Demographics in Kelowna, BC
Population Marital Status Employment Spoken Language Median Income Households Housing Education Commute Time
What is the population of Kelowna?
topPopulation by gender
| % of Total | ||
| Total population 2021 | 144,570 | |
| Male population | 70,330 | 48.6% |
| Female population | 74,240 | 51.4% |
| Average age | 43.4 |
Male population 48.6%
Female population 51.4%
Population by age group
| % of Total | ||
| Under 14 | 19,585 | 13.6% |
| 15 to 24 | 17,645 | 12.2% |
| 25 to 34 | 20,910 | 14.5% |
| 35 to 44 | 18,555 | 12.8% |
| 45 to 54 | 17,115 | 11.8% |
| 55 to 64 | 19,765 | 13.7% |
| Over 65 | 31,005 | 21.4% |
Under 14 13.6%
15 to 24 12.2%
25 to 34 14.5%
35 to 44 12.8%
45 to 54 11.8%
55 to 64 13.7%
Over 65 21.4%
There are 144,570 residents in Kelowna, with an average age of 43.4. Males make up 48.6% of the population, while females account for 51.4%. Locals over 65 years old represent the largest age group in Kelowna (31,005 individuals), followed by those aged 25 to 34 (20,910 people).
What is the marital status of Kelowna residents?
top| % of Total | ||
| Married | 55,825 | 44.7% |
| Common law | 13,910 | 11.1% |
| Single | 35,430 | 28.3% |
| Separated | 3,280 | 2.6% |
| Divorced | 9,425 | 7.5% |
| Widowed | 7,130 | 5.7% |
Married 44.7%
Common law 11.1%
Single 28.3%
Separated 2.6%
Divorced 7.5%
Widowed 5.7%
A total of 35,430 people in Kelowna have never been married (which represents 28.3% of the population). Wedded people in Kelowna (55,825 locals) account for 44.7% of the resident pool. Meanwhile, approximately 11.1% of locals live common law (that’s a total of 13,910 people).
What are the employment statistics in Kelowna?
top| Unemployment rate | 7.9% | |
| % of Total | ||
| Management | 900 | 1.2% |
| Business, finance and administration | 12,815 | 16.3% |
| Natural and applied sciences | 5,325 | 6.8% |
| Health | 7,710 | 9.8% |
| Education, law, community and government services | 8,710 | 11.1% |
| Art, culture, recreation and sport | 2,575 | 3.3% |
| Sales and service | 22,305 | 28.4% |
| Trades and transport | 13,770 | 17.5% |
| Natural resources and agriculture | 2,260 | 2.9% |
| Manufacturing and utilities | 2,215 | 2.8% |
Management 1.2%
Business, finance and administration 16.3%
Natural and applied sciences 6.8%
Health 9.8%
Education, law, community and government services 11.1%
Art, culture, recreation and sport 3.3%
Sales and service 28.4%
Trades and transport 17.5%
Natural resources and agriculture 2.9%
Manufacturing and utilities 2.8%
Kelowna has an unemployment rate of 7.9%. Regarding the most common jobs in Kelowna, people working in Sales and service account for the largest share of the local workforce (22,305 individuals), followed by those in Trades and transport (13,770 individuals) and Business, finance and administration (12,815 individuals).
What language is most spoken in Kelowna?
top| % of Total | ||
| English | 139,285 | 97.7% |
| French | 1,980 | 1.4% |
| English and French | 300 | 0.2% |
| Neither English nor French | 1,060 | 0.7% |
The majority of Kelowna residents (that’s 97.7%) speak English.
What is the median household income in Kelowna?
top| Median household income | $82,000 | |
| Median after-tax household income | $73,500 |
The median household income in Kelowna is $82,000, while the median after-tax household income sits at $73,500 per year.
How many households are there in Kelowna?
topHomeownership
| % of Total | ||
| Total households | 62,205 | |
| Owned households | 40,250 | 64.7% |
| Rented households | 21,955 | 35.3% |
Owned households 64.7%
Rented households 35.3%
Household size
| Average household size | 2.3 | |
| % of Total | ||
| 1 person | 19,165 | 30.8% |
| 2 person | 23,755 | 38.2% |
| 3 person | 8,220 | 13.2% |
| 4 person | 7,060 | 11.4% |
| 5 person | 4,010 | 6.4% |
1 person 30.8%
2 person 38.2%
3 person 13.2%
4 person 11.4%
5 person 6.4%
Households by age of primary maintainer
| % of Total | ||
| Under 34 | 12,395 | 19.9% |
| 35 to 44 | 10,030 | 16.1% |
| 45 to 54 | 9,670 | 15.5% |
| 55 to 64 | 11,600 | 18.6% |
| Over 65 | 18,520 | 29.8% |
Under 34 19.9%
35 to 44 16.1%
45 to 54 15.5%
55 to 64 18.6%
Over 65 29.8%
There is a total of 62,205 households in Kelowna, 64.7% of which are owner-occupied and 35.3% of which have renters living in them. Meanwhile, the average household size in Kelowna is 2.3 people. Of the total households here, those with 2 people living in them account for the largest share of the market (23,755 households), followed by establishments occupied by 1 person (19,165 households). Moreover, families whose primary maintainer is over 65 years old represent the largest percentage of the total households in Kelowna, at 29.8%.
