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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Nanaimo, CY - British Columbia

Map of Nanaimo, CY (shaded in green), British Columbia

Map of Nanaimo, CY

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Nanaimo, CY - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Nanaimo, CY - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
13
Nat. rank
63

In 2011, Nanaimo (City) had a population of 83,810, representing a percentage change of 6.5% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 91.30 square kilometres with a population density of 918.0 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the provincial land area of 922,509.29 square kilometres with a population density of 4.8 persons per square kilometre.

In 2011, Nanaimo (City) had 36,204 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 8.0%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Nanaimo (City) is part of the census agglomeration of Nanaimo.

Population and dwelling counts

Nanaimo (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Nanaimo (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Lantzville, B.C. DM 3,601 3,661 -1.6
Nanaimo A, B.C. RDA 6,908 6,751 2.3
Nanaimo B, B.C. RDA 4,045 4,050 -0.1
Nanaimo C, B.C. RDA 2,834 2,508 13.0
Nanaimo Town 1, B.C. IRI 377 279 35.1
Nanaimo River, B.C. IRI 287 279 A 2.9

British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth

Table 2 British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Langford CY 29,228 22,459 30.1
Lake Country DM 11,708 9,606 21.9
Port Moody CY 32,975 27,512 19.9
Kent DM 5,664 4,738 E 19.5
Surrey CY 468,251 394,976 18.6

British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth

Table 3 British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Kitimat DM 8,335 8,987 -7.3
Peace River D RDA 5,479 5,749 -4.7
Esquimalt DM 16,209 16,840 -3.7
Hope DM 5,969 6,185 -3.5
Okanagan-Similkameen D RDA 5,717 5,913 -3.3

Age and sex

Nanaimo, CY – Age distribution

Chart C: Nanaimo, CY - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Nanaimo, CY - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 Nanaimo, CY – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 14.3% 15.2% 13.5%
15 to 64 66.0% 66.2% 65.7%
65 and over 19.7% 18.5% 20.8%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Nanaimo, CY was 19.7%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 66.0% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 14.3%. In comparison, the national percentages were 68.5% for the population aged 15 to 64 and 16.7% for the population aged 0 to 14.

Nanaimo, CY – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Nanaimo, CY – Population by broad age groups, sex and population change between 2006 and 2011, 2006 to 2011 censuses
Broad age groups by sex Population
2011 2006 change % change
Both sexes
Total 83,810 78,690 5,120 6.5
0 to 14 12,015 12,010 5 0.0
15 to 64 55,295 52,535 2,760 5.3
65 and over 16,505 14,150 2,355 16.6
Males
Total 40,395 37,965 2,430 6.4
0 to 14 6,150 6,195 -45 -0.7
15 to 64 26,760 25,385 1,375 5.4
65 and over 7,485 6,385 1,100 17.2
Females
Total 43,415 40,725 2,690 6.6
0 to 14 5,855 5,810 45 0.8
15 to 64 28,540 27,150 1,390 5.1
65 and over 9,020 7,770 1,250 16.1

Nanaimo, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Nanaimo, CY - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Nanaimo, CY - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Nanaimo, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 83,810 40,395 43,415
0 to 4 years 3,995 2,040 1,950
5 to 9 years 3,760 1,930 1,830
10 to 14 years 4,260 2,180 2,075
15 to 19 years 4,980 2,540 2,435
20 to 24 years 5,380 2,660 2,725
25 to 29 years 5,320 2,655 2,660
30 to 34 years 4,580 2,220 2,360
35 to 39 years 4,570 2,240 2,335
40 to 44 years 5,265 2,515 2,750
45 to 49 years 5,945 2,810 3,130
50 to 54 years 6,665 3,220 3,445
55 to 59 years 6,440 2,990 3,455
60 to 64 years 6,155 2,900 3,250
65 to 69 years 4,710 2,300 2,405
70 to 74 years 3,610 1,745 1,870
75 to 79 years 3,055 1,450 1,605
80 to 84 years 2,540 1,135 1,405
85 years and over 2,585 850 1,735
Median age 44.8 43.5 46.1

Nanaimo, CY – Median age1 of the population

Chart E: Canada, British Columbia and Nanaimo, CY - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, British Columbia and Nanaimo, CY - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

In 2011, the median age in Nanaimo, CY was 44.8 years. In comparison, the median age of British Columbia was 41.9 years.

Table 7 Canada, British Columbia and Nanaimo, CY – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
Nanaimo, CY 43.2 44.8

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Nanaimo was 23,885, which represents a change of 5.8% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Nanaimo, 66.8% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 15.5% were common-law-couples and 17.8% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Nanaimo - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Nanaimo - Census families by family structure

Nanaimo – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, British Columbia, CSD of Nanaimo, CY and neighbouring census subdivisions – Distribution of census families by family structure, 2011 Census
Geographic name Total families Married-couple families Common-law-couple families Lone-parent families % change, census families, 2006 to 2011
number % number % number %
Canada † 9,389,695 6,293,950 67.0 1,567,905 16.7 1,527,840 16.3 5.5
British Columbia † 1,238,155 887,990 71.7 160,360 13.0 189,805 15.3 6.6
Nanaimo, CY 23,885 15,945 66.8 3,695 15.5 4,240 17.8 5.8
Lantzville, DM 1,165 895 76.8 150 12.9 120 10.3 1.7
Nanaimo A, RDA 2,145 1,505 70.2 365 17.0 270 12.6 1.9
Nanaimo B, RDA 1,295 890 68.7 260 20.1 140 10.8 0.0
Nanaimo C, RDA 855 625 73.1 135 15.8 95 11.1 15.5
Nanaimo Town 1, IRI 105 40 38.1 30 28.6 35 33.3 0.0
Nanaimo River, IRI 85 35 41.2 20 23.5 30 35.3 0.0

Nanaimo – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Nanaimo, 37.2% were couples with children aged 24 and under at home. In comparison, as a whole, 46.9% of couples in Canada had children aged 24 and under at home.

