2021 CENSUS
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE AGE COMPOSITION OF OUR POPULATION • Canada’s seniors population is growing relatively quickly: the number of people aged 65-plus rose by 18% between 2016-2021, vs by 3% for the under-65 group • BC’s population is slightly older than the national average, though its working- aged population share is marginally higher (60% vs 59%) • Metro Vancouver’s appeal as a destination for younger migrants yields an overall younger age profile than the province or country and buttresses the size of its working-age population
the rennie brief
APRIL 2022
Though Canada, British Columbia, and Metro Vancouver are getting older, the age composition of municipal populations across the region varies considerably.
WHAT THE 2021 CENSUS DATA SAY ABOUT THE AGE COMPOSITION OF CANADA & BC As demographers are want to say, almost everyone gets one year older every year. It so follows that between each Canadian Census enumeration, which is conducted every five years, almost everyone gets five years older. It’s no surprise then that Canada’s population got a little bit older between 2016 and 2021—at least insofar as its share of population aged 65-plus is concerned—as this older group’s share of total population rose from 17% to 19%. This was a consequence of the 65-plus group growing by 18% over the past five years (largely due to the aging of existing residents), while the rest of the country’s population grew by only 3%. In British Columbia, whose population is older than that of the country as a whole (20% aged 65-plus in 2021), the seniors group grew by 20% over five years versus 3% for the under-65 segment. METRO VANCOUVER AND ITS MUNICIPALITIES As the destination for more than 80% of BC’s immigrants and more than 40% of domestic migrants to the province (with each group being much younger than the existing population), Metro Vancouver’s population age composition skews younger than that of BC or Canada, with only 17% of the population aged 65-plus. Additionally, almost two-thirds of Metro Vancouver residents (63%) are in the working-age range of 20-64, compared to only 59% nationally and 60% in BC as a whole. Within the region, White Rock is by far the oldest municipality, with 37% of its population age 65-plus in 2021 (and, conversely, only 13% of residents are under the age of 20). Rounding out the top five oldest communities are Belcarra (29% aged 65-plus), West Vancouver (29%), Bowen Island (25%), and Lions Bay (25%). Not surprisingly, the UBC area is the youngest part of the region, with 24% of the population under the age of 20. The same proportion of the Township of Langley’s population is also under-20, followed closely by Anmore, Port Moody, Surrey, Maple Ridge, and the District of North Vancouver (all at 23%). The largest
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shares of population in the traditional working-age group of 20-64 were found in the City of Vancouver and in New Westminster (68% in both cities). SO WHAT? The age composition of our region and its communities impacts the need for adequate community amenities and services, including schools, day cares, community centres, hospitals, and accessible public transit, to name a few. It is also reflective of the underlying composition of each community’s dwelling stock. Relatively more additions of ground oriented housing will tend to increase the number of children in a community, while the addition of apartments/condos helps to diversify the demographic base. This housing-population interplay will be explored in more detail in another upcoming rennie brief.
The information set out herein (the “Information”) is intended for informational purposes only. rennie has not verified the information and does not represent, warrant or guarantee the accuracy, correctness and completeness of the information. RAR, RMS and rennie do not assume any responsibility or liability of any kind in connection with the information and the recipient’s reliance upon the information. The recipient of the information should take steps as the recipient may deem necessary to verify the information prior to placing any reliance upon the information. The information may change any time without notice or obligation to the recipient from RAR, RMS or rennie.
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