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Demographics of British Columbia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

British Columbia is a Canadian province with a population of over 5.7 million people. The province represents about 13.2% of the Canadian population. Most of the population is between the ages of 15 and 49. About 60 percent of British Columbians have European descent with significant Asian and Aboriginal minorities. Just under 30% of British Columbians are immigrants. Over half of the population is irreligious, with Christianity and Sikhism being the most followed religions.

Life expectancy in the province in 2019 was 82.7 years (80.6 for male, 85.0 for female)[1]

Vital statistics

More information Total population, Live births ...
British Columbia vital statistics since 1971[2]
Total population Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Total fertility rate
1971 2,240,500 34,500 17,800 16,700 15.40 7.94 7.45
1972 2,302,100 34,600 17,900 16,700 15.03 7.78 7.25 1.966
1973 2,367,300 34,500 18,800 15,600 14.57 7.94 6.59 1.875
1974 2,442,600 36,200 19,400 16,800 14.82 7.94 6.88 1.769
1975 2,499,600 36,100 19,100 17,000 14.44 7.64 6.80 1.756
1976 2,533,900 36,200 18,200 18,000 14.29 7.18 7.10 1.690
1977 2,570,300 36,700 18,900 17,800 14.28 7.35 6.93 1.649
1978 2,615,200 38,000 19,100 18,900 14.53 7.30 7.23 1.630
1979 2,665,200 38,900 19,200 19,700 14.60 7.21 7.39 1.637
1980 2,745,900 40,900 19,700 21,200 14.89 7.17 7.72 1.615
1981 2,826,600 42,700 20,200 22,500 15.10 7.14 7.96 1.619
1982 2,876,500 42,400 20,300 22,100 14.74 7.06 7.68 1.664
1983 2,907,500 43,700 20,400 23,300 15.03 7.02 8.02 1.631
1984 2,947,200 43,500 20,800 22,700 14.76 7.06 7.71 1.661
1985 2,975,100 42,400 21,400 21,000 14.25 7.19 7.06 1.675
1986 3,003,600 42,200 21,300 20,900 14.05 7.09 6.96 1.623
1987 3,048,700 41,900 22,700 19,200 13.75 7.44 6.30 1.609
1988 3,114,800 43,600 22,600 21,000 13.99 7.26 6.74 1.659
1989 3,196,700 45,200 23,300 21,900 14.13 7.29 6.85 1.696
1990 3,292,100 45,100 23,700 21,300 13.70 7.20 6.48 1.663
1991 3,373,800 46,100 24,300 21,800 13.66 7.21 6.46 1.696
1992 3,468,800 46,000 25,600 20,300 13.26 7.38 5.86 1.663
1993 3,567,800 46,400 25,500 20,900 13.01 7.15 5.86 1.651
1994 3,676,100 47,000 26,300 20,700 12.78 7.15 5.63 1.645
1995 3,777,400 46,900 27,000 19,900 12.42 7.15 5.27 1.619
1996 3,874,300 45,300 27,600 17,700 11.69 7.12 4.57 1.529
1997 3,948,600 43,600 27,900 15,700 11.04 7.07 3.98 1.461
1998 3,983,100 42,600 27,800 14,800 10.70 6.98 3.72 1.441
1999 4,011,400 41,600 27,700 13,900 10.37 6.90 3.47 1.418
2000 4,039,200 40,400 27,900 12,500 10.00 6.91 3.09 1.388
2001 4,076,900 39,900 28,800 11,200 9.79 7.06 2.75 1.376
2002 4,100,500 40,500 28,700 11,800 9.87 7.00 2.88 1.412
2003 4,124,400 40,200 29,900 10,300 9.75 7.25 2.50 1.415
2004 4,155,600 40,700 30,400 10,300 9.80 7.31 2.48 1.436
2005 4,196,100 41,200 30,400 10,800 9.82 7.25 2.57 1.455
2006 4,241,800 42,400 31,000 11,400 10.00 7.31 2.69 1.490
2007 4,291,000 44,100 32,000 12,100 10.28 7.46 2.82 1.537
2008 4,349,300 44,700 31,400 13,300 10.28 7.22 3.06 1.531
2009 4,410,500 44,600 31,400 13,200 10.11 7.12 2.99 1.500
2010 4,465,600 43,900 31,700 12,200 9.83 7.10 2.73 1.451
2011 4,503,800 43,800 32,300 11,500 9.72 7.17 2.55 1.434
2012 4,570,900 44,200 32,900 11,300 9.67 7.20 2.47 1.428
2013 4,634,900 43,900 33,200 10,700 9.48 7.17 2.31 1.399
2014 4,712,700 44,500 34,800 9,600 9.44 7.38 2.04 1.393
2015 4,765,500 44,700 35,600 9,100 9.38 7.47 1.91 1.394
2016 4,861,300 45,000 38,400 6,600 9.26 7.90 1.36 1.369
2017 4,934,200 44,300 38,100 6,200 8.98 7.72 1.26 1.318
2018 5,021,000 43,400 38,600 4,900 8.64 7.69 0.95 1.256
2019 5,111,000 43,100 39,200 3,900 8.43 7.67 0.76 1.209
2020 5,176,100 42,900 42,800 100 8.29 8.27 0.02 1.175
2021 5,226,700 43,000 45,600 −2,700 8.22 8.72 −0.52 1.153
2022 5,356,300 41,000 45,100 −4,100 7.65 8.42 −0.77 1.058
2023 5,519,000 41,800 43,100 −1,300 7.57 7.81 −0.24 1.040
2024 5,682,100 43,000 43,200 −200 7.57 7.60 −0.04 1.052
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More information Total population, Total fertility rate ...
British Columbia total fertility rate projections[2]
Total population Total fertility rate
2026 5,812,800 1.076
2027 5,901,600 1.082
2028 5,997,300 1.086
2029 6,093,500 1.088
2030 6,189,400 1.088
2031 6,284,800 1.085
2032 6,379,700 1.082
2033 6,473,900 1.077
2034 6,567,600 1.071
2035 6,660,500 1.065
2036 6,752,800 1.057
2037 6,844,200 1.049
2038 6,934,700 1.041
2039 7,024,200 1.031
2040 7,112,500 1.022
2041 7,199,400 1.012
2042 7,284,800 1.002
2043 7,368,900 0.991
2044 7,451,500 0.981
2045 7,532,800 0.970
2046 7,612,800 0.959
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Age structure

More information Males, Females ...
  Males Females
Age group Number Percent Number Percent
0–4 111,015 2.22% 105,805 2.12%
5–9 125,810 2.52% 118,485 2.37%
10–14 132,425 2.65% 123,365 2.47%
15–19 131,245 2.62% 122,445 2.45%
20–24 151,505 3.03% 143,145 2.86%
25–29 170,500 3.41% 166,585 3.33%
30–34 178,925 3.58% 179,660 3.59%
35–39 175,175 3.5% 178,175 3.56%
40–44 156,480 3.13% 163,260 3.26%
45–49 149,520 2.99% 160,515 3.21%
50–54 158,540 3.17% 170,460 3.41%
55–59 172,520 3.45% 183,825 3.68%
60–64 170,210 3.40% 184,920 3.7%
65–69 152,705 3.05% 166,700 3.33%
70–74 130,370 2.61% 141,995 2.84%
75–79 86,060 1.72% 95,015 1.9%
80–84 55,285 1.11% 65,780 1.32%
85-89 32,315 0.65% 42,005 0.84%
90-94 13,715 0.27% 23,120 0.46%
95-99 2,865 0.06% 6,925 0.14%
100+ 330 <0.01% 1,185 0.02%
Totals 2,457,515 49.14% 2,543,365 50.86%
Source: 2021 Canadian census[3]
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Percentage surviving

Main article: List of Canadian provinces and territories by life expectancy § Percentage surviving in 2019

The percentage surviving is the percent of the population that would survive to certain age if their life conditions, in a given year, were extrapolated to their whole life. Data for 2019.

