Hudson’s Bay Company fort tower on the harbour.
Maffeo Sutton Park
Waterfront park, seaplane docks, and the Newcastle Island ferry.
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island)
Marine provincial park a short harbour ferry from downtown.
Departure Bay
Beach, promenade, and the main Island-to-mainland ferry terminal.
Buttertubs Marsh
Urban wetland and bird sanctuary.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution