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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census agglomeration of Nanaimo, British Columbia

Map of Nanaimo, CA (shaded in green), British Columbia

Map of Nanaimo

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Nanaimo, CA - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Nanaimo, CA - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
6
Nat. rank
38

In 2011, the population of Nanaimo census agglomeration (CA) was 98,021, representing a percentage change of 6.1% from 2006. This compares to the national growth of 5.9% and to the average growth among all CAs of 4.2%.

In Nanaimo, the land area is 1,280.84 square kilometres with a population density of 76.5 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the national land area of 8,965,121.42 square kilometres with a population density of 3.7 persons per square kilometre. The land area of all CAs is 232,264.62 square kilometres with 18.56 persons per square kilometre.

In total, there were 41,902 private dwellings occupied by usual residents in Nanaimo in 2011. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 8.0%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Population and dwelling counts

Census subdivisions in the Nanaimo CA

Table 1 Nanaimo CA – Census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name Type Population
2011 2006 % change
Nanaimo CY 83,810 78,692 6.5
Nanaimo A RDA 6,908 6,751 2.3
Lantzville DM 3,601 3,661 -1.6
Nanaimo C RDA 2,834 2,508 13.0
Nanaimo Town 1 IRI 377 279 35.1
Nanaimo River IRI 287 279 A 2.9
Nanoose IRI 204 191 6.8

Census metropolitan areas (CMAs) or census agglomerations (CAs) in British Columbia

Table 2 British Columbia – Metropolitan areas, population rank and population change, 2006 to 2011
CMA or CA name Type Population Rank
2011 2006 % change Nat. Prov.
Vancouver CMA 2,313,328 2,116,581 9.3 3 1
Victoria † CMA 344,615 330,088 4.4 15 2
Kelowna CMA 179,839 162,276 10.8 22 3
Abbotsford - Mission CMA 170,191 159,020 7.0 23 4
Kamloops CA 98,754 92,797 A 6.4 37 5
Nanaimo CA 98,021 92,361 6.1 38 6
Chilliwack CA 92,308 82,465 A 11.9 42 7
Prince George CA 84,232 83,225 1.2 46 8
Vernon CA 58,584 55,418 5.7 56 9
Courtenay CA 55,213 51,383 A 7.5 58 10
Duncan CA 43,252 41,387 4.5 68 11
Penticton CA 42,361 41,303 A 2.6 71 12
Campbell River CA 36,096 34,707 A 4.0 77 13
Parksville CA 27,822 26,518 4.9 92 14
Fort St. John CA 26,380 25,136 4.9 96 15
Port Alberni CA 25,465 25,343 A 0.5 99 16
Cranbrook CA 25,037 24,138 3.7 100 17
Quesnel CA 22,096 21,049 A 5.0 104 18
Williams Lake CA 18,490 18,760 -1.4 110 19
Salmon Arm CA 17,683 16,205 9.1 114 20
Squamish CA 17,479 15,256 14.6 116 21
Powell River CA 16,689 16,537 0.9 119 22
Terrace CA 15,569 15,420 A 1.0 124 23
Prince Rupert CA 13,052 13,392 -2.5 131 24
Dawson Creek CA 11,583 10,994 5.4 145 25

Age and sex

Nanaimo – Age distribution

Chart C: Nanaimo - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Nanaimo - Population by broad age groups

Table 3 Nanaimo – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 14.4% 15.2% 13.7%
15 to 64 66.4% 66.5% 66.3%
65 and over 19.2% 18.3% 20.0%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Nanaimo was 19.2%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 66.4% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 14.4%. 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.

Nanaimo – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 4 Nanaimo – Population by broad age groups and 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 98,020 92,365 5,655 6.1
0 to 14 14,135 14,325 -190 -1.3
15 to 64 65,090 62,000 3,090 5.0
65 and over 18,795 16,035 2,760 17.2
Males
Total 47,635 44,890 2,745 6.1
0 to 14 7,250 7,400 -150 -2.0
15 to 64 31,670 30,105 1,565 5.2
65 and over 8,715 7,385 1,330 18.0
Females
Total 50,390 47,470 2,920 6.2
0 to 14 6,890 6,925 -35 -0.5
15 to 64 33,420 31,900 1,520 4.8
65 and over 10,080 8,650 1,430 16.5

Nanaimo – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Nanaimo - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Nanaimo - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 5 Nanaimo – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 98,020 47,635 50,390
0 to 4 years 4,585 2,340 2,245
5 to 9 years 4,480 2,290 2,190
10 to 14 years 5,075 2,620 2,455
15 to 19 years 5,940 3,070 2,870
20 to 24 years 6,085 3,030 3,060
25 to 29 years 5,875 2,935 2,935
30 to 34 years 5,155 2,540 2,620
35 to 39 years 5,295 2,585 2,715
40 to 44 years 6,250 2,975 3,270
45 to 49 years 7,280 3,465 3,815
50 to 54 years 8,095 3,905 4,195
55 to 59 years 7,795 3,675 4,125
60 to 64 years 7,315 3,500 3,820
65 to 69 years 5,610 2,810 2,805
70 to 74 years 4,185 2,045 2,140
75 to 79 years 3,430 1,660 1,775
80 to 84 years 2,800 1,270 1,530
85 to 89 years 1,800 640 1,160
90 to 94 years 785 245 545
95 to 99 years 165 40 120
100 years and over 15 0 10
Median age 45.2 44.1 46.2

Nanaimo – Median age1 of the population

Chart E: Canada, British Columbia and Nanaimo - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, British Columbia and Nanaimo - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

The median age in Nanaimo was 45.2 years. In comparison, the median age of British Columbia was 41.9 years.

