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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of North Cowichan, DM - British Columbia

Map of North Cowichan, DM (shaded in green), British Columbia

Map of North Cowichan, DM

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: North Cowichan, DM - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: North Cowichan, DM - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
29
Nat. rank
148

In 2011, North Cowichan (District municipality) had a population of 28,807, representing a percentage change of 4.5% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 195.54 square kilometres with a population density of 147.3 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, North Cowichan (District municipality) had 12,056 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 6.9%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

North Cowichan (District municipality) is part of the census agglomeration of Duncan.

Population and dwelling counts

North Cowichan (District municipality) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 North Cowichan (District municipality) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Duncan, B.C. CY 4,932 4,986 -1.1
Cowichan Valley D, B.C. RDA 2,971 2,823 5.2
Cowichan Valley G, B.C. RDA 2,221 2,249 -1.2
Ladysmith, B.C. T 7,921 7,538 5.1
Cowichan Valley E, B.C. RDA 3,854 3,878 -0.6
Halalt 2, B.C. IRI 160 152 5.3
Squaw-hay-one 11, B.C. IRI 40 43 -7.0
Tsussie 6, B.C. IRI 88 73 20.5
Cowichan, B.C. IRI 2,337 1,797 A 30.1

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

North Cowichan, DM – Age distribution

Chart C: North Cowichan, DM - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: North Cowichan, DM - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 North Cowichan, DM – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 15.4% 16.2% 14.6%
15 to 64 64.2% 63.5% 64.8%
65 and over 20.4% 20.3% 20.6%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in North Cowichan, DM was 20.4%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 64.2% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 15.4%. 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.

North Cowichan, DM – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 North Cowichan, DM – 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 28,805 27,555 1,250 4.5
0 to 14 4,425 4,535 -110 -2.4
15 to 64 18,495 18,100 395 2.2
65 and over 5,885 4,920 965 19.6
Males
Total 13,850 13,290 560 4.2
0 to 14 2,245 2,325 -80 -3.4
15 to 64 8,800 8,640 160 1.9
65 and over 2,805 2,325 480 20.6
Females
Total 14,960 14,265 695 4.9
0 to 14 2,180 2,215 -35 -1.6
15 to 64 9,695 9,460 235 2.5
65 and over 3,085 2,595 490 18.9

North Cowichan, DM – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: North Cowichan, DM - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: North Cowichan, DM - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 North Cowichan, DM – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 28,805 13,850 14,960
0 to 4 years 1,315 665 655
5 to 9 years 1,460 730 725
10 to 14 years 1,650 850 800
15 to 19 years 1,770 905 860
20 to 24 years 1,440 700 740
25 to 29 years 1,330 635 700
30 to 34 years 1,375 640 730
35 to 39 years 1,495 695 800
40 to 44 years 1,695 800 900
45 to 49 years 2,150 995 1,155
50 to 54 years 2,405 1,140 1,265
55 to 59 years 2,360 1,090 1,270
60 to 64 years 2,475 1,200 1,275
65 to 69 years 1,880 925 955
70 to 74 years 1,455 710 745
75 to 79 years 1,110 545 565
80 to 84 years 770 370 405
85 years and over 675 260 415
Median age 47.1 46.6 47.6

North Cowichan, DM – Median age1 of the population

Chart E: Canada, British Columbia and North Cowichan, DM - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, British Columbia and North Cowichan, DM - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

In 2011, the median age in North Cowichan, DM was 47.1 years. In comparison, the median age of British Columbia was 41.9 years.

Table 7 Canada, British Columbia and North Cowichan, DM – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
North Cowichan, DM 44.4 47.1

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in North Cowichan was 8,670, which represents a change of 4.0% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In North Cowichan, 70.5% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 13.6% were common-law-couples and 15.9% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: North Cowichan - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: North Cowichan - Census families by family structure

