Demographics of Metro Vancouver

The demographics of Metro Vancouver indicate a multicultural and multiracial region. Metro Vancouver is a metropolitan area, with its major urban centre being Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Vancouver census metropolitan area, as defined by Statistics Canada, encompasses roughly the same territory as the Metro Vancouver Regional District, a regional district in British Columbia. The regional district includes 23 local authorities. Figures provided here are for the Vancouver census metropolitan area and not for the City of Vancouver.

Population growth

The following table shows the development of the number of inhabitants according to census data of Statistics Canada. The former municipalities of Point Grey and South Vancouver are not included in the data prior to 1931.Template:Efn

File:Vancouver, B.C. Population Growth, 1921–2021.png

Population growth

Population by municipality

The Metro Vancouver Regional District comprises 23 member authorities — 21 municipalities, one electoral area, and one treaty First Nation.

Ethnic diversity

The demographics of Metro Vancouver reveal a multi-ethnic society. There remains a small population, less than 2%, of Aboriginal peoples, who according to archeological and historical records, have inhabited this region for more than 3,000 years.

From the time of the region's first non-indigenous settlement in the second half of the 19th century, people from Britain and Ireland were the largest group of immigrants and, collectively, remain the largest ethnic grouping in Vancouver to this day. The largest non British or Irish ethnic groups situated in Vancouver include Chinese, Indians and Germans.

The metropolitan area has one of the most diverse Chinese-speaking communities with several varieties of Chinese being represented. Metro Vancouver contains the second-largest Chinatown in North America (after San Francisco's), and many multicultural neighbourhoods such as the Punjabi Market, Greektown, and Japantown. Commercial Drive, the core of the historic Little Italy, which is also the main Portuguese area, has become an alternative-culture focus, though traditional Italian and Portuguese and other establishments and residents remain in the area. Bilingual street signs can be seen in Chinatown and the Punjabi Market, and commercial signs in a wide array of languages can be seen all over the metropolitan area.

