Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population
Nanaimo, Census metropolitan area
Immigrant Status
According to the 2021 Census, 17,195 people, that is, 15.3% of the population, were foreign-born (immigrants), 93,330 (83.0%) were Canadian-born (non-immigrants) and 1,885 (1.7%) were non-permanent residents.
Recent Immigrants
Among immigrants in 2021, 2,350 came between 2016 and 2021. These recent immigrants made up 13.7% of the immigrant population.
Place of birth
The top three places of birth among immigrants living in Nanaimo (CMA) in 2021 were the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and China. Among recent immigrants living in Nanaimo (CMA), they were China, India, and the Philippines.
Number and percentage of the immigrant population, Nanaimo (CMA), 2001 to 2021
Number and distribution (in percentage) of the immigrant population and recent immigrants in census divisions, Nanaimo (CMA), 2021
| Geography | Total population | Immigrant population | Recent immigrants (2016 to 2021) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Nanaimo (CMA) | 112,410 | 17,195 | 15.3 | 2,350 | 13.7 |
| Lantzville (District municipality) | 3,820 | 485 | 12.7 | 40 | 8.2 |
| Nanaimo (City) | 97,020 | 15,620 | 16.1 | 2,265 | 14.5 |
| Nanaimo A (Regional district electoral area) | 7,390 | 725 | 9.8 | 35 | 4.8 |
| Nanaimo C (Regional district electoral area) | 3,225 | 350 | 10.9 | 20 | 5.7 |
| Nanaimo River (Indian reserve) | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Nanaimo Town 1 (Indian reserve) | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Nanoose (Indian reserve) | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
Top places of birth of immigrants, Nanaimo (CMA), 2016 and 2021
| 2016 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Rank | Number | % | Rank | |
| Immigrant population | 14,915 | 100.0 | ... | 17,195 | 100.0 | ... |
| United Kingdom | 4,195 | 28.1 | 1 | 4,025 | 23.4 | 1 |
| United States of America | 1,270 | 8.5 | 2 | 1,370 | 8.0 | 2 |
| China | 840 | 5.6 | 5 | 1,335 | 7.8 | 3 |
| India | 875 | 5.9 | 4 | 1,115 | 6.5 | 4 |
| Philippines | 740 | 5.0 | 6 | 1,065 | 6.2 | 5 |
| Germany | 925 | 6.2 | 3 | 780 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Netherlands | 595 | 4.0 | 7 | 540 | 3.1 | 7 |
| Viet Nam | 370 | 2.5 | 8 | 485 | 2.8 | 8 |
| Korea, South | 285 | 1.9 | 10 | 475 | 2.8 | 9 |
| South Africa, Republic of | 350 | 2.3 | 9 | 340 | 2.0 | 10 |
Top places of birth of recent immigrants, Nanaimo (CMA), 2016 and 2021
| 2016 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Rank | Number | % | Rank | |
| Recent immigrants (2016: 2011 to 2016 / 2021: 2016 to 2021) | 1,355 | 100.0 | ... | 2,350 | 100.0 | ... |
| China | 265 | 19.6 | 2 | 420 | 17.8 | 1 |
| India | 105 | 7.7 | 3 | 310 | 13.2 | 2 |
| Philippines | 280 | 20.7 | 1 | 225 | 9.6 | 3 |
| Syria | 60 | 4.4 | 7 | 205 | 8.7 | 4 |
| United States of America | 100 | 7.4 | 5 | 130 | 5.5 | 5 |
| Nigeria | 0 | 0.0 | 29 | 120 | 5.1 | 6 |
| United Kingdom | 105 | 7.7 | 3 | 115 | 4.9 | 7 |
| Korea, South | 70 | 5.2 | 6 | 90 | 3.8 | 8 |
| Fiji | 0 | 0.0 | 29 | 50 | 2.1 | 9 |
| Hungary | 0 | 0.0 | 29 | 45 | 1.9 | 10 |
| Ireland | 10 | 0.7 | 18 | 45 | 1.9 | 10 |
Immigrant population by non-official language spoken most often at home,Footnote 1 Nanaimo (CMA), 2021
