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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Surrey, CY - British Columbia

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

Map of Surrey, CY

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

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

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

Prov. rank
2
Nat. rank
12

In 2011, Surrey (City) had a population of 468,251, representing a percentage change of 18.6% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 316.41 square kilometres with a population density of 1,479.9 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, Surrey (City) had 152,847 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 16.5%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Surrey (City) is part of the census metropolitan area of Vancouver.

Population and dwelling counts

Surrey (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Surrey (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Langley, B.C. DM 104,177 93,726 11.2
Langley, B.C. CY 25,081 23,606 E 6.2
White Rock, B.C. CY 19,339 18,755 3.1
Delta, B.C. DM 99,863 96,635 A 3.3
Greater Vancouver A, B.C. RDA 13,035 11,050 18.0
New Westminster, B.C. CY 65,976 58,549 12.7
Coquitlam, B.C. CY 126,456 114,565 10.4
Port Coquitlam, B.C. CY 56,342 52,687 6.9
Pitt Meadows, B.C. CY 17,736 15,623 13.5
Semiahmoo, B.C. IRI 108 109 -0.9

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

Surrey, CY – Age distribution

Chart C: Surrey, CY - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Surrey, CY - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 Surrey, CY – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 19.0% 19.8% 18.1%
15 to 64 69.0% 68.9% 69.0%
65 and over 12.1% 11.3% 12.9%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Surrey, CY was 12.1%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 69.0% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 19.0%. 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.

Surrey, CY – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Surrey, 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 468,255 394,980 73,275 18.6
0 to 14 88,745 79,530 9,215 11.6
15 to 64 322,935 270,065 52,870 19.6
65 and over 56,575 45,385 11,190 24.7
Males
Total 231,565 194,715 36,850 18.9
0 to 14 45,885 41,350 4,535 11.0
15 to 64 159,610 132,880 26,730 20.1
65 and over 26,070 20,485 5,585 27.3
Females
Total 236,680 200,260 36,420 18.2
0 to 14 42,860 38,185 4,675 12.2
15 to 64 163,330 137,185 26,145 19.1
65 and over 30,495 24,895 5,600 22.5

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

Chart D: Surrey, CY - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Surrey, CY - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Surrey, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 468,255 231,565 236,680
0 to 4 years 29,160 15,110 14,045
5 to 9 years 28,800 14,820 13,980
10 to 14 years 30,785 15,955 14,835
15 to 19 years 33,130 17,225 15,900
20 to 24 years 31,085 15,750 15,335
25 to 29 years 32,275 15,835 16,440
30 to 34 years 32,155 15,410 16,745
35 to 39 years 32,900 15,650 17,250
40 to 44 years 35,030 17,085 17,940
45 to 49 years 36,535 18,250 18,280
50 to 54 years 34,340 17,055 17,285
55 to 59 years 29,820 14,770 15,050
60 to 64 years 25,665 12,570 13,100
65 to 69 years 18,530 9,090 9,435
70 to 74 years 13,585 6,560 7,025
75 to 79 years 10,180 4,755 5,425
80 to 84 years 7,400 3,235 4,165
85 years and over 6,880 2,430 4,445
Median age 37.5 36.8 38.2

Surrey, CY – Median age1 of the population

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

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

In 2011, the median age in Surrey, CY was 37.5 years. In comparison, the median age of British Columbia was 41.9 years.

Table 7 Canada, British Columbia and Surrey, CY – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
Surrey, CY 37.0 37.5

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Surrey was 131,065, which represents a change of 17.3% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Surrey, 77.2% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 7.9% were common-law-couples and 14.9% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Surrey - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Surrey - Census families by family structure