Percentage surviving to certain ages in British Columbia in 2019. Life expectancy in the province in that year was 82.74 years.[1]
More information Age, Percentage surviving ...
Percentage surviving to certain ages in British Columbia (2019)[4]
Age Percentage surviving F Δ M F / M
Male Female
199.699.70.11.00
599.699.70.11.00
1099.599.60.11.00
1599.599.60.11.00
2099.399.40.11.00
2598.999.30.41.00
3098.499.10.71.01
3597.798.81.11.01
4097.098.41.41.01
4596.297.91.81.02
5095.097.22.31.02
5593.396.22.91.03
6090.894.73.91.04
6587.392.55.21.06
7082.189.17.01.09
7574.383.79.41.13
8063.075.012.01.19
8547.461.514.11.30
9028.542.013.51.48
9511.119.88.71.78
1002.2165.1552.9392.33
1050.1880.5770.3893.07
1100.0060.0250.0194.17
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Population history

PopulationYear01,000,0002,000,0003,000,0004,000,0005,000,0006,000,00018301860189019201950198020102040Population of British Columbia
View chart definition.
More information Year, Population ...
Year Population Five year
 % change		 Ten year
 % change		 Rank among
provinces
185155,000n/an/an/a
186151,524n/a−6.3n/a
187136,247n/a−29.77
188149,459n/a36.48
189198,173n/a98.58
1901178,657n/a82.06
1911392,480n/a119.76
1921524,582n/a33.76
1931694,263n/a32.36
1941817,861n/a17.84
19511,165,210n/a42.53
19561,398,46420.0n/a3
19611,629,08216.539.83
19661,873,67415.034.03
19712,184,62016.634.13
19762,466,61012.931.63
19812,744,46711.325.63
19862,883,3705.116.93
19913,282,06113.819.63
19963,724,50013.529.23
20013,907,7384.919.13
20064,113,4875.410.43
20114,400,0577.012.63
20164,648,0555.613.03
20215,000,8797.613.73
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Source: Statistics Canada[5]

Ethnic origins

First-generation immigrants from the British Isles remain a strong component of local society despite the end of special immigration status for British subjects in the 1960s. Also present in large numbers relative to other Canadian cities (except Toronto) is a diverse background of European ethnicities, with many first- and second-generation immigrants, notably Germans, Ukrainians, Scandinavians, Yugoslavs and Italians. Third-generation Europeans are generally of mixed lineage, traditionally intermarrying with other ethnic groups more than in any other Canadian province.

In recent decades, the proportion of people with Chinese and Indian ethnicity has risen sharply, specifically in the Lower Mainland. This has led to an extremely diverse population compared to many other provinces, especially the neighbouring prairie provinces.

Note: The following statistics represent both single (e.g., "German") and multiple (e.g., "part Chinese, part English") responses to the 2006 and 2016 census, and thus add up to more than 100%.

More information Ethnic group, Pop. ...
Ethnic groups in British Columbia (2006–2016)
Ethnic group 2016[6] 2006[7]
Pop. % Pop. %
English 1,203,540 26.39% 1,207,245 29.63%
Canadian 866,530 19% 720,200 17.67%
Scottish 860,775 18.88% 828,145 20.32%
Irish 675,135 14.80% 618,120 15.17%
German 603,265 13.23% 561,570 13.78%
Chinese 540,155 11.84% 432,435 10.60%
French 388,815 8.53% 361,215 8.86%
Indian 309,315 6.78% 232,370 5.70%
Ukrainian 229,205 5.03% 197,265 4.84%
Indigenous peoples of North America 220,245 4.83% 193,060 4.74%
Dutch (Netherlands) 213,670 4.69% 196,420 4.82%
Italian 166,095 3.64% 143,155 3.51%
Polish 149,635 3.28% 128,360 3.15%
Norwegian 138,430 3.04% 129,420 3.18%
Russian 131,060 2.87% 114,105 2.80%
Welsh 113,905 2.5% 104,275 2.56%
Swedish 110,030 2.41% 104,025 2.55%
Filipino 158,215 3.47% 94,255 2.3%
Métis 90,515 1.98% 62,570 1.5%
American (USA) 78,170 1.71% 66,765 1.6%
Spanish 64,470 1.41% 52,640 1.3%
Korean 63,300 1.39% 51,860 1.3%
Danish 58,205 1.28% 56,125 1.4%
Hungarian (Magyar) 56,535 1.24% 49,870 1.2%
Japanese 51,150 1.12% 41,585 1.0%
Austrian 48,510 1.06% 46,620 1.1%
Iranian 47,985 1.05% 29,265 0.7%
Portuguese 41,770 0.92% 34,660 0.9%
Vietnamese 41,435 0.91% 30,835 0.8%
Punjabi 38,725 0.85% 18,525 0.5%
Finnish 34,150 0.75% 29,875 0.7%
Swiss 31,390 0.69% 28,240 0.7%
Romanian 31,250 0.69% 25,670 0.6%
Icelandic 26,410 0.58% 22,110 0.5%
Greek 24,460 0.54% 21,770 0.5%
Croatian 23,845 0.52% 18,815 0.5%
Czech 23,375 0.51% 21,150 0.5%
Belgian 19,980 0.44% 17,510 0.4%
Jewish 17,580 0.39% 30,830 0.8%
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Projections

More information Population, % ...
Pan-ethnic origin projections (2031–2041)
2031[8][9] 2036[8][9] 2041[8][9]
Population % Population % Population %
European[10]
 3,145,000 51.46% 3,112,000 48.23% 3,060,000 45.37%
East Asian
 977,000 15.99% 1,072,000 16.61% 1,160,000 17.2%
Chinese
 789,000 12.91% 861,000 13.34% 927,000 13.75%
Korean
 125,000 2.05% 143,000 2.22% 161,000 2.39%
Japanese
 63,000 1.03% 68,000 1.05% 72,000 1.07%
South Asian
 748,000 12.24% 860,000 13.33% 958,000 14.21%
Indigenous
 399,000 6.53% 429,000 6.65% 456,000 6.76%
First Nations
 246,000 4.03% 262,000 4.06% 278,000 4.12%
Metis
 142,000 2.32% 155,000 2.4% 166,000 2.46%
Inuit
 2,000 0.03% 2,000 0.03% 3,000 0.04%
Other Indigenous
 9,000 0.15% 10,000 0.15% 10,000 0.15%
Southeast Asian
 366,000 5.99% 421,000 6.52% 475,000 7.04%
Filipino
 277,000 4.53% 323,000 5.01% 369,000 5.47%
Other Southeast Asian
 89,000 1.46% 98,000 1.52% 106,000 1.57%
Middle Eastern
 169,000 2.77% 199,000 3.08% 227,000 3.37%
Arab
 55,000 0.9% 65,000 1.01% 74,000 1.1%
West Asian
 114,000 1.87% 134,000 2.08% 153,000 2.27%
Latin American
 108,000 1.77% 124,000 1.92% 139,000 2.06%
African
 101,000 1.65% 118,000 1.83% 134,000 1.99%
Other
 99,000 1.62% 117,000 1.81% 135,000 2%
Projected British Columbia population 6,111,000 100% 6,453,000 100% 6,744,000 100%
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Visible minorities and Indigenous peoples