Metro Vancouver

Ethnic origin	Population (2016)	Percent of 2016 population (2,426,235)	Population (2006)	Percent of 2006 population (2,097,960)
Cornish	245		225	0.02%
English	470,340		500,340	24.09%
Irish	275,355		251,695	12.00%
Manx	770		640	0.03%
Scottish	341,075		337,230	16.07%
Welsh	44,935		41,805	1.99%
British n.i.e.	55,695		35,505	1.69%
Acadians	1,520		1,280	0.06%
French	147,835		137,270	6.54%
Inuit	600		580	0.03%
Métis	24,505		17,110	0.82%
North American Indian	52,305		43,190	2.06%
American	32,115		27,000	1.29%
Canadian	331,205		278,350	13.27%
Newfoundlander	660		390	0.02%
Nova Scotian	75		120	0.01%
Ontarian	35		20	less than 0.01%
Québécois	750		350	0.02%
Other North American provincial or regional groups	170		150	0.01%
Antiguan	130		105	0.01%
Bahamian	160		50	less than 0.01%
Barbadian	1,310		925	0.04%
Bermudan	155		100	less than 0.01%
Carib	60		85	less than 0.01%
Cuban	870		640	0.03%
Dominican n.o.s.	535		295	0.01%
Grenadian	280		175	0.01%
Guyanese	1,240		825	0.04%
Haitian	635		405	0.02%
Jamaican	6,455		4,645	0.22%
Kittitian/Nevisian	95		15	less than 0.01%
Martinican	20		40	less than 0.01%
Montserratian	15		20	less than 0.01%
Puerto Rican	280		260	0.01%
St. Lucian	115		80	less than 0.01%
Trinidadian/Tobagonian	3,120		2,185	0.10%
Vincentian/Grenadinian	325		120	0.01%
West Indian	1,440		1,245	0.06%
Caribbean n.i.e.	1,485		620	0.03%
Aboriginal from Central/South America	1,790		830	0.04%
Argentines	1,360		790	0.04%
Belizean	35		160	less than 0.01%
Bolivian	185		190	less than 0.01%
Brazilian	4,065		1,115	0.05%
Chilean	3,840		2,935	0.14%
Colombian	4,600		2,125	0.10%
Costa Rican	460		355	0.02%
Ecuadorian	740		225	0.01%
Guatemalan	1,985		1,405	0.07%
Hispanic	1,200		555	0.03%
Honduran	1,120		745	0.04%
Maya	620		575	0.03%
Mexican	15,115		7,680	0.37%
Nicaragua	1,060		860	0.04%
Panamanian	195		145	0.01%
Paraguayan	285		170	0.01%
Peruvian	3,100		1,910	0.09%
Salvadoran	5,310		5,760	0.27%
Uruguayan	285		60	less than 0.01%
Venezuelan	1,555		535	0.03%
Latin, Central or South American n.i.e.	2,450		1,225	0.06%
Austrian	21,260		21,500	1.02%
Belgian	8,205		6,555	0.31%
Dutch (Netherlands)	77,635		71,710	3.42%
Flemish	955		815	0.04%
Frisian	195		155	0.01%
German	222,025		203,715	9.71%
Luxembourger	330		235	0.01%
Swiss	11,340		10,130	0.48%
Finnish	14,085		12,745	0.61%
Danish	23,025		22,800	1.09%
Icelandic	11,055		9,630	0.46%
Norwegian	49,335		46,260	2.20%
Swedish	40,690		39,920	1.90%
Northern European n.i.e.	5,320		3,830	0.18%
Estonian	2,540		2,590	0.12%
Latvian	2,455		2,160	0.10%
Lithuanian	4,155		3,100	0.15%
Belarusian	1,825		820	0.04%
Czech	11,710		10,385	0.50%
Czechoslovak	2,560		2,810	0.13%
Slovak	6,345		5,700	0.27%
Hungarian (Magyar)	25,860		23,365	1.11%
Polish	70,590		60,715	2.89%
Romanian	17,490		14,055	0.67%
Russian	58,535		47,935	2.28%
Ukrainian	94,400		81,725	3.90%
Albanian	1,330		650	0.03%
Bosnian	2,675		2,535	0.12%
Bulgaria	2,940		1,960	0.09%
Croatian	15,670		12,475	0.59%
Cypriot	345		270	0.01%
Greek	16,085		15,025	0.72%
Italian	87,875		76,345	3.64%
Kosovar	170		85	less than 0.01%
Macedonian	865		600	0.03%
Maltese	1,185		990	0.05%
Montenegrin	600		370	0.02%
Portuguese	24,575		20,335	0.97%
Serbian	10,160		7,690	0.37%
Sicilian	210		180	0.01%
Slovenian	3,050		2,475	0.12%
Spanish	43,990		36,000	1.72%
Yugoslavs	3,275		5,525	0.26%
Basque	475		405	0.02%
Gypsy (Roma)	325		250	0.01%
Jewish	11,230		21,465	1.02%
misc. Slav (European)	505		760	0.04%
Other European n.i.e.	6,470		3,975	0.19%
Afrikaner	365		290	0.01%
Akan	30		25	less than 0.01%
Amhara	115		65	less than 0.01%
Angolan	55		70	less than 0.01%
Ashanti	65		65	less than 0.01%
Bantu	235		170	0.01%
Black	1,460		3,005	0.14%
Burundian	195		90	less than 0.01%
Congolese (Zairian) people	675		75	less than 0.01%
Congolese n.o.s.	400		85	less than 0.01%
Dinka	15		25	less than 0.01%
East African people	1,390		610	0.03%
Eritrean	950		335	0.02%
Ethiopian	2,020		1,625	0.08%
Gabonese	10		10	less than 0.01%
Gambian	20		15	less than 0.01%
Ghanaian	1,270		1,100	less than 0.01%
Guinean n.o.s.	125		95	less than 0.01%
Ibo	200		15	less than 0.01%
Ivoirian	45		15	less than 0.01%
Kenyan	1,170		765	0.04%
Malagasay	80		35	less than 0.01%
Mauritian	760		325	0.02%
Nigerian	1,680		880	0.04%
Oromo	120		145	0.01%
Rwandan	305		225	0.01%
Senegalese	45		20	less than 0.01%
Seychellois	15		20	less than 0.01%
Sierra Leonean	90		115	0.01%
Somali	2,105		1,320	0.06%
South African	6,485		4,120	0.20%
Sudanese	940		705	less than 0.01%
Tanzanian	425		135	0.01%
Tigrian	180		50	less than 0.01%
Togolese	80		15	less than 0.01%
Ugandan	595		360	0.02%
Yoruba	130		80	less than 0.01%
Zambian	120		40	less than 0.01%
Zimbabwean	565		230	0.01%
Zulu	65		70	less than 0.01%
African n.i.e.	10,325		6,490	0.31%
Egyptian	3,405		2,120	0.10%
Iraqi	5,205		1,805	0.09%
Jordanian	585		300	0.01%
Kuwaiti	100		75	less than 0.01%
Lebanese	5,320		6,175	0.29%
Libyan	210		25	less than 0.01%
Algerian	615		390	0.02%
Berber	185		150	0.01%
Moroccan	1,480		635	0.03%
Tunisian	380		70	less than 0.01%
Maghrebi origins n.i.e.	170		160	0.01%
Palestinian	2,245		1,050	0.05%
Saudi Arabian	550		255	0.01%
Syrian	2,780		925	0.04%
Yemeni	255		75	less than 0.01%
Arab n.i.e.	4,655		3,075	0.15%
Afghan	7,500		4,620	0.22%
Armenian	2,845		2,700	0.15%
Assyrian	450		355	0.02%
Azeribaijani	890		405	0.02%
Georgian	550		240	0.01%
Iranian	44,355		27,155	1.29%
Israeli	2,075		765	0.04%
Kurd	1,980		1,145	0.05%
Pashtun	325		170	0.01%
Tatar	650		235	0.01%
Turk	5,185		3,380	0.16%
West Asian n.i.e.	2,135		1,350	0.06%
Bangladeshi	1,510		785	0.04%
Bengali	755		415	0.02%
Indian	243,135		181,895	8.67%
Goan	320		280	0.01%
Gujarati	615		515	0.02%
Kashmiri	145		70	less than 0.01%
Nepali	1,155		460	0.02%
Pakistani	10,825		6,875	0.33%
Punjabi	30,670		13,735	0.65%
Sinhalese	530		415	0.02%
Sri Lankan	5,065		3,740	0.18%
Tamil	1,060		740	0.04%
South Asian n.i.e.	7,200		6,495	0.31%
Burmese	1,970		865	0.04%
Cambodian	2,510		1,525	0.07%
Chinese	499,175		402,000	19.16%
Filipino	133,925		83,760	3.99%
Hmong	115		75	less than 0.01%
Indonesian	4,935		3,140	0.15%
Japanese	37,630		30,230	1.44%
Khmer	0		135	0.01%
Korean	55,505		46,040	2.19%
Laotian	1,775		1,065	0.05%
Malaysian	4,230		3,365	0.16%
Mongolian	1,000		680	0.03%
Singaporean	895		515	0.02%
Taiwanese	20,345		9,810	0.47%
Thai	3,330		1,565	0.07%
Tibetan	445		100	Less than 0.01%
Vietnamese	34,915		26,115	1.24%
East or Southeast Asian n.i.e.	630		1,170	0.06%
Asian n.o.s.	1,805		80	less than 0.01%
Australian	8,360		5,525	0.26%
New Zealander	3,340		2,390	0.11%
Fijian	13,085		8,920	0.43%
Hawaiian	865		660	0.03%
Māori	565		375	0.02%
Polynesia	345		265	0.01%
Samoan	245		160	0.01%
Pacific Islander n.i.e.	680	210	0.01%	–
Note: Percentages total more than 100% due to multiple responses, e.g. German–East Indian, Norwegian–Irish–Polish