| 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Rank | |
| Immigrant population | 17,195 | 100.0 | ... |
| Mandarin | 850 | 4.9 | 1 |
| Punjabi (Panjabi) | 595 | 3.5 | 2 |
| Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) | 525 | 3.1 | 3 |
| Korean | 345 | 2.0 | 4 |
| Vietnamese | 300 | 1.7 | 5 |
| Arabic | 275 | 1.6 | 6 |
| Yue (Cantonese) | 225 | 1.3 | 7 |
| Spanish | 185 | 1.1 | 8 |
| Russian | 145 | 0.8 | 9 |
| Iranian Persian | 140 | 0.8 | 10 |
Recent immigrants by non-official language spoken most often at home,Footnote 1 Nanaimo (CMA), 2021
| 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Rank | |
| Recent immigrants (2016 to 2021) | 2,350 | 100.0 | ... |
| Mandarin | 315 | 13.4 | 1 |
| Arabic | 225 | 9.6 | 2 |
| Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) | 155 | 6.6 | 3 |
| Punjabi (Panjabi) | 125 | 5.3 | 4 |
| Korean | 80 | 3.4 | 5 |
| Hungarian | 50 | 2.1 | 6 |
| Spanish | 40 | 1.7 | 7 |
| Fijian | 40 | 1.7 | 7 |
| Malayalam | 30 | 1.3 | 9 |
| Hindi | 25 | 1.1 | 10 |
Population by generation status and median age, Nanaimo (CMA), 2016 and 2021
| 2016 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Median age | Number | % | Median age | |
| Total population in private households | 101,985 | 100.0 | 45.2 | 112,410 | 100.0 | 44.8 |
| First generation (born abroad) | 17,210 | 16.9 | 56.8 | 20,430 | 18.2 | 54.0 |
| Second generation (born in Canada with at least one parent born abroad) | 20,180 | 19.8 | 49.6 | 21,195 | 18.9 | 46.8 |
| Third generation or more (born in Canada with both parents born in Canada) | 64,590 | 63.3 | 39.6 | 70,785 | 63.0 | 40.8 |
Immigrant population by age groups at time of immigration, Nanaimo (CMA), 2016 and 2021
| 2016 | 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All immigrants | Recent immigrants (2011 to 2016) | All immigrants | Recent immigrants (2016 to 2021) | |||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Population in private households | 14,915 | 100.0 | 1,355 | 100.0 | 17,195 | 100.0 | 2,350 | 100.0 |
| Less than 15 years | 4,550 | 30.5 | 255 | 18.8 | 5,240 | 30.5 | 465 | 19.8 |
| 15 to 24 years | 3,405 | 22.8 | 175 | 12.9 | 3,265 | 19.0 | 245 | 10.4 |
| 25 to 64 years | 6,815 | 45.7 | 865 | 63.8 | 8,455 | 49.2 | 1,520 | 64.7 |
| 65 years and older | 150 | 1.0 | 60 | 4.4 | 235 | 1.4 | 125 | 5.3 |
Immigrant population by region of birth, Nanaimo (CMA), 2016 and 2021 Footnote 2
| 2016 | 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All immigrants | Recent immigrants (2011 to 2016) | All immigrants | Recent immigrants (2016 to 2021) | |||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Population in private households | 14,915 | ... | 1,355 | ... | 17,195 | ... | 2,350 | ... |
| Region of birth | 14,905 | 100.0 | 1,355 | 100.0 | 17,195 | 100.0 | 2,355 | 100.0 |
| Americas | 1,845 | 12.4 | 145 | 10.7 | 2,175 | 12.6 | 235 | 10.0 |
| Europe | 7,865 | 52.8 | 245 | 18.1 | 7,660 | 44.5 | 315 | 13.4 |
| Africa | 650 | 4.4 | 60 | 4.4 | 815 | 4.7 | 265 | 11.3 |
| Asia | 4,300 | 28.8 | 900 | 66.4 | 6,165 | 35.9 | 1,480 | 62.8 |
| Oceania | 250 | 1.7 | 10 | 0.7 | 375 | 2.2 | 65 | 2.8 |
Immigrant population by visible minority groupFootnote 3, Nanaimo (CMA), 2016 and 2021
