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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of West Kelowna, DM - British Columbia 1

Map of West Kelowna, DM (shaded in green), British Columbia

Map of West Kelowna, DM

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: West Kelowna, DM - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: West Kelowna, DM - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
27
Nat. rank
139

In 2011, West Kelowna (District municipality) had a population of 30,892, representing a percentage change of 13.5% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 123.51 square kilometres with a population density of 250.1 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, West Kelowna (District municipality) had 11,803 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 15.9%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

West Kelowna (District municipality) is part of the census metropolitan area of Kelowna.

Population and dwelling counts

West Kelowna (District municipality) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 West Kelowna (District municipality) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Kelowna, B.C. CY 117,312 107,035 A 9.6
Central Okanagan, B.C. RDA 3,795 3,650 A 4.0
Peachland, B.C. DM 5,200 4,883 6.5
Central Okanagan J, B.C. RDA 1,947 1,758 A 10.8
Tsinstikeptum 9, B.C. IRI 5,882 5,171 13.7
Tsinstikeptum 10, B.C. IRI 1,186 1,036 14.5

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

West Kelowna, DM – Age distribution

Chart C: West Kelowna, DM - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: West Kelowna, DM - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 West Kelowna, DM – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 16.8% 17.7% 15.8%
15 to 64 65.4% 65.0% 65.8%
65 and over 17.8% 17.2% 18.4%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in West Kelowna, DM was 17.8%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 65.4% 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.

West Kelowna, DM – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 West Kelowna, 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 30,890 27,215 3,675 13.5
0 to 14 5,190 4,980 210 4.2
15 to 64 20,205 17,685 2,520 14.2
65 and over 5,495 4,555 940 20.6
Males
Total 15,240 13,495 1,745 12.9
0 to 14 2,705 2,545 160 6.3
15 to 64 9,910 8,700 1,210 13.9
65 and over 2,620 2,245 375 16.7
Females
Total 15,655 13,720 1,935 14.1
0 to 14 2,480 2,430 50 2.1
15 to 64 10,295 8,985 1,310 14.6
65 and over 2,875 2,310 565 24.5

West Kelowna, DM – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: West Kelowna, DM - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: West Kelowna, DM - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 West Kelowna, DM – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 30,890 15,240 15,655
0 to 4 years 1,555 790 770
5 to 9 years 1,730 910 815
10 to 14 years 1,905 1,005 895
15 to 19 years 2,130 1,105 1,020
20 to 24 years 1,605 805 795
25 to 29 years 1,495 730 760
30 to 34 years 1,690 835 855
35 to 39 years 1,825 900 930
40 to 44 years 2,150 1,015 1,135
45 to 49 years 2,455 1,155 1,300
50 to 54 years 2,505 1,215 1,290
55 to 59 years 2,260 1,110 1,145
60 to 64 years 2,090 1,035 1,055
65 to 69 years 1,665 810 860
70 to 74 years 1,395 665 730
75 to 79 years 1,080 560 520
80 to 84 years 790 360 425
85 years and over 570 220 345
Median age 43.5 42.5 44.3

West Kelowna, DM – Median age2 of the population

Chart E: Canada, British Columbia and West Kelowna, DM - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

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

In 2011, the median age in West Kelowna, DM was 43.5 years. In comparison, the median age of British Columbia was 41.9 years.

Table 7 Canada, British Columbia and West Kelowna, DM – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
West Kelowna, DM 42.4 43.5

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families3 in West Kelowna was 9,565, which represents a change of 11.5% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In West Kelowna, 76.1% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 11.8% were common-law-couples and 12.1% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: West Kelowna - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: West Kelowna - Census families by family structure