What are the housing characteristics in Kelowna?
topYear built
| % of Total | ||
| Before 1945 | 1,390 | 2.2% |
| Between 1946 and 1960 | 2,600 | 4.2% |
| Between 1961 and 1970 | 5,170 | 8.3% |
| Between 1971 and 1980 | 10,575 | 17.0% |
| Between 1981 and 1990 | 8,520 | 13.7% |
| Between 1991 and 2000 | 10,745 | 17.3% |
| Between 2001 and 2010 | 11,690 | 18.8% |
| After 2011 | 11,520 | 18.5% |
Before 1945 2.2%
Between 1946 and 1960 4.2%
Between 1961 and 1970 8.3%
Between 1971 and 1980 17.0%
Between 1981 and 1990 13.7%
Between 1991 and 2000 17.3%
Between 2001 and 2010 18.8%
After 2011 18.5%
No. of bedrooms
| % of Total | ||
| No bedrooms | 780 | 1.2% |
| 1 bedroom | 8,465 | 13.6% |
| 2 bedrooms | 20,985 | 33.7% |
| 3 bedrooms | 14,685 | 23.6% |
| 4 or more bedroom | 17,290 | 27.8% |
No bedrooms 1.2%
1 bedroom 13.6%
2 bedrooms 33.7%
2 bedrooms 23.6%
4 or more bedroom 27.8%
Property type
| % of Total | ||
| Single-detached homes | 26,440 | 42.5% |
| Apartments | 2,400 | 3.9% |
| Attached homes | 32,565 | 52.4% |
| Movable homes | 805 | 1.3% |
Single-detached homes 42.5%
Apartments 3.9%
Attached homes 52.4%
Movable homes 1.3%
| Median home value | $725,000 | |
| Average home value | $796,000 |
Home improvement needed
| % of Total | ||
| Regular maintenance | 48,625 | 78.2% |
| Major repairs | 2,410 | 3.9% |
| Minor repairs | 11,175 | 18.0% |
Regular maintenance 78.2%
Minor repairs 18.0%
Major repairs 3.9%
Single-detached houses account for 42.5% of the residential buildings in Kelowna. Apartments make up 3.9% of the Kelowna housing market. Meanwhile, the median home value here is $725,000 and the average figure sits at $796,000. Of all the properties in Kelowna, 2 bedrooms units include 20,985 (the highest share) and 4 or more bedrooms units have 17,290 (second-highest share). Notably, when it comes to the condition of these homes, most of them require regular maintenance (78.2%) and minor repairs (18%).
What is the education level in Kelowna?
top| % of Total | ||
| No diploma | 14,325 | 11.7% |
| High school diploma | 36,990 | 30.3% |
| Apprenticeship diploma | 10,650 | 8.7% |
| College diploma | 25,105 | 20.6% |
| University diploma (below bachelor level) | 4,190 | 3.4% |
| University degree | 30,915 | 25.3% |
No diploma 11.7%
High school diploma 30.3%
Apprenticeship diploma 8.7%
College diploma 20.6%
University diploma (below bachelor level) 3.4%
University degree 25.3%
Approximately 30.3% of the population in Kelowna has a high school diploma (that’s 36,990 residents). Kelowna locals holding a college diploma (25,105 people) account for 20.6% of the resident pool. Additionally, 25.3% of them hold a university degree (30,915 people).
What is the average commute time in Kelowna?
top| Average commute time | 18 min | |
Commuting mode
| % of Total | ||
| By car, truck or van | 49,355 | 84.3% |
| By public transit | 2,330 | 4.0% |
| By bicycle/by walking | 5,345 | 9.1% |
| By other methods | 1,535 | 2.6% |
By car, truck or van 84.3%
By public transit 4.0%
By bicycle/by walking 9.1%
By other methods 2.6%
Commuting destinations
| % of Total | ||
| Commute within the same municipality | 41,980 | 88.6% |
| Commute to another municipality within the same province | 4,870 | 10.3% |
| Commute to a different province | 535 | 1.1% |
Commute within the same municipality 88.6%
Commute to another municipality within the same province 10.3%
Commute to a different province 1.1%
Commuting duration
| % of Total | ||
| Less than 15 minutes | 24,120 | 41.2% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 25,505 | 43.6% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 5,725 | 9.8% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 1,385 | 2.4% |
| More than 60 minutes | 1,830 | 3.1% |
Less than 15 minutes 41.2%
15 to 29 minutes 43.6%
30 to 44 minutes 9.8%
45 to 59 minutes 2.4%
More than 60 minutes 3.1%
Most employed people in Kelowna (25,505 individuals) travel 15 to 29 min to get to work, followed by those who commute less than 15 min (24,120 individuals). All in all, the average commute time in Kelowna is 18 min. The preferred commuting mode here is by car, truck or van and most employed Kelowna locals commute within the same municipality to get to work.
Methodology & Disclaimers
Demographic data shown in this section was gathered from the latest census data from Statistics Canada (2021).
Census aggregated data represented here is extracted from Data Tables, by topic, at census subdivision area level. Differences may be found between the totals of the various categories due to multiple variables.
The information is updated as soon as new data is made available. No representation, guarantee or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information.