Nanaimo, BC Demographics

What is the population of Nanaimo, BC?

Population by gender

% of Total
Total Population 99,860
Male Population 48,220 48.3%
Female Population 51,640 51.7%
Average Age 44.8
Male Population 48.3%
Female Population 51.7%

Population by age group

% of Total
Under 14 14,135 14.2%
15 to 24 10,285 10.3%
25 to 34 12,770 12.8%
35 to 44 12,635 12.6%
45 to 54 11,580 11.6%
55 to 64 13,940 14.0%
Over 65 24,520 24.6%
Under 14 14.2%
15 to 24 10.3%
25 to 34 12.8%
35 to 44 12.6%
45 to 54 11.6%
55 to 64 14%
Over 65 24.6%
There are 99,860 residents in Nanaimo, BC, with an average age of 44.8. Males make up 48.3% of the population, while females account for 51.7%. Locals over 65 years old represent the largest age group in Nanaimo, BC (24,520 individuals), followed by those aged under 14 (14,135 people).

What is the marital status of Nanaimo, BC residents?

% of Total
Married 36,770 42.9%
Common Law 10,380 12.1%
Single 23,030 26.9%
Separated 2,630 3.1%
Divorced 7,420 8.7%
Widowed 5,495 6.4%
Married 42.9%
Common Law 12.1%
Single 26.9%
Separated 3.1%
Divorced 8.7%
Widowed 6.4%
A total of 23,030 people in Nanaimo, BC have never been married (which represents 26.9% of the population). Wedded people in Nanaimo, BC (36,770 locals) account for 42.9% of the resident pool. Meanwhile, approximately 12.1% of locals live common law (that’s a total of 10,380 people).

What are the employment statistics in Nanaimo, BC?

Unemployment rate 8 37.0%
% of Total
Management 415 0.8%
Business, finance and administration 7,090 14.5%
Natural and applied sciences 3,145 6.4%
Health 4,885 10.0%
Education, law, community and government services 5,985 12.2%
Art, culture, recreation and sport 1,530 3.1%
Sales and service 14,775 30.2%
Trades and transport 8,805 18.0%
Natural resources and agriculture 1,170 2.4%
Manufacturing and utilities 1,135 2.3%
Management 0.8%
Business, finance and administration 14.5%
Natural and applied sciences 6.4%
Health 10%
Education, law, community and government services 12.2%
Art, culture, recreation and sport 3.1%
Sales and service 30.2%
Trades and transport 18%
Natural resources and agriculture 2.4%
Manufacturing and utilities 2.3%
Nanaimo, BC has an unemployment rate of 8.4%. Regarding the most common jobs in Nanaimo, BC, people working in Sales and service account for the largest share of the local workforce (14,775 individuals), followed by those in Trades and transport (8,805 individuals) and Business, finance and administration (7,090 individuals).

What language is most spoken in Nanaimo, BC?

% of Total
English 96,480 98.0%
French 1,130 1.2%
English and French 155 0.2%
Neither English nor French 650 0.7%
The majority of Nanaimo, BC residents (that’s 98%) speak English.

What is the median household income in Nanaimo, BC?

Median household income $75,500
Median after-tax household income $68,500
The median household income in Nanaimo, BC is $75,500, while the median after-tax household income sits at $68,500 per year.

How many households are there in Nanaimo, BC?

Homeownership

% of Total
Total households 43,165
Owned households 28,780 66.7%
Rented households 14,385 33.3%
Owned households 66.7%
Rented households 33.3%

Household size

Average household size 2.3
% of Total
1 person 13,510 31.3%
2 person 16,535 38.3%
3 person 5,940 13.8%
4 person 4,565 10.6%
5 person 2,615 6.1%
1 person 31.3%
2 person 38.3%
3 person 13.8%
4 person 10.6%
5 person 6.1%

Households by age of primary maintainer

% of Total
Under 34 7,130 16.5%
35 to 44 6,800 15.8%
45 to 54 6,470 15.0%
55 to 64 8,120 18.8%
Over 65 14,645 33.9%
Under 34 16.5%
35 to 44 15.8%
45 to 54 15%
55 to 64 18.8%
Over 65 33.9%
There is a total of 43,165 households in Nanaimo, BC, 66.7% of which are owner-occupied and 33.3% of which have renters living in them. Meanwhile, the average household size in Nanaimo, BC is 2.3 people. Of the total households here, those with 2 people living in them account for the largest share of the market (16,535 households), followed by establishments occupied by 1 person (13,510 households). Moreover, families whose primary maintainer is over 65 years old represent the largest percentage of the total households in Nanaimo, BC, at 33.9%.

What are the housing characteristics of Nanaimo, BC?