Population of British Columbia by visible minority and indigenous identity (2021):[11]
  1. European Canadian (59.7%)
  2. Visible minority (34.4%)
  3. Indigenous (5.90%)
More information Group, Population ...
Visible minority & Indigenous population in British Columbia (1986–2021)
Group Population 2021 census[12][13][14] 2016 census[15][16][17] 2011 census[18][19][20] 2006 census[21][22][23] 2001 census[24][25][26] 1996 census[27][28][29] 1991 census[30][31][32] 1986 census[33][34][35]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Non-Indigenous / non-visible minority group British Isles[a][b] 1,848,810 37.61% 1,926,040 42.24% 1,905,685 44.07% 1,860,675 45.67% 1,737,150 44.9% 1,779,120 48.22% 1,906,900 58.72% 1,818,270 63.81%
Western European[a] 789,950 16.07% 839,860 18.42% 797,115 18.43% 783,100 19.22% 700,840 18.11% 692,295 18.76% 677,210 20.85% 567,900 19.93%
Eastern European[a] 517,020 10.52% 569,260 12.48% 515,665 11.92% 493,365 12.11% 422,570 10.92% 395,450 10.72% 359,355 11.07% 283,795 9.96%
French[a][b] 367,465 7.47% 394,585 8.65% 374,515 8.66% 364,105 8.94% 333,330 8.62% 340,200 9.22% 340,430 10.48% 300,350 10.54%
Southern European[a] 358,820 7.3% 334,740 7.34% 303,170 7.01% 291,330 7.15% 245,130 6.34% 225,680 6.12% 196,495 6.05% 161,890 5.68%
Northern European[a] 355,985 7.24% 346,525 7.6% 333,085 7.7% 321,970 7.9% 282,815 7.31% 275,145 7.46% 243,850 7.51% 198,220 6.96%
European, n.i.e. & n.o.s.[a] 115,110 2.34% 34,695 0.76% 45,605 1.05% 41,285 1.01% 39,000 1.01% 36,135 0.98% 33,875 1.04% 25,870 0.91%
Total non-Indigenous / non-visible minority population[c] 2,936,240 59.73% 2,908,415 63.78% 2,911,300 67.32% 2,869,450 70.43% 2,862,405 73.99% 2,894,320 78.44% 2,612,565 80.45% 2,428,070 85.21%
Visible minority[d] group Chinese 550,590 11.2% 508,480 11.15% 438,145 10.13% 407,225 9.99% 365,485 9.45% 299,860 8.13% 192,330 5.92% 121,645 4.27%
South Asian 473,970 9.64% 365,705 8.02% 313,440 7.25% 262,290 6.44% 210,295 5.44% 158,435 4.29% 118,165 3.64% 76,650 2.69%
Filipino 174,275 3.55% 145,030 3.18% 126,035 2.91% 88,075 2.16% 64,005 1.65% 47,080 1.28% 31,095 0.96% 17,955 0.63%
Korean 72,820 1.48% 60,495 1.33% 53,770 1.24% 50,490 1.24% 31,965 0.83% 19,050 0.52% 9,375 0.29% 5,595 0.2%
Southeast Asian 71,785 1.46% 54,920 1.2% 51,970 1.2% 40,690 1% 34,970 0.9% 25,360 0.69% 17,540 0.54% 9,815 0.34%
West Asian 69,270 1.41% 48,695 1.07% 38,960 0.9% 29,810 0.73% 22,380 0.58% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Latin American 65,970 1.34% 44,115 0.97% 35,465 0.82% 28,960 0.71% 23,880 0.62% 17,655 0.48% 15,425 0.47% 6,265 0.22%
Black 61,755 1.26% 43,500 0.95% 33,260 0.77% 28,315 0.69% 25,465 0.66% 23,275 0.63% 22,885 0.7% 14,510 0.51%
Multiple visible minorities 58,840 1.2% 40,465 0.89% 31,160 0.72% 25,415 0.62% 14,465 0.37% 11,850 0.32% 7,600 0.23% 6,620 0.23%
Japanese 44,125 0.9% 41,235 0.9% 38,115 0.88% 35,060 0.86% 32,730 0.85% 29,815 0.81% 26,225 0.81% 20,915 0.73%
Arab 28,010 0.57% 19,840 0.44% 14,090 0.33% 8,635 0.21% 6,605 0.17% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Visible minority, n.i.e. 18,080 0.37% 8,765 0.19% 6,465 0.15% 3,880 0.1% 4,195 0.11% 8,075 0.22% 3,765 0.12% 6,135 0.22%
Arab/West Asian N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 20,090 0.54% 18,065 0.56% 8,780 0.31%
Total visible minority population[c] 1,689,490 34.37% 1,381,240 30.29% 1,180,870 27.31% 1,008,855 24.76% 836,440 21.62% 660,545 17.9% 462,470 14.24% 294,885 10.35%
Indigenous[e] group First Nations 180,085 3.66% 172,520 3.78% 155,015 3.58% 129,575 3.18% 118,290 3.06% 107,370 2.91% 149,565[f] 4.61% 110,520 3.88%
Métis 97,860 1.99% 89,405 1.96% 69,475 1.61% 59,445 1.46% 44,270 1.14% 25,575 0.69% 22,295[f] 0.69% 13,065 0.46%
Multiple Indigenous responses 5,980 0.12% 4,345 0.1% 2,475 0.06% 1,655 0.04% 1,175 0.03% 1,200 0.03% N/a N/a 2,300 0.08%
Indigenous responses, n.i.e. 4,560 0.09% 2,695 0.06% 3,745 0.09% 4,605 0.11% 5,490 0.14% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Inuk (Inuit) 1,720 0.03% 1,615 0.04% 1,570 0.04% 795 0.02% 805 0.02% 740 0.02% 1,990[f] 0.06% 745 0.03%
Total Indigenous population[c] 290,210 5.9% 270,585 5.93% 232,285 5.37% 196,075 4.81% 170,025 4.39% 134,890 3.66% 172,470 5.31% 126,630 4.44%
Total responses 4,915,940 98.3% 4,560,240 98.11% 4,324,455 98.28% 4,074,380 99.05% 3,868,870 99.01% 3,689,755 99.07% 3,247,505 98.95% 2,849,585 98.83%
Total population 5,000,879 100% 4,648,055 100% 4,400,057 100% 4,113,487 100% 3,907,738 100% 3,724,500 100% 3,282,061 100% 2,883,367 100%
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Languages

Knowledge of languages

More information Language, Percent ...
Top languages known in British Columbia
2021 census[g]
Language Percent
English
 
 96.69%
Chinese[h]
 
 9.94%
French
 
 6.66%
Punjabi
 
 6.41%
Spanish
 
 2.93%
Hindi[i]
 
 2.75%
Tagalog
 
 2.72%
German[j]
 
 1.76%
Korean
 
 1.42%
Persian[k]
 
 1.40%
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The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses, and first appeared on the 1991 census.[l]