Table 6 Canada, British Columbia and Nanaimo – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
Nanaimo 43.3 45.2

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Nanaimo was 28,290, which represents a change of 5.6% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Nanaimo, 67.3% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 15.6% were common-law-couples and 17.0% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Nanaimo - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Nanaimo - Census families by family structure

Nanaimo – Family structure

Table 7 Canada, British Columbia, Nanaimo – 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
Nanaimo 28,290 19,050 67.3 4,420 15.6 4,820 17.0 5.6

Nanaimo – Presence of children within couple families

Chart G: Nanaimo - Presence of children within couple families
Married couples Common-law-couples
with children without children with children without children
7,220 (30.8%) 11,835 (50.4%) 1,550 ( 6.6%) 2,870 (12.2%)

Chart G description: Nanaimo - Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census agglomeration of Nanaimo, 37.4% 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.

Among couples with children aged 24 and under at home in the census agglomeration of Nanaimo, 83.6% were intact families, that is, in which all children were the biological or adopted children of both parents, while 16.4% were stepfamilies, in which there was at least one child was the biological or adopted child of only one married spouse or common-law partner. For Canada as a whole in 2011, 12.6% of couples with children aged 24 and under were stepfamilies.

Nanaimo – Marital status

Chart H: Nanaimo - Marital status

Chart H description: Nanaimo - Marital status

In Nanaimo, 57.2% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (46.6%) or living with a common-law partner (10.6%).

The remaining 42.8% 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 8 Canada, British Columbia, Nanaimo – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Nanaimo British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 83,880 100.0 3,722,690 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 47,990 57.2 2,154,575 57.9 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 39,095 46.6 1,832,605 49.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 8,895 10.6 321,965 8.6 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 35,900 42.8 1,568,120 42.1 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 20,800 24.8 1,014,270 27.2 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 2,565 3.1 102,035 2.7 698,245 2.5
Divorced 6,925 8.3 246,515 6.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 5,610 6.7 205,300 5.5 1,584,525 5.7

Nanaimo – Types of private households

There were 41,905 private households3 in Nanaimo in 2011, a change of 8.0% from 2006. Of these, 20.1% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -2.9% compared with five years earlier.

Table 9 Canada, British Columbia, Nanaimo – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Nanaimo British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Private households 41,905 100.0 1,764,635 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 8,440 20.1 431,135 24.4 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 14,035 33.5 532,995 30.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 4,455 10.6 168,530 9.6 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 12,140 29.0 498,925 28.3 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple-family households8 670 1.6 50,410 2.9 268,060 2.0
Other households9 2,170 5.2 82,640 4.7 543,340 4.1

Nanaimo – Structural type of dwelling

In Nanaimo, 62.6% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 2.7% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 10 Canada, British Columbia, Nanaimo – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Nanaimo British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 41,900 100.0 1,764,640 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 26,230 62.6 842,120 47.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 1,755 4.2 52,825 3.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 1,620 3.9 130,370 7.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 1,115 2.7 143,970 8.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 6,685 16.0 361,150 20.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 3,020 7.2 184,355 10.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 115 0.3 2,885 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 1,365 3.3 46,960 2.7 183,510 1.4

Language

Nanaimo – Mother tongue

Chart J: Nanaimo - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Nanaimo - 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 Nanaimo, 88.6% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.4% reported French only, and 9.1% reported only a non-official language, 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, 95.5% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.3% spoke only French and 3.0% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 80.5% for English only, 0.4% for French only and 15.4% for only a non-official language.

Table 11 Nanaimo – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 96,915 100.0 96,915 100.0
English 85,840 88.6 92,520 95.5
French 1,350 1.4 310 0.3
Non-official language 8,850 9.1 2,920 3.0
Multiple responses 870 0.9 1,165 1.2
Table 12 Nanaimo – 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 41.9 20.2 21.7
Non-official language 64.2 38.1 26.1

Nanaimo – Non-official languages

In Nanaimo, the three most common mother tongues were German (1.4%), Panjabi (Punjabi) (1.0%) and Dutch (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 13 Nanaimo – 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 1,365 14.4 1.4
Panjabi (Punjabi) 995 10.5 1.0
Dutch 630 6.6 0.7
Chinese, n.o.s. 570 6.0 0.6
Spanish 455 4.8 0.5

Nanaimo – Bilingualism

Table 14 Nanaimo – 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 6.1 4.9 84.0 5.1
0 to 19 8.2 7.9 87.5 8.4
20 to 44 6.2 5.5 85.9 4.2
45 to 64 5.2 3.5 84.7 5.6
65 and over 4.8 2.8 79.7 4.2
Table 15 Nanaimo – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 96,915 100.0
English only 90,435 93.3
French only 45 0.0
English and French 6,060 6.3
Neither English nor French 380 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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