In case the red-hot Victoria housing market hadn’t tipped you off, more people are living in BC’s capital city than ever.
According to Canada’s 2016 Census, 7.2% more people are living in Victoria than 2011. But that’s not the only Census statistic worth noting.
The study gives a whole lot of insight into our city’s population statistics, and the results are more interesting than you’d think.
Quick facts
- There are 120 people over 100-years old in the four municipalities (Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, and Esquimalt); 83% are female
- 32% of Victorians gross $29,999 or less in income
- Saanich’s largest age group is 20-24, with 9,145
- Victoria’s largest age groups are 25-29 and 30-34, with 8,750 and 7,840 respectively
- The four municipalities average 52% female and 48% male
Population by age
Interestingly, Victoria has significantly fewer kids and teenagers compared not only to the three other municipalities, but also the nation.
Just 9.2% of Victorians fall in the 0-15 age range, in contrast to 16% across the nation. Saanich, Esquimalt, and Oak Bay all fell in the 12-13% range.
Oak Bay, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the only municipality with an average age over 45, at 49.2. Average ages in Victoria, Saanich, and Esquimalt fall between 43 and 45.
Population numbers
It might not feel like it at times, but Victoria is actually 20% less dense than Vancouver, with 4406 humans per square kilometer, compared to 5493 in Vancouver. That number drops significantly in Saanich, down to just 1100 per square km.
The Victoria municipality‘s 7.2% increase comes in the form of roughly 5,700 more people. As of 2016, that makes for a total population of 85,792.
Saanich saw a 4% increase, Esquimalt an 8.9% increase, and Oak Bay remained generally stagnant, with a 0.4% increase.
