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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Greater Vancouver A, RDA - British Columbia

Map of Greater Vancouver A, RDA (shaded in green), British Columbia

Map of Greater Vancouver A, RDA

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Greater Vancouver A, RDA - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Greater Vancouver A, RDA - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
45
Nat. rank
300

In 2011, Greater Vancouver A (Regional district electoral area) had a population of 13,035, representing a percentage change of 18.0% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 815.59 square kilometres with a population density of 16.0 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, Greater Vancouver A (Regional district electoral area) had 5,041 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 12.0%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Greater Vancouver A (Regional district electoral area) is part of the census metropolitan area of Vancouver.

Population and dwelling counts

Greater Vancouver A (Regional district electoral area) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Greater Vancouver A (Regional district electoral area) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Fraser Valley F, B.C. RDA 1,303 1,339 -2.7
Langley, B.C. DM 104,177 93,726 11.2
Surrey, B.C. CY 468,251 394,976 18.6
Delta, B.C. DM 99,863 96,635 A 3.3
Richmond, B.C. CY 190,473 174,461 9.2
Vancouver, B.C. CY 603,502 578,041 4.4
Coquitlam, B.C. CY 126,456 114,565 10.4
Belcarra, B.C. VL 644 676 -4.7
Anmore, B.C. VL 2,092 1,785 17.2
Port Moody, B.C. CY 32,975 27,512 19.9
North Vancouver, B.C. DM 84,412 82,562 2.2
West Vancouver, B.C. DM 42,694 42,131 1.3
Bowen Island, B.C. IM 3,402 3,362 1.2
Lions Bay, B.C. VL 1,318 1,328 -0.8
Pitt Meadows, B.C. CY 17,736 15,623 13.5
Maple Ridge, B.C. DM 76,052 68,949 10.3
Musqueam 2, B.C. IRI 1,569 1,371 14.4
Barnston Island 3, B.C. IRI 0 49 -100.0
Capital G, B.C. RDA 4,868 5,101 -4.6
Cowichan Valley G, B.C. RDA 2,221 2,249 -1.2
Nanaimo B, B.C. RDA 4,045 4,050 -0.1
Nanaimo C, B.C. RDA 2,834 2,508 13.0
Sunshine Coast D, B.C. RDA 3,244 3,307 -1.9
Sunshine Coast E, B.C. RDA 3,482 3,552 -2.0
Sunshine Coast F, B.C. RDA 2,015 2,235 -9.8
Squamish-Lillooet D, B.C. RDA 836 839 -0.4

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

Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Age distribution

Chart C: Greater Vancouver A, RDA - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Greater Vancouver A, RDA - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 16.8% 17.7% 15.9%
15 to 64 74.3% 73.9% 74.6%
65 and over 8.9% 8.4% 9.5%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Greater Vancouver A, RDA was 8.9%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 74.3% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 16.8%. 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.

Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Greater Vancouver A, RDA – 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 13,035 11,050 1,985 18.0
0 to 14 2,185 1,845 340 18.4
15 to 64 9,685 8,280 1,405 17.0
65 and over 1,165 925 240 25.9
Males
Total 6,265 5,460 805 14.7
0 to 14 1,110 975 135 13.8
15 to 64 4,630 4,050 580 14.3
65 and over 525 430 95 22.1
Females
Total 6,765 5,590 1,175 21.0
0 to 14 1,075 865 210 24.3
15 to 64 5,050 4,225 825 19.5
65 and over 645 500 145 29.0

Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Greater Vancouver A, RDA - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Greater Vancouver A, RDA - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 13,035 6,265 6,765
0 to 4 years 770 375 395
5 to 9 years 655 340 310
10 to 14 years 760 400 365
15 to 19 years 1,125 595 525
20 to 24 years 1,705 865 840
25 to 29 years 1,040 515 520
30 to 34 years 890 415 475
35 to 39 years 885 395 490
40 to 44 years 1,180 495 685
45 to 49 years 1,140 515 625
50 to 54 years 685 325 360
55 to 59 years 550 270 280
60 to 64 years 490 235 250
65 to 69 years 305 150 155
70 to 74 years 260 115 140
75 to 79 years 210 105 105
80 to 84 years 165 75 90
85 years and over 230 80 150
Median age 32.6 30.4 34.4

Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Median age1 of the population

Chart E: Canada, British Columbia and Greater Vancouver A, RDA - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, British Columbia and Greater Vancouver A, RDA - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

In 2011, the median age in Greater Vancouver A, RDA was 32.6 years. In comparison, the median age of British Columbia was 41.9 years.

Table 7 Canada, British Columbia and Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
Greater Vancouver A, RDA 32.2 32.6

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Greater Vancouver A was 3,365, which represents a change of 20.0% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Greater Vancouver A, 75.3% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 6.8% were common-law-couples and 17.7% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Greater Vancouver A - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Greater Vancouver A - Census families by family structure