More information Language, 2016 census ...
Knowledge of languages in British Columbia (1991–2021)
Language 2021 census
[39][40]		 2016 census 2011 census 2006 census
[41]		 2001 census
[42][43][44][45][38]		 1996 census
[46][47][48][49]		 1991 census
[50][51][52]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
English 4,753,275 96.69% 4,405,380 96.6% 4,209,595 96.63% 3,949,010 96.92% 3,763,045 97.26% 3,590,935 97.32% 3,183,500 98.03%
Chinese[h] 488,470 9.94% 454,885 9.98% 440,475 10.11% 421,195 10.34% 375,815 9.71% 276,880 7.5% 170,735 5.26%
French 327,350 6.66% 314,225 6.89% 298,690 6.86% 297,715 7.31% 271,175 7.01% 250,365 6.79% 208,310 6.41%
Punjabi 315,000 6.41% 244,485 5.36% 213,315 4.9% 184,590 4.53% 142,785 3.69% 112,365 3.05% 77,830 2.4%
Spanish 143,900 2.93% 115,115 2.52% 97,195 2.23% 89,305 2.19% 77,300 2% 62,155 1.68% 47,025 1.45%
Hindi[i] 134,950 2.75% 81,330 1.78% 66,870 1.54% 70,120 1.72% 63,750 1.65% 45,160 1.22% 32,790 1.01%
Tagalog 133,780 2.72% 113,265 2.48% 99,900 2.29% 71,880 1.76% 52,655 1.36% 40,240 1.09% 25,595 0.79%
German[j] 86,490 1.76% 95,665 2.1% 97,265 2.23% 125,255 3.07% 121,995 3.15% 128,640 3.49% 127,165 3.92%
Korean 69,935 1.42% 57,490 1.26% 51,140 1.17% 49,130 1.21% 29,780 0.77% 17,655 0.48% 8,370 0.26%
Persian[k] 68,965 1.4% 49,835 1.09% 39,715 0.91% 31,550 0.77% 24,060 0.62% 15,175 0.41% 7,915 0.24%
Russian 42,395 0.86% 33,990 0.75% 29,635 0.68% 25,980 0.64% 22,750 0.59% 19,335 0.52% 16,555 0.51%
Vietnamese 41,970 0.85% 34,140 0.75% 30,810 0.71% 30,755 0.75% 29,835 0.77% 21,740 0.59% 15,420 0.47%
Japanese 41,840 0.85% 36,990 0.81% 33,455 0.77% 33,265 0.82% 31,310 0.81% 27,685 0.75% 20,905 0.64%
Italian 36,370 0.74% 37,475 0.82% 35,890 0.82% 40,865 1% 42,720 1.1% 41,905 1.14% 41,640 1.28%
Arabic 35,595 0.72% 24,230 0.53% 17,475 0.4% 12,170 0.3% 9,960 0.26% 7,675 0.21% 4,735 0.15%
Portuguese 33,000 0.67% 23,260 0.51% 18,435 0.42% 18,435 0.45% 18,135 0.47% 18,755 0.51% 17,495 0.54%
Urdu[i] 25,785 0.52% 16,750 0.37% 13,375 0.31% 12,255 0.3% 11,630 0.3% 7,490 0.2% 4,975 0.15%
Dutch 22,375 0.46% 24,060 0.53% 27,485 0.63% 31,220 0.77% 32,320 0.84% 34,780 0.94% 33,450 1.03%
Serbo-Croatian 21,620 0.44% 23,395 0.51% 20,250 0.46% 22,325 0.55% 20,195 0.52% 15,965 0.43% 8,640 0.27%
Polish 19,645 0.4% 19,175 0.42% 18,585 0.43% 19,520 0.48% 20,320 0.53% 20,800 0.56% 17,335 0.53%
Gujarati 14,340 0.29% 11,500 0.25% 9,325 0.21% 10,410 0.26% 10,520 0.27% 10,080 0.27% 8,120 0.25%
Scandinavian[m] 12,430 0.25% 13,585 0.3% 14,220 0.33% 16,930 0.42% 18,105 0.47% 20,435 0.55% 22,755 0.7%
Ukrainian 12,205 0.25% 10,740 0.24% 11,410 0.26% 14,375 0.35% 17,295 0.45% 18,010 0.49% 21,070 0.65%
Romanian 11,215 0.23% 10,045 0.22% 8,630 0.2% 7,170 0.18% 5,760 0.15% 4,090 0.11% 2,075 0.06%
Tamil 9,735 0.2% 5,445 0.12% 5,345 0.12% 4,230 0.1% 3,270 0.08% 1,705 0.05% 865 0.03%
Hungarian 9,230 0.19% 10,495 0.23% 10,040 0.23% 12,045 0.3% 12,205 0.32% 12,885 0.35% 11,885 0.37%
Greek 9,005 0.18% 9,095 0.2% 8,070 0.19% 9,315 0.23% 9,325 0.24% 9,330 0.25% 8,960 0.28%
Hebrew 7,000 0.14% 5,450 0.12% 4,505 0.1% 4,430 0.11% 3,640 0.09% 3,490 0.09% 2,370 0.07%
Finnish 3,635 0.07% 4,030 0.09% 3,755 0.09% 5,320 0.13% 5,645 0.15% 6,230 0.17% 6,480 0.2%
Creoles 3,225 0.07% 2,485 0.05% 1,520 0.03% 1,350 0.03% 985 0.03% 825 0.02% 570 0.02%
Armenian 1,595 0.03% 1,680 0.04% 1,240 0.03% 1,145 0.03% 1,145 0.03% 895 0.02% 1,045 0.03%
Cree[n] 1,450 0.03% 1,600 0.04% 1,500 0.03% 1,655 0.04% 2,145 0.06% 2,400 0.07% 2,100 0.06%
Total responses 4,915,945 98.3% 4,560,240 98.1% 4,356,210 99% 4,074,385 99% 3,868,875 99% 3,689,760 99.1% 3,247,505 98.9%
Total population 5,000,879 100% 4,648,055 100% 4,400,057 100% 4,113,487 100% 3,907,738 100% 3,724,500 100% 3,282,061 100%
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Mother tongue

Figures shown are for the number of single language responses and the percentage of total single-language responses. Numerous other languages were also counted, but only languages with more than 2,000 native speakers are shown.

More information Language, 2016 census ...
Language 2016 census % 2006 census %
English3,170,11070.5%2,875,77071.5%
Punjabi198,8054.4%158,7503.9%
Cantonese193,5304.3%131,2453.3%
Mandarin186,3254.1%72,1601.8%
Tagalog (Filipino)78,7701.8%50,4251.3%
German66,8851.5%86,6902.2%
French55,3251.2%54,7451.4%
Korean52,1601.2%46,5001.2%
Spanish47,0101.0%34,0750.9%
Persian43,4701.0%28,1500.7%
Vietnamese27,1500.6%24,5600.7%
Hindi26,7200.6%23,2400.6%
Russian25,9550.6%19,3200.5%
Italian22,6800.5%27,0200.7%
Japanese21,3500.5%20,0400.5%
Dutch21,0200.5%26,3550.7%
Arabic17,4800.4%8,4400.2%
Portuguese17,4500.4%14,3850.4%
Polish16,9100.4%17,5650.4%
Chinese, n.o.s.10,0500.2%132,7553.2%
Urdu9,8850.2%7,0250.2%
Hungarian9,0250.2%10,6700.3%
Romanian8,7300.2%6,3350.2%
Ukrainian8,6300.2%12,2850.3%
Croatian7,4750.2%8,5050.2%
Serbian7,0450.2%6,1800.2%
Gujarati6,8950.2%6,5650.2%
Greek6,1150.1%6,6200.2%
Czech5,9200.1%6,0000.1%
Ilocano5,2400.1%3,1000.1%
Danish4,6650.1%6,7200.2%
Malay3,8950.1%3,1000.1%
Finnish3,7600.1%4,7700.1%
Tamil3,6150.1%3,2000.1%
Slovak3,4000.1%3,4900.1%
Turkish3,1450.1%2,2550.1%
Swedish2,5200.1%2,8750.1%
Athabaskan languages2,3100.1%3,5000.1%
Salish languages2,2700.1%3,1900.1%
Norwegian2,0050.1%3,2750.1%
Source: Statistics Canada 2006 & 2016 census[53][54]
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Religion

Religion in British Columbia (2021)[55]
  1. Irreligious (52.2%)
  2. Christian (34.4%)
  3. Sikh (5.90%)
  4. Muslim (2.60%)
  5. Buddhist (1.70%)
  6. Hindu (1.70%)
  7. Jewish (0.50%)
  8. Other (1.00%)

The largest denominations by number of adherents according to the 2021 census were Irreligion (atheist, agnostic, and so on.) with 2,559,250 (52.2%); Christianity with 1,684,870 (34.4%); Sikhism with 290,870 (5.9%); Islam with 125,915 (2.6%); Buddhism with 83,860 (1.7%); and Hinduism with 81,320 (1.7%).

More information Religious group, Pop. ...
Religious groups in British Columbia (1981−2021)
Religious group 2021 census
[56][57][58][59]		 2011 census
[60][61][62]		 2001 census
[63][64][65][66]		 1991 census
[66][67][68][69]		 1981 census
[70][71][72][73]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Irreligion 2,559,250 52.06% 1,908,285 44.13% 1,388,300 35.88% 987,990 30.42% 568,170 20.94%
Christianity 1,684,870 34.27% 1,930,415 44.64% 2,124,605 54.92% 2,073,095 63.84% 2,048,000 75.47%
Sikhism 290,870 5.92% 201,110 4.65% 135,310 3.5% 74,545 2.3% 40,940 1.51%
Islam 125,915 2.56% 79,310 1.83% 56,220 1.45% 24,925 0.77% 12,715 0.47%
Buddhism 83,860 1.71% 90,620 2.1% 85,540 2.21% 36,430 1.12% 11,190 0.41%
Hinduism 81,320 1.65% 45,795 1.06% 31,495 0.81% 18,140 0.56% 8,980 0.33%
Judaism 26,850 0.55% 23,130 0.53% 21,230 0.55% 16,565 0.51% 14,685 0.54%
Indigenous spirituality 11,570 0.24% 10,295 0.24% 5,470 0.14% 2,315 0.07% 570 0.02%
Other 51,440 1.05% 35,500 0.82% 20,710 0.54% 13,500 0.42% 8,365 0.31%
Total responses 4,915,945 98.3% 4,324,455 98.28% 3,868,875 99.01% 3,247,505 98.95% 2,713,615 98.88%
Total population 5,000,879 100% 4,400,057 100% 3,907,738 100% 3,282,061 100% 2,744,467 100%
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Migration

