Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population
Nanaimo, City
Immigrant Status
According to the 2021 Census, 15,620 people, that is, 16.1% of the population, were foreign-born (immigrants), 79,545 (82.0%) were Canadian-born (non-immigrants) and 1,855 (1.9%) were non-permanent residents.
Recent Immigrants
Among immigrants in 2021, 2,265 came between 2016 and 2021. These recent immigrants made up 14.5% of the immigrant population.
Place of birth
The top three places of birth among immigrants living in Nanaimo (City) in 2021 were the United Kingdom, China, and the United States of America. Among recent immigrants living in Nanaimo (City), they were China, India, and the Philippines.
Percentage of the immigrant population Nanaimo (City), British Columbia [PR], Canada, 2011 to 2021
Top places of birth of immigrants, Nanaimo (City), 2016 and 2021
| 2016 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Rank | Number | % | Rank | |
| Immigrant population | 13,120 | 100.0 | ... | 15,620 | 100.0 | ... |
| United Kingdom | 3,620 | 27.6 | 1 | 3,490 | 22.3 | 1 |
| China | 815 | 6.2 | 4 | 1,290 | 8.3 | 2 |
| United States of America | 1,045 | 8.0 | 2 | 1,150 | 7.4 | 3 |
| India | 835 | 6.4 | 3 | 1,075 | 6.9 | 4 |
| Philippines | 705 | 5.4 | 6 | 1,040 | 6.7 | 5 |
| Germany | 735 | 5.6 | 5 | 635 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Korea, South | 280 | 2.1 | 10 | 470 | 3.0 | 7 |
| Viet Nam | 355 | 2.7 | 8 | 460 | 2.9 | 8 |
| Netherlands | 495 | 3.8 | 7 | 440 | 2.8 | 9 |
| South Africa, Republic of | 310 | 2.4 | 9 | 315 | 2.0 | 10 |
Top places of birth of recent immigrants, Nanaimo (City), 2016 and 2021
| 2016 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Rank | Number | % | Rank | |
| Recent immigrants (2016: 2011 to 2016 / 2021: 2016 to 2021) | 1,280 | 100.0 | ... | 2,265 | 100.0 | ... |
| China | 255 | 19.9 | 2 | 415 | 18.4 | 1 |
| India | 105 | 8.2 | 3 | 310 | 13.7 | 2 |
| Philippines | 270 | 21.1 | 1 | 215 | 9.5 | 3 |
| Syria | 60 | 4.7 | 7 | 205 | 9.1 | 4 |
| Nigeria | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 120 | 5.3 | 5 |
| United States of America | 95 | 7.4 | 5 | 105 | 4.6 | 6 |
| United Kingdom | 100 | 7.8 | 4 | 95 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Korea, South | 70 | 5.5 | 6 | 95 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Fiji | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 50 | 2.2 | 9 |
| Hungary | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 45 | 2.0 | 10 |
| Ireland | 10 | 0.8 | 16 | 45 | 2.0 | 10 |
Population by generation status and median age, Nanaimo (City), 2016 and 2021
| 2016 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Median age | Number | % | Median age | |
| Total population in private households | 87,650 | 100.0 | 44.4 | 97,020 | 100.0 | 44.0 |
| First generation (born abroad) | 15,260 | 17.4 | 56.0 | 18,640 | 19.2 | 52.4 |
| Second generation (born in Canada with at least one parent born abroad) | 17,340 | 19.8 | 48.8 | 18,320 | 18.9 | 46.0 |
| Third generation or more (born in Canada with both parents born in Canada) | 55,055 | 62.8 | 39.2 | 60,055 | 61.9 | 40.4 |
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