Nanaimo's population grew by over 10 per cent from 2016 to 2021, pacing twice the national rate of 5.2 per cent. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MOVING IN

Nanaimo population jumps twice national rate, top five fastest growing metro area in Canada

Feb 9, 2022 | 9:03 AM

NANAIMO — More people are moving to the Harbour City.

Statistics Canada made the first of many releases of data from the recent census on Wednesday, Feb. 9, showing the population of Nanaimo as of May 11, 2021 was 99,863 people, an increase of 10.3 per cent from 2016.

The bump classified Nanaimo as a census metropolitan area (CMA), classifying it along side major centres like Vancouver and Toronto. Nanaimo was also one of the fastest growing CMA’s in the country.

“Four of the five fastest growing CMAs in the country were located in British Columbia from 2016 to 2021,” Statistics Canada said in its release. “Much of the growth of these four CMAs in British Columbia occurred because they attracted people from elsewhere in Canada and from within the province.”

Kelowna, Chilliwack and Kamloops were the other B.C. CMA’s which saw rapid growth, while London, ON rounded out the top five.

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The Regional District saw a similar increase with a population of 170,367, up 9.4 per cent over the last five years.

Changes in population were matched by an increase in dwellings in the five years between data collection.

The census recorded 45,138 private dwellings inside Nanaimo city limits in 2021, up 10.4 per cent from 2016. Areas of the Regional District saw increases ranging from 2.5 per cent in Area B (Gabriola Island) to 17.4 per cent in Area C (west of Nanaimo)

Parksville’s population sits at 13,642, up from 12,453 in 2016 while Qualicum Beach saw a 4 per cent increase to 9,303 people.

British Columbia’s population grew 7.6 per cent to crest just past five million people.

Around 13 per cent of people recorded were in rural areas with the remaining 87 per cent living in urban centres.

Langford, west of Victoria, was B.C.’s fastest growing municipality with 31.8 per cent population growth while the Peace River area in and around Fort St. John saw the biggest drop.

Canada’s population grew to 36,991,981, an increase of 5.2 per cent with around 83 per cent living in population centres.

East Gwillimbury and The Blue Mountains in Ontario topped the nationwide list for population growth with 44 and 34 per cent respectively.

Alberta saw somewhat of a mass exodus with the province taking seven of the top ten spots in a nationwide list where areas recorded a population drop, lead by Athabasca with an 11.6 per cent reduction.

Statistics Canada plans to release different segments of census data roughly every two months through 2022, with each release focusing on a different subject or demographic.

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