Panethnic groups in Metro Vancouver (1981–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001		1996		1981
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn	1,124,475		1,179,100		1,197,985		1,182,355		1,204,970		1,218,195		1,066,460
East AsianTemplate:Efn	606,920		557,745		488,240		451,790		395,540		318,005		98,895
South Asian	369,295		291,005		252,405		207,165		164,365		120,140		34,820
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	198,940		168,075		156,315		112,365		85,485		61,085		17,270
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	87,090		62,440		48,870		35,590		27,340		18,155		4,525
Indigenous	63,345		61,455		52,375		40,310		36,855		31,140		10,850
Latin American	51,500		34,805		29,125		22,695		18,715		13,830		3,025
African	41,180		29,830		23,545		20,670		18,405		16,400		2,570
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	65,350		41,780		31,835		25,035		15,810		16,990		12,195
Total visible minority	1,420,275		1,185,680		1,030,335		875,310		725,660		564,600		173,300
Total responses	2,607,015		2,426,235		2,280,695		2,097,965		1,967,480		1,813,935		1,250,610
Total population	2,642,825		2,463,431		2,313,328		2,116,581		1,986,965		1,831,665		1,268,183
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Visible minorities

In the city of Vancouver and four adjacent municipalities (Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, and Coquitlam), there is no visible majority. Hence, the term visible minority is used here in contrast to the overall Canadian population which remains predominantly of European descent. In Metro Vancouver, at the 2021 census, 54.5% of the population were members of non-European ethnic groups, 43.1% were members of European ethnic groups, and 2.4% of the population identified as Indigenous.

