British Columbia Population Overview (2026)
British Columbia (BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and Alaska to the west, Yukon and the Northwest Territories to the north, Alberta to the east, and the U.S. states of Washington, Idaho, and Montana to the south.
British Columbia is Canada’s third-most populous province and the fifth-largest by land area. According to the 2021 Census, the population of British Columbia was 5,000,879 (5.0 million). Based on Statistics Canada’s latest estimates (Q4 2025), the population is 5,683,201, which is treated as the 2026 population estimate.
👉 Projected Population of British Columbia (2026): ~5.7 million
Source: Statistics Canad
British Columbia Population Growth (2021–2026)
British Columbia has a population growth rate of 13.64% during 2021-2026. It has had a population increase of 682,322 people since 2021.
British Columbia Census Q4 2025 Snapshot
| Indicator | Data |
| Total Population | 5,683,201 |
| Percentage Change since 2016 | 13.64% |
| Population Rank | 3rd |
| Total Land Area | 925,186 sq. km (357,216 sq mi) |
| Area Rank | 5th |
| Population Density | 6.15/sq. km (15.9/sq mi) |
| Capital City | Victoria |
| Largest City | Vancouver |
Source: Statistics Canada
also read about the Canadian Population
British Columbia Population Projection (2030–2100)
British Columbia’s population is expected to continue growing steadily over the coming decades, supported mainly by immigration, interprovincial migration, and urban expansion. While growth is likely to remain strong in the short term, it is projected to gradually moderate after mid-century as demographic aging increases.
British Columbia Population Projection
| Year | Population (Projected) |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 5.7 million |
| 2030 | 6.2 million |
| 2040 | 6.9 million |
| 2050 | 7.5 million |
| 2070 | 8.4 million |
| 2100 | 9.4 million |
👉 Projected Population of British Columbia (2100): ~9.4 million
British Columbia Historical Population
British Columbia’s population history reflects early volatility followed by sustained long-term growth. After population declines in the mid-19th century, rapid expansion began in the late 1800s and accelerated through the early 20th century. Growth remained strong after World War II, pushing the population past 1 million by 1951 and 2 million by the early 1970s. Although growth moderated in the late 20th century, it remained steady, and between 2016 and 2021, the province added over 350,000 residents, reaching a population of 5.0 million, driven largely by migration and urbanization.
British Columbia Historical Population (1851–2021)
| Census Year | Population | Absolute Change | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | 55,000 | – | – |
| 1861 | 51,524 | −3,476 | −6.32% |
| 1871 | 36,247 | −15,277 | −29.65% |
| 1881 | 49,459 | +13,212 | +36.45% |
| 1891 | 98,173 | +48,714 | +98.49% |
| 1901 | 178,657 | +80,484 | +81.98% |
| 1911 | 392,480 | +213,823 | +119.68% |
| 1921 | 524,582 | +132,102 | +33.66% |
| 1931 | 694,263 | +169,681 | +32.35% |
| 1941 | 817,861 | +123,598 | +17.80% |
| 1951 | 1,165,210 | +347,349 | +42.47% |
| 1956 | 1,398,464 | +233,254 | +20.02% |
| 1961 | 1,629,082 | +230,618 | +16.49% |
| 1966 | 1,873,674 | +244,592 | +15.01% |
| 1971 | 2,184,620 | +310,946 | +16.60% |
| 1976 | 2,466,610 | +281,990 | +12.91% |
| 1981 | 2,744,467 | +277,857 | +11.26% |
| 1986 | 2,883,370 | +138,903 | +5.06% |
| 1991 | 3,282,061 | +398,691 | +13.83% |
| 1996 | 3,724,500 | +442,439 | +13.48% |
| 2001 | 3,907,738 | +183,238 | +4.92% |
| 2006 | 4,113,487 | +205,749 | +5.27% |
| 2011 | 4,400,057 | +286,570 | +6.97% |
| 2016 | 4,648,055 | +247,998 | +5.64% |
| 2021 | 5,000,879 | +352,824 | +7.60% |
Source: Statistics Canada
British Columbia Population by Ethnicity
British Columbia has a highly diverse ethnic composition. The most commonly reported ethnic origins include English, Canadian, Scottish, Irish, German, Chinese, French, and Indian. According to the 2021 Census, more than 1.7 million residents in the province identified as members of a visible minority group. Chinese Canadians form the largest visible minority community, accounting for about 11.2% of British Columbia’s total population, followed by South Asians (around 10%). Other significant visible minority groups include Filipino, Korean, and Japanese communities, reflecting the province’s strong multicultural and Asia-Pacific connections.
Top cities in British Columbia by population
| # | City | Population (2021) |
| 1 | Vancouver | 650,380 |
| 2 | Surrey | 562,565 |
| 3 | Burnaby | 245,725 |
| 4 | Richmond | 208,395 |
| 5 | Abbotsford | 150,800 |
| 6 | Coquitlam | 147,465 |
| 7 | Kelowna | 141,755 |
| 8 | Delta | 102,238 |
| 9 | Nanaimo | 97,020 |
| 10 | Kamloops | 94,560 |
read about the Top Cities in British Columbia
Sources
All population data is sourced from official Canadian and international statistical agencies:
English
Español
Português
Deutsch