Immigration

More information Census year, Immigrant percentage ...
British Columbia immigration statistics (1881–2021)
Census year Immigrant percentage Immigrant population Total responses Total population Source(s)
1881 census 27.8% 13,751 49,459 49,459 [74]: 239 
1891 census 41.98% 41,210 98,173 98,173 [74]: 239 
1901 census 44.24% 79,045 178,657 178,657 [74]: 239 
1911 census 59.41% 233,158 392,480 392,480 [74]: 239 
1921 census 49.67% 260,536 524,582 524,582 [75]: 108 [74]: 239 
1931 census 46.02% 319,529 694,263 694,263 [76]: 540 [77]: 710 [78]: 446 [79]: 374 [75]: 108 
1941 census 37.26% 304,729 817,861 817,861 [80][81][82]: 282–343 [75]: 108 
1951 census 29.11% 339,197 1,165,210 1,165,210 [83]: 675–676 [75]: 108 
1961 census 25.97% 423,132 1,629,082 1,629,082 [84][85][86][75]: 108 
1971 census 22.73% 496,660 2,184,620 2,184,621 [87][88][89][75]: 108 
1981 census 23.28% 631,620 2,713,615 2,744,467 [90][91][92][93][94][95]
1986 census 22.13% 630,670 2,849,585 2,883,367 [96][97][98][99][100]
1991 census 22.27% 723,170 3,247,505 3,282,061 [96][101][102]
1996 census 24.48% 903,195 3,689,760 3,724,500 [103][104][96][105][106]
2001 census 26.1% 1,009,815 3,868,875 3,907,738 [107][104][108]
2006 census 27.47% 1,119,215 4,074,385 4,113,487 [109][110]
2011 census 27.56% 1,191,875 4,324,455 4,400,057 [111][112]
2016 census 28.35% 1,292,675 4,560,240 4,648,055 [113][114][115]
2021 census 29% 1,425,715 4,915,945 5,000,879 [116][117][118]
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The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 1,425,715 persons or 29.0 percent of the total population of British Columbia.[116][117]