North Cowichan – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, British Columbia, CSD of North Cowichan, DM 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
North Cowichan, DM 8,670 6,115 70.5 1,175 13.6 1,380 15.9 4.0
Duncan, CY 1,140 670 58.8 195 17.1 275 24.1 -12.3
Cowichan Valley D, RDA 940 690 73.4 120 12.8 125 13.3 9.9
Cowichan Valley G, RDA 735 565 76.9 100 13.6 65 8.8 2.1
Ladysmith, T 2,460 1,780 72.4 330 13.4 355 14.4 5.8
Cowichan Valley E, RDA 1,135 820 72.2 165 14.5 145 12.8 -5.0
Halalt 2, IRI 40 10 25.0 20 50.0 10 25.0 0.0
Squaw-hay-one 11, IRI 10 5 50.0 5 50.0 0 0.0 0.0
Tsussie 6, IRI 30 10 33.3 5 16.7 10 33.3 0.0
Cowichan, IRI 565 155 27.4 185 32.7 230 40.7 24.2

North Cowichan – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of North Cowichan, 36.2% 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 * 2,185
Married couples without children * 3,930
Common-law-couples with children * 455
Common-law-couples without children * 715

North Cowichan – Marital status

Chart H: North Cowichan - Marital status

Chart H description: North Cowichan - Marital status

In North Cowichan, 60.9% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (51.2%) or living with a common-law partner (9.7%).

The remaining 39.1% 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, North Cowichan, DM – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status North Cowichan, DM British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 24,385 100.0 3,722,690 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 14,840 60.9 2,154,575 57.9 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 12,485 51.2 1,832,605 49.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 2,355 9.7 321,965 8.6 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 9,540 39.1 1,568,120 42.1 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 5,330 21.9 1,014,270 27.2 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 775 3.2 102,035 2.7 698,245 2.5
Divorced 1,920 7.9 246,515 6.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 1,515 6.2 205,300 5.5 1,584,525 5.7

North Cowichan – Types of private households

There were 12,055 private households3 in North Cowichan in 2011, a change of 6.8% from 2006. Of these, 21.1% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -9.4% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, British Columbia, North Cowichan, DM – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 North Cowichan, DM British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 12,055 100.0 1,764,635 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 2,545 21.1 431,135 24.4 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 4,455 37.0 532,995 30.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 1,250 10.4 168,530 9.6 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 3,170 26.3 498,925 28.3 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 205 1.7 50,410 2.9 268,060 2.0
Other households9 430 3.6 82,640 4.7 543,340 4.1

North Cowichan – Structural type of dwelling

In North Cowichan, 66.7% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 0.0% 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, North Cowichan, DM – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling North Cowichan, DM British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 12,055 100.0 1,764,640 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 8,040 66.7 842,120 47.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 885 7.3 52,825 3.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 915 7.6 130,370 7.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 0 0.0 143,970 8.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 1,415 11.7 361,150 20.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 380 3.2 184,355 10.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 60 0.5 2,885 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 360 3.0 46,960 2.7 183,510 1.4

Language

North Cowichan, DM – Mother tongue

Chart J: North Cowichan, DM - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: North Cowichan, DM - 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 North Cowichan, 90.2% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.3% reported French only, and 7.8% 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, 96.2% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.3% spoke only French and 2.5% 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 North Cowichan, DM – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 28,495 100.0 28,495 100.0
English 25,690 90.2 27,425 96.2
French 360 1.3 80 0.3
Non-official language 2,215 7.8 725 2.5
Multiple responses 225 0.8 275 1.0
Table 13 North Cowichan, DM – 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 99.8 99.7 0.2
French 44.0 16.7 27.4
Non-official language 60.5 37.2 23.4

North Cowichan, DM – Non-official languages

In North Cowichan, the three most common mother tongues were Panjabi (Punjabi) (2.0%), German (1.4%) and Dutch (1.0%), 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 North Cowichan, DM – 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.
Panjabi (Punjabi) 570 23.8 2.0
German 410 17.1 1.4
Dutch 290 12.1 1.0
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 95 4.0 0.3
Spanish 75 3.1 0.3

North Cowichan, DM – Bilingualism

Table 15 North Cowichan, DM – 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 5.6 4.7 83.3 4.5
0 to 19 8.7 8.5 83.3 2.7
20 to 44 5.5 4.7 81.3 5.6
45 to 64 4.6 3.2 89.7 3.9
65 and over 4.2 2.5 81.0 4.3
Table 16 North Cowichan, DM – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 28,500 100.0
English only 26,755 93.9
French only 5 0.0
English and French 1,625 5.7
Neither English nor French 105 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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