| 2016 | 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All immigrants | Recent immigrants (2011 to 2016) | All immigrants | Recent immigrants (2016 to 2021) | |||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Population in private households | 14,920 | 100.0 | 1,355 | 100.0 | 17,195 | 100.0 | 2,355 | 100.0 |
| Visible minority population | 5,000 | 33.5 | 980 | 72.3 | 7,410 | 43.1 | 1,830 | 77.7 |
| South Asian | 1,085 | 21.7 | 135 | 13.8 | 1,445 | 19.5 | 345 | 18.9 |
| Chinese | 1,180 | 23.6 | 275 | 28.1 | 1,710 | 23.1 | 430 | 23.5 |
| Black | 250 | 5.0 | 35 | 3.6 | 560 | 7.6 | 260 | 14.2 |
| Filipino | 680 | 13.6 | 280 | 28.6 | 1,030 | 13.9 | 215 | 11.7 |
| Latin American | 340 | 6.8 | 25 | 2.6 | 455 | 6.1 | 65 | 3.6 |
| Arab | 125 | 2.5 | 80 | 8.2 | 330 | 4.5 | 225 | 12.3 |
| Southeast Asian | 545 | 10.9 | 50 | 5.1 | 710 | 9.6 | 85 | 4.6 |
| West Asian | 170 | 3.4 | 10 | 1.0 | 235 | 3.2 | 40 | 2.2 |
| Korean | 295 | 5.9 | 75 | 7.7 | 475 | 6.4 | 95 | 5.2 |
| Japanese | 160 | 3.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 235 | 3.2 | 35 | 1.9 |
| Visible minority, n.i.e. | 25 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 90 | 1.2 | 30 | 1.6 |
| Multiple visible minorities | 135 | 2.7 | 15 | 1.5 | 135 | 1.8 | 10 | 0.5 |
| Not a visible minority | 9,920 | 66.5 | 375 | 27.7 | 9,785 | 56.9 | 520 | 22.1 |
Immigrant population by religious affiliation, Nanaimo (CMA), 2011 and 2021
| 2011 | 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All immigrants | Recent immigrants (2006 to 2011) | All immigrants | Recent immigrants (2016 to 2021) | |||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Population in private households | 13,460 | 100.0 | 1,370 | 100.0 | 17,195 | 100.0 | 2,350 | 100.0 |
| Buddhist | 215 | 1.6 | 60 | 4.4 | 415 | 2.4 | 25 | 1.1 |
| Christian | 7,270 | 54.0 | 550 | 40.1 | 7,345 | 42.7 | 775 | 33.0 |
| Anglican | 1,750 | 13.0 | 75 | 5.5 | 950 | 5.5 | 25 | 1.1 |
| Baptist | 215 | 1.6 | 25 | 1.8 | 265 | 1.5 | 25 | 1.1 |
| Catholic | 2,245 | 16.7 | 170 | 12.4 | 2,675 | 15.6 | 320 | 13.6 |
| Christian Orthodox | 150 | 1.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 140 | 0.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Lutheran | 495 | 3.7 | 15 | 1.1 | 455 | 2.6 | 15 | 0.6 |
| Pentecostal and Other Charismatic | 155 | 1.2 | 15 | 1.1 | 210 | 1.2 | 40 | 1.7 |
| Presbyterian | 400 | 3.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 230 | 1.3 | 0 | 0.0 |
| United Church | 500 | 3.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 310 | 1.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Other Christian and Christian-related traditions | 1,360 | 10.1 | 235 | 17.2 | 2,110 | 12.3 | 340 | 14.5 |
| Hindu | 215 | 1.6 | 75 | 5.5 | 325 | 1.9 | 115 | 4.9 |
| Jewish | 25 | 0.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 125 | 0.7 | 10 | 0.4 |
| Muslim | 150 | 1.1 | 45 | 3.3 | 610 | 3.5 | 335 | 14.3 |
| Sikh | 515 | 3.8 | 25 | 1.8 | 705 | 4.1 | 125 | 5.3 |
| Traditional (North American Indigenous) spirituality | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 10 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Other religions | 210 | 1.6 | 35 | 2.6 | 275 | 1.6 | 30 | 1.3 |
| No religion and secular perspectives | 4,845 | 36.0 | 580 | 42.3 | 7,380 | 42.9 | 940 | 40.0 |
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