Focus on Geography Series, 2016 Census

• In 2016, there were 270,585 Aboriginal people in British Columbia, making up 5.9% of the population.
• The majority of the Aboriginal population reported a single Aboriginal identity – either First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit). Of the Aboriginal population in British Columbia, 63.8% (172,520) were First Nations people, 33.0% (89,405) were Métis, and 0.6% (1,615) were Inuit.
• Within the First Nations population, 72.8% (125,635) had Registered or Treaty Indian status, as defined under the Indian Act. The other 27.2% (46,885) of the First Nations population did not have Registered or Treaty Indian status.
• In addition to those who reported a single Aboriginal identity, 4,350 people reported more than one Aboriginal identity and 2,695 were defined as having an Aboriginal identity that was not included elsewhere.

In general, the Aboriginal population is younger than the non-Aboriginal population.

Aboriginal children aged 14 and under represented 25.8% of the total Aboriginal population, while non-Aboriginal children aged 14 and under accounted for 14.5% of the non-Aboriginal population.

The average age of the Aboriginal population in British Columbia was 32.8 years, compared with 42.4 years for the non-Aboriginal population.

The average age was 31.8 years for First Nations people; it was 34.5 years for Métis; and it was 28.5 years for Inuit.

Figure 1.3 Age distribution by Aboriginal identity, British Columbia, 2016

Figure 1.3 description Long description for Figure 1.3 Age distribution by Aboriginal identity, British Columbia, 2016

Figure 1.4 Top #AB_IDENT_TOPCMAs_PROV.recordcount# Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations by Aboriginal identity, British Columbia, 2016

Figure 1.4 description Long description for Figure 1.4 Top #AB_IDENT_TOPCMAs_PROV.recordcount# Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations by Aboriginal identity, British Columbia, 2016

Figure 1.5 First Nations people, Métis and Inuit for selected Aboriginal language indicators, British Columbia, 2016

Figure 1.5 description Long description for Figure 1.5 First Nations people, Métis and Inuit for selected Aboriginal language indicators, British Columbia, 2016

Figure 1.6 Top 10 most common Aboriginal mother tongues for the total Aboriginal Population, British Columbia, 2016

Figure 1.6 description Long description for Figure 1.6 Top 10 most common Aboriginal mother tongues for the total Aboriginal Population, British Columbia, 2016