Greater Vancouver has more interracial couples than Canada's two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal. In 2011, 9.6% of married and common-law couples in Greater Vancouver are interracial; double the Canadian average of 4.6%, and higher than in the Toronto CMA (8.2%) and the Greater Montreal (5.2%). Vancouver has less residential segregation of its ethnic minorities compared to Canadian cities like Montreal. However, residential segregation in Greater Vancouver continues to persist in certain parts of the metropolitan area.

Population statistics for visible minorities in Greater Vancouver

Population group		2021		1981
		Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Total European population		1,124,475		1,066,460
Total Indigenous population		63,345		10,850
Visible minority group	Chinese	512,260		83,845
	South Asian	369,295		34,820
	Filipino	142,125		12,830
	Korean	63,465		3,335
	West Asian	64,645		2,220
	Southeast Asian	56,815		4,440
	Latin American	51,500		3,025
	Japanese	31,195		11,715
	Black	41,180		2,570
	Arab	22,445		2,305
	Visible minority, n.i.e.	14,745		N/A	N/A
	Multiple visible minorities	50,605		N/A	N/A
Total visible minority population		1,420,275		173,300
Total responses		2,607,015		1,250,610
Total population		2,642,825		1,268,183
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

Municipalities

Panethnic origins by Metro Vancouver municipalities (2021 census)

Municipality	Total population	EuropeanTemplate:Efn	East AsianTemplate:Efn	South Asian	Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	Indigenous	Latin American	African	OtherTemplate:Efn
Metro Vancouver	2,642,825	43.13%	23.28%	14.17%	7.63%	3.34%	2.43%	1.98%	1.58%	2.51%
Vancouver	662,248	43.22%	29.26%	6.90%	9.10%	2.44%	2.25%	2.78%	1.31%	2.74%
Surrey	568,322	30.78%	10.91%	37.81%	9.71%	2.24%	2.16%	1.57%	2.29%	2.53%
Burnaby	249,125	30.46%	38.62%	9.42%	8.37%	3.65%	1.70%	2.50%	2.03%	3.24%
Richmond	209,937	18.94%	57.09%	7.38%	8.85%	1.86%	0.74%	1.03%	0.85%	3.26%
Coquitlam	148,625	41.51%	31.45%	5.02%	5.2%	8.19%	1.98%	2.27%	1.45%	2.92%
Langley Township	132,603	69.53%	10.94%	6.66%	4.15%	1.10%	3.85%	1.31%	1.11%	1.35%
Delta	108,455	51.71%	10.29%	26.09%	4.12%	0.83%	2.96%	0.96%	1.02%	1.99%
Maple Ridge	90,990	73.70%	5.81%	4.72%	4.31%	2.52%	4.68%	1.46%	1.60%	1.20%
North Vancouver (district)	88,168	69.11%	10.27%	3.18%	2.90%	9.04%	1.81%	1.44%	0.54%	1.72%
New Westminster	78,916	50.07%	14.19%	10.38%	10.33%	2.27%	3.11%	3.28%	3.45%	2.91%
Port Coquitlam	61,498	57.35%	16.16%	5.78%	6.52%	4.90%	2.97%	1.91%	2.05%	2.36%
North Vancouver (city)	58,120	61.59%	9.03%	3.65%	7.34%	11.32%	2.14%	2.10%	0.96%	1.87%
West Vancouver	44,122	55.77%	23.03%	3.24%	1.77%	12.24%	0.98%	0.99%	0.43%	1.54%
Port Moody	33,535	64.25%	17.23%	3.00%	2.85%	4.74%	3.08%	1.73%	1.18%	1.96%
Langley City	28,963	69.60%	4.10%	6.99%	6.26%	2.09%	5.69%	1.82%	2.16%	1.27%

