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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Chilliwack, CY - British Columbia

Map of Chilliwack, CY (shaded in green), British Columbia

Map of Chilliwack, CY

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Chilliwack, CY - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Chilliwack, CY - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
15
Nat. rank
71

In 2011, Chilliwack (City) had a population of 77,936, representing a percentage change of 12.6% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 261.50 square kilometres with a population density of 298.0 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the provincial land area of 922,509.29 square kilometres with a population density of 4.8 persons per square kilometre.

In 2011, Chilliwack (City) had 30,432 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 13.3%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Chilliwack (City) is part of the census agglomeration of Chilliwack.

Population and dwelling counts

Chilliwack (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Chilliwack (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Kent, B.C. DM 5,664 4,738 E 19.5
Fraser Valley D, B.C. RDA 1,346 1,296 3.9
Fraser Valley E, B.C. RDA 3,358 3,481 -3.5
Fraser Valley C, B.C. RDA 973 952 2.2
Abbotsford, B.C. CY 133,497 124,258 A 7.4
Fraser Valley G, B.C. RDA 1,764 1,914 -7.8
Kwawkwawapilt 6, B.C. IRI 342 351 -2.6
Skwah 4, B.C. IRI 216 230 -6.1
Skwali 3, B.C. IRI 10 10 0.0
Skway 5, B.C. IRI 98 89 10.1
Soowahlie 14, B.C. IRI 187 211 -11.4
Tzeachten 13, B.C. IRI 1,467 1,188 23.5
Yakweakwioose 12, B.C. IRI 39 37 5.4
Aitchelitch 9, B.C. IRI 18 15 20.0
Cheam 1, B.C. IRI 223 205 8.8
Schelowat 1, B.C. IRI 10 5 100.0
Skwahla 2, B.C. IRI 0 0  ···
Skowkale, B.C. IRI 795 638 A 24.6
Squiaala, B.C. IRI 80 114 A -29.8

British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth

Table 2 British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Langford CY 29,228 22,459 30.1
Lake Country DM 11,708 9,606 21.9
Port Moody CY 32,975 27,512 19.9
Kent DM 5,664 4,738 E 19.5
Surrey CY 468,251 394,976 18.6

British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth

Table 3 British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Kitimat DM 8,335 8,987 -7.3
Peace River D RDA 5,479 5,749 -4.7
Esquimalt DM 16,209 16,840 -3.7
Hope DM 5,969 6,185 -3.5
Okanagan-Similkameen D RDA 5,717 5,913 -3.3

Age and sex

Chilliwack, CY – Age distribution

Table 4 Chilliwack, CY – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 19.4% 20.2% 18.6%
15 to 64 64.5% 64.8% 64.2%
65 and over 16.1% 15.0% 17.2%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Chilliwack, CY was 16.1%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 64.5% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 19.4%. In comparison, the national percentages were 68.5% for the population aged 15 to 64 and 16.7% for the population aged 0 to 14.

Chilliwack, CY – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Chilliwack, CY – Population by broad age groups, sex and population change between 2006 and 2011, 2006 to 2011 censuses
Broad age groups by sex Population
2011 2006 change % change
Both sexes
Total 77,935 69,215 8,720 12.6
0 to 14 15,090 14,220 870 6.1
15 to 64 50,270 44,035 6,235 14.2
65 and over 12,575 10,965 1,610 14.7
Males
Total 38,030 33,750 4,280 12.7
0 to 14 7,685 7,290 395 5.4
15 to 64 24,640 21,570 3,070 14.2
65 and over 5,700 4,895 805 16.4
Females
Total 39,910 35,465 4,445 12.5
0 to 14 7,405 6,930 475 6.9
15 to 64 25,635 22,465 3,170 14.1
65 and over 6,875 6,065 810 13.4