Presence of children within couple families
* Children aged 24 and under at home
Married couples with children * 6,040
Married couples without children * 9,910
Common-law-couples with children * 1,260
Common-law-couples without children * 2,435

Nanaimo – Marital status

Chart H: Nanaimo - Marital status

Chart H description: Nanaimo - Marital status

In Nanaimo, 56.0% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (45.6%) or living with a common-law partner (10.4%).

The remaining 44.0% were not married and not living with a common-law partner, including those who were single (never-married), separated, divorced or widowed.

Note: Percentages may not total 100 percent due to random rounding.

Table 9 Canada, British Columbia, Nanaimo, CY – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Nanaimo, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 71,795 100.0 3,722,690 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 40,200 56.0 2,154,575 57.9 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 32,765 45.6 1,832,605 49.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 7,435 10.4 321,965 8.6 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 31,600 44.0 1,568,120 42.1 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 18,140 25.3 1,014,270 27.2 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 2,260 3.1 102,035 2.7 698,245 2.5
Divorced 6,115 8.5 246,515 6.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 5,085 7.1 205,300 5.5 1,584,525 5.7

Nanaimo – Types of private households

There were 36,205 private households3 in Nanaimo in 2011, a change of 8.0% from 2006. Of these, 19.4% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -3.1% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, British Columbia, Nanaimo, CY – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Nanaimo, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 36,205 100.0 1,764,635 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 7,035 19.4 431,135 24.4 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 11,795 32.6 532,995 30.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 3,950 10.9 168,530 9.6 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 10,920 30.2 498,925 28.3 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 545 1.5 50,410 2.9 268,060 2.0
Other households9 1,965 5.4 82,640 4.7 543,340 4.1

Nanaimo – Structural type of dwelling

In Nanaimo, 58.9% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 3.1% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 11 Canada, British Columbia, Nanaimo, CY – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Nanaimo, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 36,205 100.0 1,764,640 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 21,330 58.9 842,120 47.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 1,725 4.8 52,825 3.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 1,605 4.4 130,370 7.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 1,110 3.1 143,970 8.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 6,655 18.4 361,150 20.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 2,865 7.9 184,355 10.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 80 0.2 2,885 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 820 2.3 46,960 2.7 183,510 1.4

Language

Nanaimo, CY – Mother tongue

Chart J: Nanaimo, CY - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Nanaimo, CY - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Note: Counts for mother tongue as well as those for language spoken most often at home include single responses only.

In Nanaimo, 87.8% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.4% reported French only, and 9.8% reported a non-official language only, in 2011. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 70.3% for English only, 1.3% for French only and 26.5% for only non-official languages.

In 2011, 95.0% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.3% spoke only French and 3.3% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 80.5% for only English, 0.4% for only French and 15.4% for only a non-official language.

Table 12 Nanaimo, CY – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 82,705 100.0 82,705 100.0
English 72,615 87.8 78,570 95.0
French 1,170 1.4 265 0.3
Non-official language 8,115 9.8 2,770 3.3
Multiple responses 805 1.0 1,100 1.3
Table 13 Nanaimo, CY – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention12
(in percentage)
Total retention; language spoken at home at least on a regular basis Complete retention; language spoken most often at home Partial retention; language spoken at home on a regular basis
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
English 99.8 99.7 0.1
French 41.5 20.1 21.5
Non-official language 65.3 39.4 25.9

Nanaimo, CY – Non-official languages

In Nanaimo, the three most common mother tongues were German (1.4%), Panjabi (Punjabi) (1.2%) and Chinese, n.o.s. (0.7%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the provincial / territorial level were Panjabi (Punjabi) (4.5%), Cantonese (3.2%) and Chinese, n.o.s. (2.9%).

Table 14 Nanaimo, CY – The most common non-official-language mother tongues, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Number Percentage of non-official language mother-tongue population Percentage of total population
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
German 1,155 13.3 1.4
Panjabi (Punjabi) 960 11.0 1.2
Chinese, n.o.s. 555 6.4 0.7
Dutch 545 6.3 0.7
Spanish 425 4.9 0.5

Nanaimo, CY – Bilingualism

Table 15 Nanaimo, CY – Rate of English-French bilingualism by mother tongue and age groups, 2011 Census
Age groups Mother tongue
Total English French Non-official language
Note: Counts for mother tongue include single responses only. Consequently, the total excludes multiple responses.
Total 6.2 5.1 85.0 4.8
0 to 19 8.4 8.1 92.9 8.2
20 to 44 6.4 5.7 87.5 3.8
45 to 64 5.4 3.7 85.1 5.2
65 and over 4.8 2.9 80.0 3.9
Table 16 Nanaimo, CY – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 82,705 100.0
English only 76,990 93.1
French only 35 0.0
English and French 5,315 6.4
Neither English nor French 365 0.4

Symbols:

···
not applicable
†
excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements. For further information, refer to Notes.
incompletely enumerated Indian reserve or Indian settlement. For further information, refer to Notes.
A
adjusted figure due to boundary change. For further information, refer to Content considerations.
E
use with caution. For further information, refer to Cautionary note.


Source:

Statistics Canada. 2012. Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-310-XWE2011004. Ottawa, Ontario. Analytical products, 2011 Census. Last updated October 24, 2012.
 

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