Historic trends

Panethnic groups in Vancouver (1911–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001		1996		1991		1986Template:Rp		1981Template:Rp		1971Template:RpTemplate:Rp		1961Template:RpTemplate:Rp		1941Template:Rp		1931Template:Rp		1911Template:RpTemplate:Efn
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	281,105		285,295		272,645		268,715		264,695		269,535		268,595		286,465		302,720		372,320		357,915		258,234		223,647		111,731
East AsianTemplate:Efn	190,270		186,855		182,090		186,725		175,520		152,020		117,415		78,205		64,845		35,685		18,355		15,632		21,339		6,480
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	59,190		53,580		53,360		43,455		36,755		29,095		23,785		16,880		9,970		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Asian	44,850		37,130		35,140		32,515		30,655		26,040		23,000		17,410		14,175		7,870		1,560		506		529		843
Latin American	18,080		10,935		9,595		8,225		6,490		5,665		5,530		4,170		2,580		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	15,885		11,595		9,860		7,230		4,625		3,810		3,610		2,430		1,605		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	43
Indigenous	14,660		13,905		11,945		11,145		10,440		10,965		13,400		10,840		6,285		2,995		530		136		104		700
African	8,515		6,345		5,720		5,290		4,780		4,965		3,355		1,280		910		785		572		333		257		170
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	17,825		12,570		9,855		8,310		5,665		5,830		6,610		6,990		4,995		6,610		5,590		512		717		9,076
Total responses	650,380		618,210		590,205		571,600		539,630		507,930		465,300		424,670		408,085		426,265		384,522		275,353		246,593		129,043
Total population	662,248		631,486		603,502		578,041		545,671		514,008		471,844		431,147		408,085		426,265		384,522		275,353		246,593		129,043

Panethnic groups in Surrey (1981–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001		1996		1991		1986Template:Rp		1981Template:Rp
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
South Asian	212,680		168,040		142,445		107,810		75,680		49,805		24,000		9,070		4,465
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	173,155		198,835		208,625		203,815		211,870		210,530		190,960		156,900		134,435
East AsianTemplate:Efn	61,360		52,025		39,270		29,965		23,600		16,845		8,650		3,715		2,565
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	54,635		44,875		39,560		25,795		16,440		10,210		5,295		3,410		1,525
African	12,870		9,455		6,150		5,015		3,810		2,670		1,440		415		—	—
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	12,620		9,485		5,615		3,595		2,300		1,790		1,015		380		255
Indigenous	12,175		13,460		10,955		7,630		6,895		5,070		7,330		4,315		1,855
Latin American	8,830		7,065		5,340		3,785		3,315		2,140		1,670		790		615
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	14,240		8,315		5,385		5,050		1,880		3,695		3,065		1,290		465
Total responses	562,565		511,540		463,340		392,450		345,780		302,750		243,425		180,285		146,180
Total population	568,322		517,887		468,251		394,976		347,825		304,477		245,173		181,447		147,138

Panethnic groups in Burnaby (1981–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001		1996		1991		1986Template:Rp		1981Template:Rp
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
East AsianTemplate:Efn	94,895		89,470		79,205		71,435		59,090		45,825		25,070		11,490		9,635
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	74,860		79,575		86,015		86,560		95,165		104,735		111,210		115,415		115,705
South Asian	23,155		18,735		17,480		16,840		14,960		10,695		7,945		6,170		3,880
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	20,560		17,620		16,850		10,915		7,965		4,390		3,060		2,225		1,385
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	8,975		6,660		5,975		3,700		3,580		2,400		1,245		1,775		770
Latin American	6,155		4,630		3,765		2,785		3,020		1,825		1,425		890		335
African	4,985		3,670		3,445		2,450		2,480		2,605		1,030		545		385
Indigenous	4,175		4,195		3,295		3,005		3,145		2,500		3,745		2,635		1,305
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	7,965		5,530		4,220		3,170		1,975		1,835		1,685		1,490		420
Total responses	245,725		230,080		220,255		200,855		191,380		176,825		156,415		142,635		133,820
Total population	249,125		232,755		223,218		202,799		193,954		179,209		158,858		145,161		136,494