Surrey – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, British Columbia, CSD of Surrey, 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
Surrey, CY 131,065 101,155 77.2 10,380 7.9 19,530 14.9 17.3
Langley, DM 30,095 22,845 75.9 3,130 10.4 4,120 13.7 11.6
Langley, CY 6,615 4,250 64.2 1,060 16.0 1,305 19.7 4.5
White Rock, CY 5,140 3,685 71.7 665 12.9 790 15.4 2.5
Delta, DM 29,080 23,020 79.2 2,420 8.3 3,645 12.5 4.0
Greater Vancouver A, RDA 3,365 2,535 75.3 230 6.8 595 17.7 20.0
New Westminster, CY 17,290 11,740 67.9 2,795 16.2 2,755 15.9 10.9
Coquitlam, CY 35,880 27,345 76.2 2,990 8.3 5,545 15.5 11.5
Port Coquitlam, CY 16,155 11,705 72.5 1,770 11.0 2,680 16.6 8.0
Pitt Meadows, CY 5,255 3,815 72.6 615 11.7 825 15.7 15.0
Semiahmoo, IRI 30 10 33.3 10 33.3 10 33.3 50.0

Surrey – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Surrey, 54.4% 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.

Presence of children within couple families
* Children aged 24 and under at home
Married couples with children * 56,765
Married couples without children * 44,395
Common-law-couples with children * 3,940
Common-law-couples without children * 6,445

Surrey – Marital status

Chart H: Surrey - Marital status

Chart H description: Surrey - Marital status

In Surrey, 60.9% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (55.4%) or living with a common-law partner (5.5%).

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, Surrey, CY – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Surrey, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 379,505 100.0 3,722,690 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 231,120 60.9 2,154,575 57.9 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 210,295 55.4 1,832,605 49.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 20,825 5.5 321,965 8.6 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 148,390 39.1 1,568,120 42.1 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 100,530 26.5 1,014,270 27.2 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 9,695 2.6 102,035 2.7 698,245 2.5
Divorced 19,430 5.1 246,515 6.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 18,730 4.9 205,300 5.5 1,584,525 5.7

Surrey – Types of private households

There were 152,845 private households3 in Surrey in 2011, a change of 16.6% from 2006. Of these, 33.4% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of 12.3% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, British Columbia, Surrey, CY – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Surrey, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 152,845 100.0 1,764,635 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 51,010 33.4 431,135 24.4 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 39,000 25.5 532,995 30.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 15,810 10.3 168,530 9.6 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 30,140 19.7 498,925 28.3 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 11,680 7.6 50,410 2.9 268,060 2.0
Other households9 5,200 3.4 82,640 4.7 543,340 4.1

Surrey – Structural type of dwelling

In Surrey, 42.2% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 2.5% 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, Surrey, CY – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Surrey, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 152,850 100.0 1,764,640 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 64,515 42.2 842,120 47.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 3,350 2.2 52,825 3.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 20,895 13.7 130,370 7.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 3,800 2.5 143,970 8.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 31,345 20.5 361,150 20.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 27,410 17.9 184,355 10.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 100 0.1 2,885 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 1,435 0.9 46,960 2.7 183,510 1.4

Language

Surrey, CY – Mother tongue

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

Chart J description: Surrey, 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 Surrey, 51.7% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 0.7% reported French only, and 44.3% 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, 62.6% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.2% spoke only French and 29.5% 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 Surrey, 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 465,010 100.0 465,005 100.0
English 240,485 51.7 291,155 62.6
French 3,480 0.7 1,050 0.2
Non-official language 205,815 44.3 137,385 29.5
Multiple responses 15,230 3.3 35,425 7.6
Table 13 Surrey, 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 98.9 97.6 1.3
French 47.2 26.3 20.8
Non-official language 88.8 73.1 15.7

Surrey, CY – Non-official languages

In Surrey, the three most common mother tongues were Panjabi (Punjabi) (21.3%), Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (3.5%) and Hindi (3.0%), 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 Surrey, 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.
Panjabi (Punjabi) 99,090 45.0 21.3
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 16,050 7.3 3.5
Hindi 13,770 6.2 3.0
Mandarin 10,330 4.7 2.2
Chinese, n.o.s. 8,090 3.7 1.7

Surrey, CY – Bilingualism

Table 15 Surrey, 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 4.4 4.8 85.6 2.6
0 to 19 6.5 6.9 81.3 5.2
20 to 44 4.2 5.4 89.0 2.1
45 to 64 3.4 3.1 86.7 1.7
65 and over 3.0 2.3 81.5 1.3
Table 16 Surrey, CY – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 465,005 100.0
English only 413,830 89.0
French only 225 0.0
English and French 21,305 4.6
Neither English nor French 29,650 6.4

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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