Year built

% of Total
Before 1945 2,505 5.8%
Between 1946 and 1960 3,105 7.2%
Between 1961 and 1970 3,955 9.2%
Between 1971 and 1980 7,330 17.0%
Between 1981 and 1990 6,300 14.6%
Between 1991 and 2000 7,945 18.4%
Between 2001 and 2010 5,290 12.3%
After 2011 6,735 15.6%
Before 1945 5.8%
Between 1946 and 1960 7.2%
Between 1961 and 1970 9.2%
Between 1971 and 1980 17%
Between 1981 and 1990 14.6%
Between 1991 and 2000 18.4%
Between 2001 and 2010 12.3%
After 2011 15.6%

No. of bedrooms

% of Total
No bedrooms 345 0.8%
1 bedroom 5,865 13.6%
2 bedrooms 12,730 29.5%
3 bedrooms 13,150 30.5%
4 or more bedrooms 11,080 25.7%
No bedrooms 0.8%
1 bedroom 13.6%
2 bedrooms 29.5%
3 bedrooms 30.5%
4 or more bedrooms 25.7%

Property type

% of Total
Single-detached homes 22,215 51.5%
Apartments 1,385 3.2%
Attached homes 18,475 42.8%
Movable homes 1,085 2.5%
Single-detached homes 51.5%
Apartments 3.2%
Attached homes 42.8%
Movable homes 2.5%
Median home value $600,000
Average home value $625,500

Home improvement needed

% of Total
Regular maintenance 31,295 72.5%
Major repairs 2,230 5.2%
Minor repairs 9,640 22.3%
Regular maintenance 72.5%
Major repairs 5.2%
Minor repairs 22.3%
Single-detached houses account for 51.5% of the residential buildings in Nanaimo, BC. Apartments make up 3.2% of the Nanaimo, BC housing market. Meanwhile, the median home value here is $600,000 and the average figure sits at $625,500. Of all the properties in Nanaimo, BC, 3 bedrooms units include 13,150 (the highest share) and 2 bedrooms units have 12,730 (second-highest share). Regarding year of construction, properties built between 1991 and 2000 and between 1971 and 1980 hold the highest counts, at 7,945 and 7,330, respectively. Notably, when it comes to the condition of these homes, most of them require regular maintenance (72.5%) and minor repairs (22.3%).

What is the education level in Nanaimo, BC?

% of Total
No diploma 11,200 13.5%
High school diploma 25,285 30.5%
Apprenticeship diploma 7,770 9.4%
College diploma 15,115 18.2%
University diploma (below bachelor level) 4,150 5.0%
University degree 19,390 23.4%
No diploma 13.5%
High school diploma 30.5%
Apprenticeship diploma 9.4%
College diploma 18.2%
University diploma (below bachelor level) 5%
University degree 23.4%
Approximately 30.5% of the population in Nanaimo, BC has a high school diploma (that’s 25,285 residents). Nanaimo, BC locals holding a college diploma (15,115 people) account for 18.2% of the resident pool. Additionally, 23.4% of them hold a university degree (19,390 people).

What is the average commute time in Nanaimo, BC?

Average commute time 19min

Commuting mode

% of Total
By car, truck or van 32,640 86.8%
By public transit 1,520 4.0%
By bicycle/by walking 2,500 6.6%
By other methods 960 2.6%
By car, truck or van 86.8%
By public transit 4%
By bicycle/by walking 6.6%
By other methods 2.6%

Commuting destinations

% of Total
Commute within the same municipality 25,360 84.7%
Commute to another municipality within the same province 4,410 14.7%
Commute to a different province 170 0.6%
Commute within the same municipality 84.7%
Commute to another municipality within the same province 14.7%
Commute to a different province 0.6%

Commuting duration

% of Total
Less than 15 minutes 17,275 45.9%
15 to 29 minutes 13,555 36.0%
30 to 44 minutes 3,905 10.4%
45 to 59 minutes 1,115 3.0%
More than 60 minutes 1,760 4.7%
Less than 15 minutes 45.9%
15 to 29 minutes 36%
30 to 44 minutes 10.4%
45 to 59 minutes 3%
More than 60 minutes 4.7%
Most employed people in Nanaimo, BC (17,275 individuals) travel less than 15 min to get to work, followed by those who commute 15 to 29 min (13,555 individuals). All in all, the average commute time in Nanaimo, BC is 19 min. The preferred commuting mode here is by car, truck or van and most employed Nanaimo, BC locals commute within the same municipality to get to work.

Methodology & Disclaimers

Demographic data shown in this section was gathered from the latest U.S. Census Bureau release, the 2021 American Community Survey. The information is updated yearly, as soon as new data is made available by the US Census Bureau.
No representation, guarantee or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information modified or aggregated for specific neighborhoods and/or zip codes.