Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population

Vancouver, Census metropolitan area

Religion

Religion: In 2021, the top religious group was Catholic, with about 355,985 persons representing 13.7% of the total population. The second group was Other Christians, with about 297,425 persons representing 11.4% of the total population. The population who declared no religion and secular perspectives numbered 1,227,755 persons, representing 47.1% of the total population.

Racialized groups

Racialized groupsFootnote 1: In 2021, the largest racialized group was Chinese, with about 512,260 persons representing 19.6% of the total population. The second group was South Asian, with about 369,295 persons representing 14.2% of the total population. The third group was Filipino, with about 142,120 persons representing 5.5% of the total population.

Ethnic or cultural origins

Ethnic or cultural origins: In 2021, the most frequently reported ethnic or cultural origin was Chinese, with about 475,160 persons representing 18.2% of the total population. The second origin was English, with about 365,150 persons representing 14.0% of the total population. The third origin was Scottish, with about 281,420 persons representing 10.8% of the total population.

Distribution (in percentage) of main religious groups, Vancouver (CMA), 2011 and 2021

The 10 most frequently reported ethnic or cultural origins by median age, Vancouver (CMA), 2021

The 10 most frequently reported ethnic or cultural origins by median age, Vancouver (CMA), 2021
Ethnic or cultural origin Number of responses % Rank Median age
Chinese 475,160 18.2 1 41.2
English 365,150 14.0 2 44.4
Scottish 281,420 10.8 3 42.8
Irish 235,965 9.1 4 40.8
Indian (India) 213,800 8.2 5 34.4
German 184,145 7.1 6 39.6
Canadian 174,100 6.7 7 29.2
Filipino 141,230 5.4 8 37.2
French, n.o.s. 108,310 4.2 9 39.6
Italian 83,200 3.2 10 36.4

Counts of visible minority groupsFootnote 2, Vancouver (CMA), 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021

Population by visible minority groupFootnote 2 and median age, Vancouver (CMA), 2016 and 2021

Population by visible minority groupFootnote 2 and median age, Vancouver (CMA), 2016 and 2021
2016 2021
Number % of total population % of visible minority population Median age Number % of total population % of visible minority population Median age
Total - Visible minority 2,426,235 100.0 ... 40.4 2,607,010 100.0 ... 40.4
Total visible minority population 1,185,685 48.9 100.0 36.8 1,420,275 54.5 100.0 37.2
South Asian 291,010 12.0 24.5 35.2 369,295 14.2 26.0 34.0
Chinese 474,650 19.6 40.0 41.2 512,260 19.6 36.1 42.4
Black 29,830 1.2 2.5 30.0 41,180 1.6 2.9 31.0
Filipino 123,175 5.1 10.4 37.2 142,120 5.5 10.0 38.8
Arab 16,435 0.7 1.4 30.0 22,445 0.9 1.6 30.6
Latin American 34,800 1.4 2.9 35.2 51,500 2.0 3.6 35.6
Southeast Asian 44,905 1.9 3.8 34.0 56,815 2.2 4.0 34.8
West Asian 46,010 1.9 3.9 37.6 64,645 2.5 4.6 38.8
Korean 52,980 2.2 4.5 35.6 63,465 2.4 4.5 37.2
Japanese 30,110 1.2 2.5 39.2 31,195 1.2 2.2 40.8
Visible minority, n.i.e. 6,490 0.3 0.5 34.8 14,745 0.6 1.0 37.2
Multiple visible minorities 35,295 1.5 3.0 23.4 50,605 1.9 3.6 24.8
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