Chilliwack, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Chilliwack, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 77,935 38,030 39,910
0 to 4 years 5,025 2,595 2,430
5 to 9 years 4,915 2,495 2,415
10 to 14 years 5,150 2,590 2,555
15 to 19 years 5,545 2,895 2,645
20 to 24 years 4,590 2,320 2,270
25 to 29 years 4,630 2,310 2,320
30 to 34 years 4,465 2,115 2,350
35 to 39 years 4,905 2,360 2,545
40 to 44 years 5,250 2,550 2,700
45 to 49 years 5,915 2,860 3,060
50 to 54 years 5,585 2,740 2,845
55 to 59 years 4,905 2,315 2,585
60 to 64 years 4,485 2,170 2,315
65 to 69 years 3,600 1,725 1,880
70 to 74 years 2,950 1,395 1,555
75 to 79 years 2,400 1,135 1,265
80 to 84 years 1,895 840 1,050
85 years and over 1,730 610 1,120
Median age 39.8 38.7 40.8

Chilliwack, CY – Median age1 of the population

In 2011, the median age in Chilliwack, CY was 39.8 years. In comparison, the median age of British Columbia was 41.9 years.

Table 7 Canada, British Columbia and Chilliwack, CY – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
Chilliwack, CY 38.9 39.8

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Chilliwack was 22,060, which represents a change of 12.1% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Chilliwack, 71.5% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 12.3% were common-law-couples and 16.2% were lone-parent families.

Chilliwack – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, British Columbia, CSD of Chilliwack, CY and neighbouring census subdivisions – Distribution of census families by family structure, 2011 Census
Geographic name Total families Married-couple families Common-law-couple families Lone-parent families % change, census families, 2006 to 2011
number % number % number %
Canada  9,389,695 6,293,950 67.0 1,567,905 16.7 1,527,840 16.3 5.5
British Columbia  1,238,155 887,990 71.7 160,360 13.0 189,805 15.3 6.6
Chilliwack, CY 22,060 15,780 71.5 2,715 12.3 3,565 16.2 12.1
Kent, DM 1,430 1,070 74.8 175 12.2 190 13.3 1.1
Fraser Valley D, RDA 385 320 83.1 35 9.1 35 9.1 -2.5
Fraser Valley E, RDA 1,000 720 72.0 145 14.5 140 14.0 -3.8
Fraser Valley C, RDA 305 225 73.8 50 16.4 25 8.2 7.0
Abbotsford, CY 37,130 28,875 77.8 2,925 7.9 5,325 14.3 7.1
Fraser Valley G, RDA 500 350 70.0 80 16.0 70 14.0 -14.5
Kwawkwawapilt 6, IRI 120 100 83.3 15 12.5 5 4.2 -11.1
Skwah 4, IRI 60 15 25.0 20 33.3 25 41.7 0.0
Skway 5, IRI 15 0 0.0 0 0.0 10 66.7 0.0
Soowahlie 14, IRI 50 25 50.0 10 20.0 15 30.0 -16.7
Tzeachten 13, IRI 510 415 81.4 55 10.8 40 7.8 32.5
Cheam 1, IRI 50 15 30.0 15 30.0 25 50.0 -9.1
Skowkale, IRI 270 220 81.5 20 7.4 30 11.1 28.6
Squiaala, IRI 25 5 20.0 10 40.0 5 20.0 0.0

Chilliwack – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Chilliwack, 46.3% were couples with children aged 24 and under at home. In comparison, as a whole, 46.9% of couples in Canada had children aged 24 and under at home.

Presence of children within couple families
* Children aged 24 and under at home
Married couples with children * 7,415
Married couples without children * 8,370
Common-law-couples with children * 1,145
Common-law-couples without children * 1,565

Chilliwack – Marital status

In Chilliwack, 59.8% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (51.2%) or living with a common-law partner (8.6%).

The remaining 40.2% were not married and not living with a common-law partner, including those who were single (never-married), separated, divorced or widowed.

Note: Percentages may not total 100 percent due to random rounding.

