Population Statistics

Statistics Canada produces statistics that help Canadians better understand their country—its population, resources, economy, society and culture. On February 9, 2022 Statistics Canada released the 2021 Population Statistics.

The 2021 Census population for the Regional District of Nanaimo is 170,367. Of this number, 26 per cent (43,745) live in electoral areas and First Nation communities and the remaining 74 per cent (126,625) live in municipalities. Click on the Populations Statistics tab below to see a full breakdown of the population within the Regional District of Nanaimo.

Population Statistics

Area	Population
Electoral Area	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021	2001-2006 % change	2006-2011 % change	2011-2016 % change	2016-2021 % change
A	6,423	6,751	6,908	7,058	7,481	5.1%	2.3%	2.2%	6.0%
B	3,522	4,050	4,045	4,033	4,500	15.0%	-0.1%	-0.3%	11.6%
C ^a	1,932	2,508	2,834	2,808	3,344	29.8%	13.0%	-0.9%	19.1%
E	4,820	5,462	5,674	6,125	6,765	13.3%	3.9%	7.9%	10.4%
F	5,546	6,680	7,422	7,724	8,216	20.4%	11.1%	4.1%	6.4%
G ^b	6,113	7,023	7,158	7,465	8,109	14.9%	1.9%	4.3%	8.6%
H	3,108	3,474	3,509	3,884	4,291	11.8%	1.0%	10.7%	10.5%
Electoral Area Total	31,464	35,948	37,550	39,097	42,709	14.3%	4.5%	4.1%	9.2%

Area	Population
Municipalities	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021	2001-2006 % change	2006-2011 % change	2011-2016 % change	2016-2021 % change
Nanaimo	73,000	78,692	83,810	90,504	99,863	7.8%	6.5%	8.0%	10.3%
Parksville	10,323	10,993	11,977	12,514	13,642	6.5%	9.0%	4.5%	9.0%
Lantzville ^a	3,653	3,661	3,601	3,605	3,817	0.2%	-1.6%	0.1%	5.9%
Qualicum Beach ^b	7,849	8,502	8,687	8,943	9,303	8.3%	2.2%	2.9%	4.0%
Municipalities Total	94,825	101,848	108,075	115,566	126,625	7.4%	6.1%	6.9%	9.6%

Area	Population
First Nation Reserves	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021	2001-2006 % change	2006-2011 % change	2011-2016 % change	2016-2021 % change
Snuyneymuxw 1	238	279	377	360	386	17.2%	35.1%	-4.5%	7.2%
Snuyneymuxw 2	20	21	26	20	37	5.0%	23.8%	-23.1%	85.0%
Snuyneymuxw 3	33	50	81	92	67	51.5%	62.0%	13.6%	-27.2%
Snuyneymuxw 4	158	208	180	259	219	31.6%	-13.5%	43.9%	-15.4%
Nanoose	207	191	204	230	245	-7.7%	6.8%	12.7%	6.5%
Qualicum	71	86	81	74	82	21.1%	-5.8%	-8.6%	10.8%
First Nations Total	727	835	949	1,035	1,036	14.9%	13.7%	9.1%	0.1%

Area
RDN	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021	2001-2006 % change	2006-2011 % change	2011-2016 % change	2016-2021 % change
Total Population ^c	127,016	138,631	146,574	155,698	170,367	9.1%	5.7%	6.2%	9.4%

Source: Statistics Canada, www.statcan.gc.ca (2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 Canadian Census)

The 2001 population is adjusted to reflect that Area D was incorporated into Area C and Lantzville. The 2001 population is adjusted to take into account boundary changes between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses

Population Growth Chart

popgrowth

Census Profiles

Nanaimo Regional District

Electoral Areas:

Municipalities:

First Nation Reserves:

Population Growth 1981-2021

The population of the region increased from 77,624 residents in 1981 to 170,367 residents in 2021. This means an increase of 119% during that time at a growth rate of approximately 3 per cent per year, on average.

Population growth rates in the Regional District have fluctuated over the past 40 years during different census periods. These highs and lows are the result of a range of factors including migration, aging as well as births and deaths.

Census Year	Estimated Population	Census Period	Census Period Growth Rate (%)	Average Annual Growth Rate (%)
1981	77,624	1976-1981	25	5
1986	82,714	1981-1986	7	1.4
1991	102,411	1986-1991	24	4.8
1996	121,783	1991-1996	19	3.8
2001	127,016	1996-2001	4	0.8
2006	138,631	2001-2006	9	1.8
2011	146,574	2006-2011	6	1.2
2016	155,698	2011-2016	6	1.2
2021	170,367	2016-2021	9	1.8
Source: Statistics Canada

Future Population Growth

The Regional Housing Needs Report, completed in 2020, includes population growth for the region over the next 20 years. The populations projections in this report are presented for the region under two scenarios: Baseline and High Growth. While its recognized annual growth rates may vary between rural and urban areas, the Baseline Scenario is considered representative of the region.

Baseline Scenario is based on 0.7 % growth per year, showing an increase from 161,549 persons in 2016 to 179,283 in 2026, and an estimated 193,649 persons by 2041.

High Growth Scenario assumes a higher rate of net migration with a growth rate of 1.4 per cent annually. Under this scenario, the region’s population is estimated to increase from 161,549 persons in 2016 to 186,864 in 2026, and to an estimated 215,612 persons by 2041.

Note, the population projections are based on the 2016 Census Year, adjusted to account for “net Census undercoverage”. Undercoverage is the percentage of the population that is missed by the Census (balanced against those who are doublecounted).

Excerpts from the Regional Housing Needs Report (pages 30-31):

baseline