More information Country of birth, 1951 census : 675–676 ...
Immigrants in British Columbia by country of birth
Country of birth 2021 census
[116][117][118]		 2016 census
[113][114][115]		 2011 census
[111][112]		 2006 census
[109][110]		 2001 census
[107][104][108]		 1996 census
[103][104][96][105][106]		 1991 census
[96][101][102]		 1986 census
[96][97][98][99][100]		 1981 census
[90][91][92][93][94][95]		 1971 census
[87][88][89]		 1961 census
[84][85][86]		 1951 census
[83]: 675–676 		 1941 census
[80][81][82]: 282–343 		 1931 census
[76]: 540 [77]: 710 [78]: 446 [79]: 374 		 1921 census
[119]: 314–315 
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
China & Taiwan 258,420[o] 18.1% 238,895[p] 18.5% 209,575[q] 17.6% 187,510[r] 16.8% 152,390[s] 15.1% 108,670[t] 12% 61,025[u] 8.4% 43,405[v] 6.9% 38,330[w] 6.1% 20,635 4.2% 14,499 3.4% 11,260 3.3% 15,150 5% 24,009 7.5% 21,523 8.3%
India 197,115 13.8% 162,645 12.6% 143,340 12% 119,265 10.7% 92,430 9.2% 74,360 8.2% 52,680 7.3% 39,780 6.3% 35,095 5.6% 12,120 2.4% 3,794 0.9% 1,535 0.5% 2,196 0.7% 2,207 0.7% 1,841 0.7%
Philippines 131,645 9.2% 112,100 8.7% 96,560 8.1% 69,200 6.2% 51,130 5.1% 39,220 4.3% 24,055 3.3% 15,565 2.5% 12,070 1.9% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
United Kingdom 116,530 8.2% 123,810 9.6% 130,730 11% 137,460 12.3% 141,370 14% 150,285 16.6% 158,480 21.9% 164,515 26.1% 185,055 29.3% 181,735 36.6% 178,254 42.1% 178,926 52.7% 162,931 53.5% 169,057 52.9% 142,968 54.9%
Hong Kong 78,855 5.5% 74,210 5.7% 74,635 6.3% 78,060 7% 88,720 8.8% 89,195 9.9% 47,725 6.6% 24,050 3.8% 19,740 3.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
United States 59,920 4.2% 57,780 4.5% 57,975 4.9% 56,560 5.1% 54,410 5.4% 55,110 6.1% 54,305 7.5% 56,265 8.9% 63,115 10% 57,720 11.6% 43,273 10.2% 41,845 12.3% 35,903 11.8% 34,706 10.9% 34,926 13.4%
South Korea 47,520 3.3% 41,515 3.2% 37,730 3.2% 34,395 3.1% 22,635 2.2% 13,960 1.5% 7,265 1% 4,120 0.7% 1,815 0.3% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Iran 45,975 3.2% 37,160 2.9% 30,050 2.5% 22,755 2% 18,450 1.8% 10,965 1.2% 5,670 0.8% 2,815 0.4% 1,100 0.2% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Germany & Austria 34,195[x] 2.4% 38,715[y] 3% 38,700[z] 3.2% 45,710[aa] 4.1% 46,200[ab] 4.6% 47,000[ac] 5.2% 45,390[ad] 6.3% 44,795[ae] 7.1% 45,330[af] 7.2% 41,525 8.4% 32,996 7.8% 9,173 2.7% 6,475 2.1% 5,809 1.8% 2,952 1.1%
Vietnam 32,390 2.3% 27,875 2.2% 25,845 2.2% 26,375 2.4% 25,675 2.5% 20,475 2.3% 15,295 2.1% 9,750 1.5% 6,385 1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Russia & Ukraine 21,620[ag] 1.5% 18,420[ah] 1.4% 15,855[ai] 1.3% 14,940[aj] 1.3% 11,890[ak] 1.2% 12,975[al] 1.4% 11,915[al] 1.6% 13,300[al] 2.1% 15,050[al] 2.4% 17,585[al] 3.5% 19,209[al] 4.5% 18,560[al] 5.5% 9,647[al] 3.2% 6,666[al] 2.1% 5,008[al] 1.9%
Fiji 17,130 1.2% 17,530 1.4% 17,555 1.5% 17,870 1.6% 16,435 1.6% 14,800 1.6% 11,730 1.6% 9,540 1.5% 7,530 1.2% 1,145 0.2% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Former Yugoslavia 17,030 1.2% 17,210 1.3% 16,875 1.4% 18,485 1.7% 18,105 1.8% 15,275 1.7% 10,870 1.5% 10,285 1.6% 10,745 1.7% 8,575 1.7% 5,259 1.2% 2,684 0.8% 2,598 0.9% 2,674 0.8% 457 0.2%
Netherlands 16,070 1.1% 18,225 1.4% 20,645 1.7% 23,130 2.1% 24,055 2.4% 25,770 2.9% 24,870 3.4% 25,255 4% 26,045 4.1% 22,010 4.4% 18,496 4.4% 4,524 1.3% 1,484 0.5% 1,224 0.4% 515 0.2%
Australia & New Zealand 15,680 1.1% 13,130 1% 11,895 1% 11,780 1.1% 10,740 1.1% 10,095 1.1% 9,300 1.3% 8,830 1.4% 9,710 1.5% 5,680 1.1% 3,162 0.7% 1,949 0.6% 1,865 0.6% 2,306 0.7% 1,915 0.7%
South Africa 15,380 1.1% 13,380 1% 12,815 1.1% 12,090 1.1% 11,015 1.1% 8,355 0.9% 6,065 0.8% 3,985 0.6% 3,740 0.6% N/a N/a 1,031 0.2% 696 0.2% 620 0.2% 656 0.2% 573 0.2%
Japan 14,940 1% 13,360 1% 12,355 1% 10,945 1% 9,090 0.9% 7,685 0.9% 5,740 0.8% 5,190 0.8% 5,295 0.8% 3,620 0.7% 2,761 0.7% 2,372 0.7% 8,787 2.9% 11,477 3.6% 10,934 4.2%
Poland 14,305 1% 15,115 1.2% 14,620 1.2% 16,165 1.4% 17,090 1.7% 18,275 2% 16,920 2.3% 14,620 2.3% 13,970 2.2% 12,195 2.5% 11,777 2.8% 9,281 2.7% 5,300 1.7% 3,923 1.2% 874 0.3%
Malaysia & Singapore 14,270[am] 1% 13,860[an] 1.1% 13,155[ao] 1.1% 12,595[ap] 1.1% 12,015[aq] 1.2% 10,650[ar] 1.2% 8,345[as] 1.2% 4,600[at] 0.7% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Italy 13,410 0.9% 15,405 1.2% 15,980 1.3% 19,215 1.7% 20,200 2% 20,485 2.3% 21,845 3% 22,725 3.6% 23,005 3.6% 22,430 4.5% 18,332 4.3% 6,446 1.9% 5,459 1.8% 6,034 1.9% 4,847 1.9%
Mexico 13,385 0.9% 10,375 0.8% 8,775 0.7% 6,385 0.6% 5,135 0.5% 3,295 0.4% 2,515 0.3% 1,730 0.3% 1,645 0.3% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Pakistan 13,345 0.9% 10,665 0.8% 8,570 0.7% 8,195 0.7% 5,475 0.5% 3,635 0.4% 1,815 0.3% 1,215 0.2% 1,045 0.2% 295 0.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Kenya & Tanzania & Uganda 10,825[au] 0.8% 10,485[av] 0.8% 9,635[aw] 0.8% 10,410[ax] 0.9% 10,025[ay] 1% 9,865[az] 1.1% 8,740[ba] 1.2% 7,285[bb] 1.2% 6,750 1.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Scandinavia[bc] 10,505 0.7% 11,380 0.9% 13,120 1.1% 15,055 1.3% 16,235 1.6% 17,720 2% 19,275 2.7% 20,955 3.3% 23,500 3.7% 26,360 5.3% 29,438 7% 23,065 6.8% 21,672 7.1% 24,475 7.7% 12,422 4.8%
Romania 9,370 0.7% 9,000 0.7% 8,005 0.7% 7,360 0.7% 6,135 0.6% 4,920 0.5% 3,050 0.4% 2,150 0.3% 2,215 0.4% 1,650 0.3% 2,022 0.5% 1,223 0.4% 1,009 0.3% 986 0.3% 306 0.1%
El Salvador & Guatemala & Nicaragua 9,195[bd] 0.6% 8,585[be] 0.7% 8,420[bf] 0.7% 7,745[bg] 0.7% 7,805[bh] 0.8% 6,960[bi] 0.8% 4,235[bj] 0.6% 1,410[bk] 0.2% 675 0.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Syria & Lebanon 8,995[bl] 0.6% 5,080[bm] 0.4% 2,470[bn] 0.2% 2,275[bo] 0.2% 2,010[bp] 0.2% 1,860[bq] 0.2% 1,315[br] 0.2% 910[bs] 0.1% 525 0.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 150 0% 152 0% 134 0.1%
France & Belgium 8,810[bt] 0.6% 7,215[bu] 0.6% 7,160[bv] 0.6% 6,265[bw] 0.6% 6,115[bx] 0.6% 6,085[by] 0.7% 5,280[bz] 0.7% 5,065[ca] 0.8% 5,415[cb] 0.9% 4,595 0.9% 3,798 0.9% 2,816 0.8% 2,201 0.7% 2,232 0.7% 2,179 0.8%
Brazil 8,765 0.6% 3,800 0.3% 2,875 0.2% 2,055 0.2% 1,640 0.2% 1,510 0.2% 930 0.1% 770 0.1% 655 0.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Czech Republic & Slovakia 8,420 0.6% 8,670 0.7% 7,885 0.7% 8,805 0.8% 8,480 0.8% 8,445 0.9% 7,805 1.1% 7,210 1.1% 6,305 1% 4,950 1% 3,361 0.8% 2,596 0.8% 2,171 0.7% 1,714 0.5% 589 0.2%
Portugal 7,785 0.5% 8,215 0.6% 8,135 0.7% 9,365 0.8% 9,980 1% 10,260 1.1% 10,295 1.4% 10,445 1.7% 11,165 1.8% 6,535 1.3% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Ireland 7,360 0.5% 5,885 0.5% 5,175 0.4% 4,195 0.4% 4,715 0.5% 4,850 0.5% 4,355 0.6% 4,120 0.7% 2,675 0.4% 5,650 1.1% 12,872 3% 12,394 3.7% 11,937 3.9% 12,816 4% 10,823 4.2%
Jamaica & Trinidad and Tobago 7,020[cc] 0.5% 6,120[cd] 0.5% 5,670[ce] 0.5% 5,355[cf] 0.5% 5,595[cg] 0.6% 5,635[ch] 0.6% 4,745[ci] 0.7% 3,665[cj] 0.6% 4,085 0.6% 1,595 0.3% 749[ck] 0.2% 384[ck] 0.1% 293[ck] 0.1% 279[ck] 0.1% 401[ck] 0.2%
Iraq 7,000 0.5% 5,550 0.4% 3,430 0.3% 2,230 0.2% 1,540 0.2% 1,040 0.1% 265 0% 175 0% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Afghanistan 6,250 0.4% 5,040 0.4% 3,520 0.3% 3,615 0.3% 2,275 0.2% 1,445 0.2% 400 0.1% 205 0% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Colombia 5,450 0.4% 3,915 0.3% 3,540 0.3% 2,600 0.2% 1,670 0.2% 715 0.1% 575 0.1% 475 0.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Sri Lanka 5,375 0.4% 4,585 0.4% 4,610 0.4% 3,825 0.3% 2,660 0.3% 1,720 0.2% 955 0.1% 600 0.1% 550 0.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Indonesia 5,215 0.4% 4,735 0.4% 4,825 0.4% 4,055 0.4% 3,160 0.3% 2,700 0.3% 2,290 0.3% 1,895 0.3% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Hungary 5,120 0.4% 6,175 0.5% 6,080 0.5% 7,520 0.7% 7,415 0.7% 8,425 0.9% 7,925 1.1% 7,960 1.3% 8,295 1.3% 7,240 1.5% 6,734 1.6% 2,059 0.6% 1,528 0.5% 970 0.3% 206 0.1%
Ethiopia & Eritrea 5,075[cl] 0.4% 2,815[cm] 0.2% 2,410[cn] 0.2% 1,875[co] 0.2% 1,280[cp] 0.1% 1,485 0.2% 560 0.1% 180 0% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Nigeria & Ghana 5,020[cq] 0.4% 2,625[cr] 0.2% 1,965[cs] 0.2% 1,675[ct] 0.1% 1,060[cu] 0.1% 890[cv] 0.1% 570 0.1% 410 0.1% 295 0% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Thailand 4,440 0.3% 3,640 0.3% 3,520 0.3% 2,380 0.2% 1,810 0.2% 1,315 0.1% 1,055 0.1% 505 0.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Switzerland 4,145 0.3% 4,385 0.3% 4,560 0.4% 4,690 0.4% 4,430 0.4% 4,690 0.5% 3,480 0.5% 3,420 0.5% 3,750 0.6% 2,785 0.6% 2,244 0.5% 1,454 0.4% 1,174 0.4% 1,059 0.3% 498 0.2%
Peru 3,510 0.2% 3,265 0.3% 3,085 0.3% 2,465 0.2% 2,045 0.2% 1,920 0.2% 1,725 0.2% 815 0.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Greece 3,350 0.2% 3,635 0.3% 3,445 0.3% 4,375 0.4% 4,070 0.4% 4,175 0.5% 4,330 0.6% 4,015 0.6% 4,200 0.7% 3,220 0.6% 1,424 0.3% 573 0.2% 511 0.2% 532 0.2% 483 0.2%
Chile 3,340 0.2% 3,275 0.3% 2,965 0.2% 2,650 0.2% 2,525 0.3% 2,535 0.3% 2,330 0.3% 1,640 0.3% 1,525 0.2% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Egypt 3,310 0.2% 2,705 0.2% 1,840 0.2% 1,710 0.2% 1,605 0.2% 1,435 0.2% 905 0.1% 600 0.1% 625 0.1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
DR Congo & Cameroon 1,300[cw] 0.1% 880[cx] 0.1% 775[cy] 0.1% 445[cz] 0% 330[da] 0% 240[db] 0% 210 0% 130 0% 130 0% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Total immigrants 1,425,715 29% 1,292,675 28.3% 1,191,875 27.6% 1,119,215 27.5% 1,009,815 26.1% 903,195 24.5% 723,170 22.3% 630,670 22.1% 631,620 23.3% 496,660 22.7% 423,132 26% 339,197 29.1% 304,729 37.3% 319,529 46% 260,536 49.7%
Total responses 4,915,945 98.3% 4,560,240 98.1% 4,324,455 98.3% 4,074,385 99% 3,868,875 99% 3,689,760 99.1% 3,247,505 98.9% 2,849,585 98.8% 2,713,615 98.9% 2,184,620 100% 1,629,082 100% 1,165,210 100% 817,861 100% 694,263 100% 524,582 100%
Total population 5,000,879 100% 4,648,055 100% 4,400,057 100% 4,113,487 100% 3,907,738 100% 3,724,500 100% 3,282,061 100% 2,883,367 100% 2,744,467 100% 2,184,621 100% 1,629,082 100% 1,165,210 100% 817,861 100% 694,263 100% 524,582 100%
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Recent immigration

