The table below lists the census metropolitan areas and agglomerations in British Columbia by population, using data from the Canada 2021 Census. Each entry is identified as a census metropolitan area (CMA) or a census agglomeration (CA), as defined by Statistics Canada.
A city's metropolitan area, in colloquial or administrative terms, may differ from its CMA as defined by Statistics Canada, resulting in differing populations. Such is the case with the Greater Toronto Area, in the separate province of Ontario, where its metropolitan population is notably higher than its respective CMA population. Statistics Canada listed 7 CMAs and 21 CAs in the Canada 2021 Census.
Census metropolitan areas and agglomerations
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| Rank | Geographic name | Type | 2021 Census of Population[1] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) |
Population (2016) |
Change | Land area (km2) |
Population density (/km2) | |||
| 1 | Vancouver | CMA | 2,642,825 | 2,463,431 | +7.3% | 2,878.93 | 918.0 |
| 2 | Victoria | CMA | 397,237 | 367,770 | +8.0% | 695.29 | 571.3 |
| 3 | Kelowna | CMA | 222,162 | 194,892 | +14.0% | 2,902.45 | 76.5 |
| 4 | Abbotsford - Mission | CMA | 195,726 | 180,518 | +8.4% | 606.72 | 322.6 |
| 5 | Nanaimo | CMA | 115,459 | 104,936 | +10.0% | 1,279.28 | 90.3 |
| 6 | Kamloops | CMA | 114,142 | 103,811 | +10.0% | 5,654.08 | 20.2 |
| 7 | Chilliwack | CMA | 113,767 | 101,512 | +12.1% | 1,444.02 | 78.8 |
| 8 | Prince George | CA | 89,490 | 86,622 | +3.3% | 17,650.99 | 5.1 |
| 9 | Vernon | CA | 67,086 | 61,324 | +9.4% | 1,041.09 | 64.4 |
| 10 | Courtenay | CA | 63,282 | 57,950 | +9.2% | 624.33 | 101.4 |
| 11 | Duncan | CA | 47,582 | 44,451 | +7.0% | 373.22 | 127.5 |
| 12 | Penticton | CA | 47,380 | 43,534 | +8.8% | 1,734.72 | 27.3 |
| 13 | Campbell River | CA | 40,704 | 37,861 | +7.5% | 1,734.05 | 23.5 |
| 14 | Parksville | CA | 31,054 | 28,922 | +7.4% | 81.81 | 379.6 |
| 15 | Fort St. John | CA | 28,729 | 28,396 | +1.2% | 617.73 | 46.5 |
| 16 | Cranbrook | CA | 27,040 | 26,068 | +3.7% | 4,563.87 | 5.9 |
| 17 | Port Alberni | CA | 25,786 | 24,669 | +4.5% | 1,633.13 | 15.8 |
| 18 | Squamish | CA | 24,232 | 19,893 | +21.8% | 105.43 | 229.8 |
| 19 | Williams Lake | CA | 23,608 | 23,113 | +2.1% | 12,422.14 | 1.9 |
| 20 | Quesnel | CA | 23,113 | 23,146 | −0.1% | 21,708.62 | 1.1 |
| 21 | Salmon Arm | CA | 19,705 | 17,904 | +10.1% | 165.42 | 119.1 |
| 22 | Terrace | CA | 19,606 | 19,160 | +2.3% | 9,721.84 | 2.0 |
| 23 | Nelson | CA | 19,119 | 18,307 | +4.4% | 1,224.30 | 15.6 |
| 24 | Dawson Creek | CA | 17,878 | 18,890 | −5.4% | 11,716.80 | 1.5 |
| 25 | Powell River | CA | 17,825 | 16,783 | +6.2% | 799.80 | 22.3 |
| 26 | Ladysmith | CA | 15,501 | 14,572 | +6.4% | 412.01 | 37.6 |
| 27 | Trail | CA | 14,268 | 14,196 | +0.5% | 279.13 | 51.1 |
| 28 | Prince Rupert | CA | 13,442 | 13,462 | −0.1% | 3,303.63 | 4.1 |
See also
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References
edit- ↑ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2026.