Panethnic groups in Richmond (1931–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001		1996		1991		1986Template:Rp		1981Template:Rp		1971Template:RpTemplate:Rp		1961Template:RpTemplate:Rp		1941Template:Rp		1931Template:Rp
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
East AsianTemplate:Efn	118,980		109,415		94,180		80,245		68,785		52,470		26,805		12,560		10,215		2,745		1,829		3,007		3,262
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	39,465		45,050		54,050		59,335		65,845		73,845		81,825		81,840		76,570		56,645		40,734		7,185		4,871
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	18,435		15,530		14,820		11,035		8,445		5,585		3,490		2,685		1,875		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Asian	15,370		14,360		14,515		13,860		12,120		9,815		8,320		6,945		4,365		495		151		43		5
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	3,875		2,715		2,205		2,115		2,030		1,495		925		155		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Indigenous	1,540		1,595		1,935		1,275		1,165		1,210		1,940		1,455		680		230		91		2		1
Latin American	2,155		1,585		1,680		1,265		1,165		685		520		535		610		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
African	1,775		1,270		1,245		1,390		1,470		1,145		650		505		310		65		23		8		3
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	6,800		5,155		4,675		3,040		2,380		1,900		1,520		1,280		1,055		1,930		495		125		40
Total responses	208,400		196,660		189,305		173,565		163,395		148,150		125,995		107,960		95,835		62,110		43,323		10,370		8,182
Total population	209,937		198,309		190,473		174,461		164,345		148,867		126,624		108,492		96,154		62,121		43,323		10,370		8,182

Panethnic groups in Coquitlam (1981–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001		1996		1991		1986Template:Rp		1981Template:Rp
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	61,220		65,730		67,655		68,120		71,755		71,360		65,475		59,215		54,185
East AsianTemplate:Efn	46,375		40,400		30,715		26,710		25,030		18,010		8,360		3,125		1,980
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	12,080		9,140		7,375		4,885		2,965		1,215		640		200		—	—
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	7,675		7,205		6,415		4,110		3,710		2,575		1,690		585		315
South Asian	7,405		6,220		5,245		4,185		3,280		3,455		2,295		1,835		1,265
Latin American	3,345		2,190		1,895		1,530		1,110		745		525		325		255
Indigenous	2,915		3,095		2,610		1,565		1,480		1,240		2,190		1,380		520
African	2,135		1,515		1,265		1,005		1,130		865		640		300		255
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	4,300		2,590		1,840		1,455		970		860		590		530		330
Total responses	147,465		138,095		125,015		113,560		111,425		100,330		82,405		67,495		59,105
Total population	148,625		139,284		126,840		114,565		112,890		101,820		84,021		69,291		61,077

Panethnic groups in Langley Township (1981–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001		1996		1991		1986Template:Rp		1981Template:Rp
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	91,055		89,920		85,840		81,310		78,195		74,295		60,970		49,905		42,240
East AsianTemplate:Efn	14,330		9,255		6,470		4,820		3,000		1,880		955		445		310
South Asian	8,720		5,140		2,765		1,445		1,485		740		630		720		380
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	5,435		3,515		2,455		1,475		905		700		445		165		80
Indigenous	5,045		4,310		3,495		2,450		1,950		1,155		1,970		1,435		965
Latin American	1,715		1,100		650		395		190		210		70		60		40
African	1,450		1,205		470		575		275		295		195		120		95
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	1,440		715		410		295		60		215		50		10		10
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	1,770		680		600		280		170		170		350		195		225
Total responses	130,960		115,835		103,140		93,040		86,220		79,665		65,635		53,025		44,345
Total population	132,603		117,285		104,177		93,726		86,896		80,179		66,040		53,434		44,617

Panethnic groups in Delta (2001–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	55,465		61,835		66,630		68,400		72,375
South Asian	27,990		20,485		17,030		14,220		12,035
East AsianTemplate:Efn	11,040		9,320		7,065		7,280		6,675
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	4,420		3,240		3,165		2,280		2,060
Indigenous	3,180		2,710		2,290		1,700		1,495
African	1,095		795		595		495		610
Latin American	1,035		815		710		710		490
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	890		515		240		280		220
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	2,140		1,120		1,010		715		420
Total responses	107,270		100,845		98,740		96,075		96,370
Total population	108,455		102,238		99,863		96,723		96,950