A large number of immigrants have lived in British Columbia for 30 years or less.[6]

The 2021 census counted a total of 197,420 people who immigrated to British Columbia between 2016 and 2021.[116][117]

More information Country of birth, Population ...
Recent immigrants to British Columbia by country of birth (2016 to 2021)[116][117]
Country of birth Population % recent immigrants
India 39,390 20%
China 31,445 15.9%
Philippines 21,225 10.8%
United States 8,760 4.4%
United Kingdom 7,670 3.9%
South Korea 7,225 3.7%
Iran 5,850 3%
Brazil 5,125 2.6%
Syria 4,955 2.5%
Australia 3,280 1.7%
Mexico 3,045 1.5%
Vietnam 2,845 1.4%
Hong Kong 2,515 1.3%
Ireland 2,420 1.2%
Pakistan 2,390 1.2%
Japan 2,090 1.1%
Russia 2,070 1%
South Africa 1,965 1%
Ukraine 1,935 1%
Taiwan 1,815 0.9%
Nigeria 1,770 0.9%
France 1,730 0.9%
Iraq 1,545 0.8%
Eritrea 1,515 0.8%
Germany 1,385 0.7%
Total recent immigrants 197,420 100%
Close

Interprovincial migration

Number of years of positive interprovincial immigration since 1971 by province/territory
Main article: Interprovincial migration in Canada

British Columbia has also traditionally been gaining from interprovincial migration. Over the last 50 years, British Columbia had 12 years of negative interprovincial immigration: the lowest in the country. The only time the province significantly lost population to this phenomenon was during the 1990s, when it had a negative interprovincial migration for 5 consecutive years.[120]

More information In-migrants, Out-migrants ...
Interprovincial migration in British Columbia[121]
In-migrants Out-migrants Net migration
2009–2010 Decrease 49,469 Positive decrease 40,741 Decrease 8,728
2010–2011 Decrease 47,854 Negative increase 44,433 Decrease 3,421
2011–2012 Increase 48,593 Negative increase 51,304 Decrease −2,711
2012–2013 Decrease 43,830 Positive decrease 45,698 Increase −1,868
2013–2014 Increase 52,281 Positive decrease 42,806 Increase 9,475
2014–2015 Increase 61,026 Positive decrease 40,647 Increase 20,379
2015–2016 Increase 63,788 Positive decrease 37,215 Increase 26,573
2016–2017 Decrease 57,210 Negative increase 38,376 Decrease 18,834
2017–2018 Decrease 55,300 Negative increase 41,311 Decrease 13,989
2018–2019 Increase 55,612 Negative increase 49,501 Decrease 6,111
2019–2020 Increase 71,180 Negative increase 61,122 Increase 10,058
Close

See also

Canadian Provinces and Territories
Demographics of Canada's provinces and territories