West Kelowna – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, British Columbia, CSD of West Kelowna, 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
West Kelowna, DM 9,565 7,275 76.1 1,130 11.8 1,160 12.1 11.5
Kelowna, CY 32,820 23,255 70.9 4,515 13.8 5,055 15.4 6.8
Central Okanagan, RDA 1,205 950 78.8 155 12.9 100 8.3 0.0
Peachland, DM 1,750 1,345 76.9 225 12.9 180 10.3 4.8
Central Okanagan J, RDA 660 515 78.0 95 14.4 50 7.6 10.9
Tsinstikeptum 9, IRI 1,840 1,190 64.7 290 15.8 360 19.6 10.5
Tsinstikeptum 10, IRI 380 255 67.1 60 15.8 70 18.4 7.0

West Kelowna – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of West Kelowna, 41.6% 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 * 3,080
Married couples without children * 4,195
Common-law-couples with children * 420
Common-law-couples without children * 710

West Kelowna – Marital status

Chart H: West Kelowna - Marital status

Chart H description: West Kelowna - Marital status

In West Kelowna, 66.2% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (57.4%) or living with a common-law partner (8.8%).

The remaining 33.7% 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, West Kelowna, DM – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status West Kelowna, DM British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 25,705 100.0 3,722,690 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 17,025 66.2 2,154,575 57.9 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 14,760 57.4 1,832,605 49.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 2,265 8.8 321,965 8.6 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 8,675 33.7 1,568,120 42.1 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 5,290 20.6 1,014,270 27.2 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 655 2.5 102,035 2.7 698,245 2.5
Divorced 1,420 5.5 246,515 6.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 1,305 5.1 205,300 5.5 1,584,525 5.7

West Kelowna – Types of private households

There were 11,805 private households4 in West Kelowna in 2011, a change of 15.7% from 2006. Of these, 28.5% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of 8.9% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, British Columbia, West Kelowna, DM – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type5 West Kelowna, DM British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 11,805 100.0 1,764,635 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home6		 3,365 28.5 431,135 24.4 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home7		 4,605 39.0 532,995 30.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households8 1,025 8.7 168,530 9.6 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 2,160 18.3 498,925 28.3 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households9 280 2.4 50,410 2.9 268,060 2.0
Other households10 365 3.1 82,640 4.7 543,340 4.1

West Kelowna – Structural type of dwelling

In West Kelowna, 71.7% 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, West Kelowna, DM – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling West Kelowna, DM British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 11,805 100.0 1,764,640 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 8,460 71.7 842,120 47.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 460 3.9 52,825 3.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 325 2.8 130,370 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 1,170 9.9 361,150 20.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 890 7.5 184,355 10.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house11 10 0.1 2,885 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling12 490 4.2 46,960 2.7 183,510 1.4

Language

West Kelowna, DM – Mother tongue

Chart J: West Kelowna, DM - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: West Kelowna, 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 West Kelowna, 87.4% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.6% reported French only, and 10.3% 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, 95.9% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.4% spoke only French and 2.6% 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 West Kelowna, 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 30,580 100.0 30,580 100.0
English 26,725 87.4 29,320 95.9
French 475 1.6 110 0.4
Non-official language 3,140 10.3 795 2.6
Multiple responses 245 0.8 360 1.2
Table 13 West Kelowna, DM – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention13
(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 45.9 22.0 23.9
Non-official language 58.0 30.5 27.5

West Kelowna, DM – Non-official languages

In West Kelowna, the three most common mother tongues were German (3.7%), Dutch (0.6%) and Polish (0.6%), 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 West Kelowna, 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.
German 1,145 34.4 3.7
Dutch 190 5.7 0.6
Polish 180 5.4 0.6
Hungarian 155 4.7 0.5
Italian 155 4.7 0.5

West Kelowna, DM – Bilingualism

Table 15 West Kelowna, 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 5.8 4.5 87.4 4.3
0 to 19 6.5 6.1 100.0 5.7
20 to 44 6.8 5.7 95.0 7.0
45 to 64 5.0 3.1 86.8 4.6
65 and over 4.7 2.1 86.2 2.8
Table 16 West Kelowna, DM – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 30,580 100.0
English only 28,700 93.9
French only 10 0.0
English and French 1,810 5.9
Neither English nor French 60 0.2

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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