Greater Vancouver A – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, British Columbia, CSD of Greater Vancouver A, RDA 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
Greater Vancouver A, RDA 3,365 2,535 75.3 230 6.8 595 17.7 20.0
Fraser Valley F, RDA 395 260 65.8 80 20.3 55 13.9 -1.3
Langley, DM 30,095 22,845 75.9 3,130 10.4 4,120 13.7 11.6
Surrey, CY 131,065 101,155 77.2 10,380 7.9 19,530 14.9 17.3
Delta, DM 29,080 23,020 79.2 2,420 8.3 3,645 12.5 4.0
Richmond, CY 55,400 43,270 78.1 3,210 5.8 8,920 16.1 10.3
Vancouver, CY 151,330 103,025 68.1 23,580 15.6 24,720 16.3 3.9
Coquitlam, CY 35,880 27,345 76.2 2,990 8.3 5,545 15.5 11.5
Belcarra, VL 220 185 84.1 20 9.1 15 6.8 0.0
Anmore, VL 595 500 84.0 45 7.6 50 8.4 21.4
Port Moody, CY 9,605 7,150 74.4 1,125 11.7 1,330 13.8 18.7
North Vancouver, DM 24,355 19,065 78.3 2,060 8.5 3,230 13.3 2.3
West Vancouver, DM 12,325 10,025 81.3 790 6.4 1,515 12.3 2.2
Bowen Island, IM 1,025 780 76.1 160 15.6 95 9.3 -1.4
Lions Bay, VL 430 345 80.2 50 11.6 35 8.1 1.2
Pitt Meadows, CY 5,255 3,815 72.6 615 11.7 825 15.7 15.0
Maple Ridge, DM 21,700 15,390 70.9 2,785 12.8 3,530 16.3 10.9
Musqueam 2, IRI 440 255 58.0 70 15.9 115 26.1 12.8
Capital G, RDA 1,540 1,110 72.1 285 18.5 135 8.8 -3.4
Cowichan Valley G, RDA 735 565 76.9 100 13.6 65 8.8 2.1
Nanaimo B, RDA 1,295 890 68.7 260 20.1 140 10.8 0.0
Nanaimo C, RDA 855 625 73.1 135 15.8 95 11.1 15.5
Sunshine Coast D, RDA 985 635 64.5 190 19.3 160 16.2 5.3
Sunshine Coast E, RDA 1,075 750 69.8 210 19.5 120 11.2 0.0
Sunshine Coast F, RDA 625 455 72.8 95 15.2 75 12.0 -9.4
Squamish-Lillooet D, RDA 260 185 71.2 50 19.2 25 9.6 -7.1

Greater Vancouver A – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Greater Vancouver A, 62.2% 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 * 1,660
Married couples without children * 875
Common-law-couples with children * 60
Common-law-couples without children * 170

Greater Vancouver A – Marital status

Chart H: Greater Vancouver A - Marital status

Chart H description: Greater Vancouver A - Marital status

In Greater Vancouver A, 55.9% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (51.5%) or living with a common-law partner (4.4%).

The remaining 44.0% 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, Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Greater Vancouver A, RDA British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 10,855 100.0 3,722,690 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 6,070 55.9 2,154,575 57.9 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 5,595 51.5 1,832,605 49.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 475 4.4 321,965 8.6 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 4,780 44.0 1,568,120 42.1 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 3,890 35.8 1,014,270 27.2 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 175 1.6 102,035 2.7 698,245 2.5
Divorced 410 3.8 246,515 6.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 305 2.8 205,300 5.5 1,584,525 5.7

Greater Vancouver A – Types of private households

There were 5,040 private households3 in Greater Vancouver A in 2011, a change of 12.0% from 2006. Of these, 33.4% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of 26.2% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, British Columbia, Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Greater Vancouver A, RDA British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 5,040 100.0 1,764,635 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 1,685 33.4 431,135 24.4 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 995 19.7 532,995 30.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 575 11.4 168,530 9.6 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 1,320 26.2 498,925 28.3 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 50 1.0 50,410 2.9 268,060 2.0
Other households9 415 8.2 82,640 4.7 543,340 4.1

Greater Vancouver A – Structural type of dwelling

In Greater Vancouver A, 9.3% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 22.7% 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, Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Greater Vancouver A, RDA British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 5,040 100.0 1,764,640 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 470 9.3 842,120 47.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 90 1.8 52,825 3.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 670 13.3 130,370 7.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 1,145 22.7 143,970 8.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 2,600 51.6 361,150 20.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 55 1.1 184,355 10.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 0 0.0 2,885 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 10 0.2 46,960 2.7 183,510 1.4

Language

Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Mother tongue

Chart J: Greater Vancouver A, RDA - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Greater Vancouver A, RDA - 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 Greater Vancouver A, 36.5% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.2% reported French only, and 59.6% 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, 51.8% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.7% spoke only French and 41.7% 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 Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 12,820 100.0 12,815 100.0
English 4,685 36.5 6,640 51.8
French 160 1.2 90 0.7
Non-official language 7,645 59.6 5,345 41.7
Multiple responses 335 2.6 755 5.9
Table 13 Greater Vancouver A, RDA – 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 98.6 96.7 1.9
French 64.3 45.2 19.0
Non-official language 88.7 71.9 16.8

Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Non-official languages

In Greater Vancouver A, the three most common mother tongues were Mandarin (15.9%), Chinese, n.o.s. (13.8%) and Korean (8.5%), 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 Greater Vancouver A, RDA – 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.
Mandarin 2,035 25.6 15.9
Chinese, n.o.s. 1,765 22.2 13.8
Korean 1,095 13.8 8.5
Cantonese 445 5.6 3.5
Persian (Farsi) 390 4.9 3.0

Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Bilingualism

Table 15 Greater Vancouver A, RDA – 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 9.7 14.2 93.5 5.2
0 to 19 9.1 11.6 83.3 6.5
20 to 44 10.3 17.7 93.8 4.8
45 to 64 7.9 12.6 83.3 4.0
65 and over 12.7 11.7 75.0 10.8
Table 16 Greater Vancouver A, RDA – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 12,820 100.0
English only 10,610 82.8
French only 10 0.1
English and French 1,255 9.8
Neither English nor French 950 7.4

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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