Notes

  1. [a]
    Including multiple responses.
  2. [b]
    1996-present census populations for British Isles and French origins may be undercounts, due to the creation of the "Canadian" ethnic origin category. All citizens of Canada are classified as "Canadians" as defined by Canada's nationality laws. However, "Canadian" as an ethnic group has since 1996 been added to census questionnaires for possible ancestry. "Canadian" was included as an example on the English questionnaire and "Canadien" as an example on the French questionnaire. "The majority of respondents to this selection are from the eastern part of the country that was first settled. Respondents generally are visibly European (Anglophones and Francophones), however no-longer self identify with their ethnic ancestral origins. This response is attributed to a multitude or generational distance from ancestral lineage.
    Source 1: Jack Jedwab (April 2008). "Our 'Cense' of Self: the 2006 Census saw 1.6 million 'Canadian' Canadians Return to British and French origins" (PDF). Association for Canadian Studies. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011. Virtually all persons who reported "Canadian" in 1996 had English or French as a mother tongue, were born in Canada and had both parents born inside Canada. This suggests that many of these respondents were people whose families have been in this country for several generations. In effect the "new Canadians" were persons that previously reported either British or French origins. Moreover in 1996 some 55% of people with both parents born in Canada reported Canadian (alone or in combination with other origins). By contrast, only 4% of people with both parents born outside Canada reported Canadian. Thus the Canadian response did not appeal widely to either immigrants or their children. Most important however was that nearly half of those persons reporting Canadian origin in 1996 were in Quebec this represented a majority of the mother tongue francophone population[...]In the 2001 Census, 11.7 million people, or 39% of the total population, reported Canadian as their ethnic origin, either alone or in combination with other origins. Some 4.9 million Quebecers out of 7.1 million individuals reported Canadian or "Canadien" thus accounting for nearly seven in ten persons (nearly eighty percent of francophones in Quebec).
    Source 2: Don Kerr (2007). The Changing Face of Canada: Essential Readings in Population. Canadian Scholars' Press. pp. 313–317. ISBN 978-1-55130-322-2.
    Source 3: Jantzen (2006) Footnote 5: Note that Canadian and Canadien have been separated since the two terms mean different things. In English, it usually means someone whose family has been in Canada for multiple generations. In French it is referring to "Les Habitants", settlers of New France during the 17th and 18th centuries who earned their living primarily from agricultural labour.
    Source 4: Jantzen (2006): The reporting of French New World ancestries (Canadien, Québécois, and French-Canadian) is concentrated in the 4th+ generations; 79% of French-Canadian, 88% of Canadien and 90% of Québécois are in the 4th+generations category.
    Source 5: Jantzen (2005): According to Table 3, the 4th+ generations are highest because of a strong sense of belonging to their ethnic or cultural group among those respondents reporting the New World ancestries of Canadien and Québécois.
    Source 6: Jantzen (2006): For respondents of French and New World ancestries the pattern is different. Where generational data is available, it is possible to see that not all respondents reporting these ancestries report a high sense of belonging to their ethnic or cultural group. The high proportions are focused among those respondents that are in the 4th+ generations, and unlike with the British Isles example, the difference between the 2nd and 3rd generations to the 4th+ generation is more pronounced. Since these ancestries are concentrated in the 4th+ generations, their high proportions of sense of belonging to ethnic or cultural group push up the 4th+ generational results.
  3. [c]
    Single responses only unless otherwise specified.
  4. [d]
    Statistics Canada defines visible minorities as defined in the Employment Equity Act which defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour".[36]
  5. [e]
    Statistics Canada defines Indigenous identity as persons who identify with the Indigenous Peoples of Canada.[37]
  6. [f]
    Including multiple Indigenous responses.
  7. [g]
    The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses. The following figures are from the 2021 Canadian census.
  8. [h]
    Including total responses to all Chinese languages and dialects
  9. [i]
    Note: Hindi and Urdu form mutually intelligible registers of the Hindustani language.
  10. [j]
    Including total responses to all High German languages
  11. [k]
    Including total responses to all Persian language dialects
  12. [l]
    The 1991 Census was the first to ask Canadians whether they could conduct a conversation in a language other than English or French.[38]: 50 
  13. [m]
    Total responses to all Scandinavian–North Germanic languages, including Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish
  14. [n]
    Including total responses to all Cree–Innu language dialects
  15. [o]
    China: 217,975 / Taiwan: 40,445
  16. [p]
    China: 199,990 / Taiwan: 38,905
  17. [q]
    China: 167,530 / Taiwan: 42,045
  18. [r]
    China: 145,315 / Taiwan: 42,195
  19. [s]
    China: 107,450 / Taiwan: 44,940
  20. [t]
    China: 78,655 / Taiwan: 30,015
  21. [u]
    China: 53,640 / Taiwan: 7,385
  22. [v]
    China: 41,170 / Taiwan: 2,235
  23. [w]
    China: 19,435 / Taiwan: 18,895
  24. [x]
    Germany: 30,910 / Austria: 3,285
  25. [y]
    Germany: 35,050 / Austria: 3,665
  26. [z]
    Germany: 35,100 / Austria: 3,600
  27. [aa]
    Germany: 40,695 / Austria: 5,015
  28. [ab]
    Germany: 41,260 / Austria: 4,940
  29. [ac]
    Germany: 41,840 / Austria: 5,160
  30. [ad]
    Germany: 39,885 / Austria: 5,505
  31. [ae]
    Germany: 38,825 / Austria: 5,970
  32. [af]
    Germany: 39,240 / Austria: 6,090
  33. [ag]
    Russia: 12,170 / Ukraine: 9,450
  34. [ah]
    Russia: 10,915 / Ukraine: 7,505
  35. [ai]
    Russia: 8,795 / Ukraine: 7,060
  36. [aj]
    Russia: 8,375 / Ukraine: 6,565
  37. [ak]
    Russia: 6,285 / Ukraine: 5,605
  38. [al]
    Includes total persons born in all republics of the Soviet Union
  39. [am]
    Malaysia: 8,845 / Singapore: 5,425
  40. [an]
    Malaysia: 8,435 / Singapore: 5,425
  41. [ao]
    Malaysia: 8,310 / Singapore: 4,845
  42. [ap]
    Malaysia: 8,290 / Singapore: 4,305
  43. [aq]
    Malaysia: 7,695 / Singapore: 4,320
  44. [ar]
    Malaysia: 7,130 / Singapore: 3,520
  45. [as]
    Malaysia: 5,865 / Singapore: 2,480
  46. [at]
    Malaysia: 3,110 / Singapore: 1,490
  47. [au]
    Kenya: 4,800 / Tanzania: 3,135 / Uganda: 2,890
  48. [av]
    Kenya: 4,705 / Tanzania: 3,020 / Uganda: 2,760
  49. [aw]
    Kenya: 4,520 / Tanzania: 2,725 / Uganda: 2,390
  50. [ax]
    Kenya: 4,585 / Tanzania: 3,010 / Uganda: 2,815
  51. [ay]
    Kenya: 4,105 / Tanzania: 3,295 / Uganda: 2,625
  52. [az]
    Kenya: 3,990 / Tanzania: 3,190 / Uganda: 2,685
  53. [ba]
    Kenya: 3,385 / Tanzania: 2,925 / Uganda: 2,430
  54. [bb]
    Kenya: 2,460 / Tanzania: 2,425 / Uganda: 2,400
  55. [bc]
    Includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden
  56. [bd]
    El Salvador: 5,775 / Guatemala: 2,025 / Nicaragua: 1,395
  57. [be]
    El Salvador: 5,420 / Guatemala: 1,930 / Nicaragua: 1,235
  58. [bf]
    El Salvador: 5,635 / Guatemala: 1,565 / Nicaragua: 1,220
  59. [bg]
    El Salvador: 4,990 / Guatemala: 1,745 / Nicaragua: 1,010
  60. [bh]
    El Salvador: 5,100 / Guatemala: 1,725 / Nicaragua: 980
  61. [bi]
    El Salvador: 4,540 / Guatemala: 1,575 / Nicaragua: 845
  62. [bj]
    El Salvador: 2,580 / Guatemala: 1,015 / Nicaragua: 640
  63. [bk]
    El Salvador: 975 / Guatemala: 335 / Nicaragua: 100
  64. [bl]
    Syria: 6,540 / Lebanon: 2,455
  65. [bm]
    Syria: 2,845 / Lebanon: 2,235
  66. [bn]
    Syria: 725 / Lebanon: 1,745
  67. [bo]
    Syria: 585 / Lebanon: 1,690
  68. [bp]
    Syria: 385 / Lebanon: 1,625
  69. [bq]
    Syria: 255 / Lebanon: 1,605
  70. [br]
    Syria: 255 / Lebanon: 1,060
  71. [bs]
    Syria: 165 / Lebanon: 745
  72. [bt]
    France: 7,025 / Belgium: 1,785
  73. [bu]
    France: 5,705 / Belgium: 1,510
  74. [bv]
    France: 5,340 / Belgium: 1,820
  75. [bw]
    France: 4,760 / Belgium: 1,505
  76. [bx]
    France: 4,445 / Belgium: 1,670
  77. [by]
    France: 4,310 / Belgium: 1,775
  78. [bz]
    France: 3,535 / Belgium: 1,745
  79. [ca]
    France: 3,530 / Belgium: 1,535
  80. [cb]
    France: 3,755 / Belgium: 1,660
  81. [cc]
    Jamaica: 4,295 / Trinidad and Tobago: 2,725
  82. [cd]
    Jamaica: 3,505 / Trinidad and Tobago: 2,615
  83. [ce]
    Jamaica: 2,870 / Trinidad and Tobago: 2,800
  84. [cf]
    Jamaica: 2,795 / Trinidad and Tobago: 2,560
  85. [cg]
    Jamaica: 2,910 / Trinidad and Tobago: 2,685
  86. [ch]
    Jamaica: 3,020 / Trinidad and Tobago: 2,615
  87. [ci]
    Jamaica: 2,600 / Trinidad and Tobago: 2,145
  88. [cj]
    Jamaica: 1,995 / Trinidad and Tobago: 1,670
  89. [ck]
    All individuals born in the British West Indies
  90. [cl]
    Ethiopia: 2,590 / Eritrea: 2,485
  91. [cm]
    Ethiopia: 2,075 / Eritrea: 740
  92. [cn]
    Ethiopia: 1,645 / Eritrea: 765
  93. [co]
    Ethiopia: 1,590 / Eritrea: 285
  94. [cp]
    Ethiopia: 1,030 / Eritrea: 250
  95. [cq]
    Nigeria: 3,585 / Ghana: 1,435
  96. [cr]
    Nigeria: 1,740 / Ghana: 885
  97. [cs]
    Nigeria: 1,230 / Ghana: 735
  98. [ct]
    Nigeria: 820 / Ghana: 855
  99. [cu]
    Nigeria: 450 / Ghana: 610
  100. [cv]
    Nigeria: 285 / Ghana: 605
  101. [cw]
    DR Congo: 1,005 / Cameroon: 295
  102. [cx]
    DR Congo: 760 / Cameroon: 120
  103. [cy]
    DR Congo: 715 / Cameroon: 60
  104. [cz]
    DR Congo: 430 / Cameroon: 15
  105. [da]
    DR Congo: 280 / Cameroon: 50
  106. [db]
    DR Congo: 220 / Cameroon: 20

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