Table 9 Canada, British Columbia, Chilliwack, CY – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Chilliwack, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 62,845 100.0 3,722,690 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 37,595 59.8 2,154,575 57.9 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 32,160 51.2 1,832,605 49.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 5,435 8.6 321,965 8.6 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 25,255 40.2 1,568,120 42.1 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 15,245 24.3 1,014,270 27.2 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 2,120 3.4 102,035 2.7 698,245 2.5
Divorced 4,045 6.4 246,515 6.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 3,840 6.1 205,300 5.5 1,584,525 5.7

Chilliwack – Types of private households

There were 30,435 private households3 in Chilliwack in 2011, a change of 13.3% from 2006. Of these, 27.1% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of 5.8% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, British Columbia, Chilliwack, CY – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Chilliwack, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 30,435 100.0 1,764,635 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5
8,245 27.1 431,135 24.4 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6
9,400 30.9 532,995 30.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 3,285 10.8 168,530 9.6 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 7,875 25.9 498,925 28.3 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 555 1.8 50,410 2.9 268,060 2.0
Other households9 1,075 3.5 82,640 4.7 543,340 4.1

Chilliwack – Structural type of dwelling

In Chilliwack, 58.6% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 0.8% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 11 Canada, British Columbia, Chilliwack, CY – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Chilliwack, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 30,430 100.0 1,764,640 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 17,820 58.6 842,120 47.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 1,015 3.3 52,825 3.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 4,105 13.5 130,370 7.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 235 0.8 143,970 8.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 5,920 19.5 361,150 20.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 1,005 3.3 184,355 10.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 30 0.1 2,885 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 305 1.0 46,960 2.7 183,510 1.4

Language

Chilliwack, CY – Mother tongue

Chart J: Chilliwack, CY - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Chilliwack, CY - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Note: Counts for mother tongue as well as those for language spoken most often at home include single responses only.

In Chilliwack, 86.6% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.3% reported French only, and 11.1% reported a non-official language only, in 2011. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 70.3% for English only, 1.3% for French only and 26.5% for only non-official languages.

In 2011, 95.2% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.3% spoke only French and 3.3% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 80.5% for only English, 0.4% for only French and 15.4% for only a non-official language.

Table 12 Chilliwack, CY – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 77,230 100.0 77,230 100.0
English 66,865 86.6 73,500 95.2
French 1,025 1.3 210 0.3
Non-official language 8,605 11.1 2,565 3.3
Multiple responses 740 1.0 955 1.2
Table 13 Chilliwack, CY – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention12
(in percentage)
Total retention; language spoken at home at least on a regular basis Complete retention; language spoken most often at home Partial retention; language spoken at home on a regular basis
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
English 99.9 99.8 0.1
French 40.8 19.2 21.6
Non-official language 58.6 34.5 24.0

Chilliwack, CY – Non-official languages

In Chilliwack, the three most common mother tongues were German (3.4%), Dutch (2.2%) and Spanish (0.7%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the provincial / territorial level were Panjabi (Punjabi) (4.5%), Cantonese (3.2%) and Chinese, n.o.s. (2.9%).

Table 14 Chilliwack, CY – The most common non-official-language mother tongues, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Number Percentage of non-official language mother-tongue population Percentage of total population
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
German 2,645 28.8 3.4
Dutch 1,665 18.1 2.2
Spanish 550 6.0 0.7
Panjabi (Punjabi) 510 5.5 0.7
Korean 370 4.0 0.5

Chilliwack, CY – Bilingualism

Table 15 Chilliwack, CY – Rate of English-French bilingualism by mother tongue and age groups, 2011 Census
Age groups Mother tongue
Total English French Non-official language
Note: Counts for mother tongue include single responses only. Consequently, the total excludes multiple responses.
Total 4.5 3.5 83.9 3.4
0 to 19 4.4 4.1 78.6 5.8
20 to 44 5.0 4.2 87.2 3.7
45 to 64 4.3 2.5 85.5 3.2
65 and over 4.3 2.2 80.6 2.7
Table 16 Chilliwack, CY – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 77,230 100.0
English only 73,265 94.9
French only 20 0.0
English and French 3,610 4.7
Neither English nor French 335 0.4

Symbols:

···
not applicable
excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements. For further information, refer to Notes.
incompletely enumerated Indian reserve or Indian settlement. For further information, refer to Notes.
A
adjusted figure due to boundary change. For further information, refer to Content considerations.
E
use with caution. For further information, refer to Cautionary note.


Source:

Statistics Canada. 2012. Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-310-XWE2011004. Ottawa, Ontario. Analytical products, 2011 Census. Last updated October 24, 2012.
 

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