List of designated places in British Columbia

A designated place is a type of geographic unit used by Statistics Canada to disseminate census data.^[1] It is usually "a small community that does not meet the criteria used to define incorporated municipalities or Statistics Canada population centres (areas with a population of at least 1,000 and no fewer than 400 persons per square kilometre)."^[2] Provincial and territorial authorities collaborate with Statistics Canada in the creation of designated places so that data can be published for sub-areas within municipalities.^[2] Starting in 2016, Statistics Canada allowed the overlapping of designated places with population centres.^[2]

In the 2021 Census of Population, British Columbia had 332 designated places,^[3] an increase from 326 in 2016.^[4] Designated place types in British Columbia include 55 Indian reserves, 13 island trusts, 5 Nisga'a villages, 5 retired population centres, and 254 unincorporated places.^[5] In 2021, the 332 designated places had a cumulative population of 258,060 and an average population of 777. British Columbia's largest designated place is Walnut Grove with a population of 28,420.^[6]