Panethnic groups in Maple Ridge (2001–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	66,230		65,040		63,550		58,970		55,795
East AsianTemplate:Efn	5,225		3,750		2,800		2,545		1,760
South Asian	4,245		2,480		1,785		1,675		1,375
Indigenous	4,205		3,815		2,695		1,870		1,555
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	3,870		2,515		1,960		1,365		550
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	2,265		900		465		360		250
African	1,440		945		940		695		635
Latin American	1,310		875		480		385		200
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	1,075		660		470		290		255
Total responses	89,860		80,970		75,140		68,160		62,380
Total population	90,990		82,256		76,052		68,949		63,169

Panethnic groups in North Vancouver (District) (2001–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	60,390		61,770		64,095		62,950		65,110
East AsianTemplate:Efn	8,975		8,720		7,555		8,260		7,450
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	7,900		5,705		4,680		3,755		3,505
South Asian	2,780		3,060		2,245		2,605		2,310
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	2,530		2,250		2,285		1,765		1,165
Indigenous	1,580		1,360		1,080		755		830
Latin American	1,255		780		790		740		660
African	475		470		235		455		295
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	1,505		765		595		630		355
Total responses	87,385		84,880		83,555		81,910		81,675
Total population	88,168		85,935		84,412		82,562		82,310

Panethnic groups in New Westminster (1911–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001		1996		1991		1986Template:Rp		1981Template:Rp		1971Template:RpTemplate:Rp		1961Template:RpTemplate:Rp		1941Template:Rp		1931Template:Rp		1911Template:Rp
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	39,080		40,400		40,225		38,920		38,805		38,245		35,700		34,255		34,245		39,445		32,064		20,587		16,194		11,247
East AsianTemplate:Efn	11,075		9,465		7,475		5,270		3,850		2,275		1,465		640		545		390		314		966		1,200		976
South Asian	8,105		5,790		5,500		4,660		4,220		3,050		1,830		1,680		1,190		765		244		116		84		74
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	8,065		6,550		5,415		3,680		2,795		1,460		620		440		265		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
African	2,695		1,740		1,155		1,370		1,120		875		360		160		60		90		16		6		7		21
Latin American	2,560		1,275		1,155		815		350		350		255		120		60		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Indigenous	2,425		2,295		2,240		1,835		1,590		1,375		1,740		1,145		595		285		114		64		17		37
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	1,775		1,300		1,315		890		680		590		290		25		75		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	2,275		1,085		610		405		400		485		395		270		200		1,920		902		228		22		844
Total responses	78,055		69,905		65,090		57,850		53,810		48,700		42,655		38,735		37,235		42,895		33,654		21,967		17,524		13,199
Total population	78,916		70,996		65,976		58,549		54,656		49,350		43,585		39,972		38,550		42,835		33,654		21,967		17,524		13,199

Panethnic groups in Port Coquitlam (2001–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	34,635		37,125		38,070		37,900		38,440
East AsianTemplate:Efn	9,760		8,420		7,250		6,755		5,635
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	3,940		3,090		2,345		1,595		1,245
South Asian	3,490		2,790		2,815		2,445		2,285
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	2,960		1,745		1,155		1,030		830
Indigenous	1,795		1,985		1,790		905		1,030
African	1,235		885		845		550		710
Latin American	1,155		925		955		440		285
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	1,425		940		560		605		330
Total responses	60,390		57,895		55,780		52,230		50,805
Total population	61,498		58,612		56,342		52,687		51,257

Panethnic groups in North Vancouver (city) (2001–2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	35,420		34,695		32,800		32,160		32,960
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	6,510		4,575		3,655		3,155		3,015
East AsianTemplate:Efn	5,195		4,260		3,775		3,995		3,255
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	4,220		3,715		3,470		2,150		1,650
South Asian	2,100		1,840		1,475		1,340		980
Indigenous	1,230		1,150		970		925		1,015
Latin American	1,210		840		585		430		470
African	550		485		390		315		315
Other/multiracialTemplate:Efn	1,075		630		575		385		275
Total responses	57,505		52,185		47,685		44,860		43,930
Total population	58,120		52,898		48,196		45,165		44,303

Federal electoral districts

Panethnic origins by federal electoral districts in Metro Vancouver (2021 census)

Riding	Total population	EuropeanTemplate:Efn	East AsianTemplate:Efn	South Asian	Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	Indigenous	Latin American	African	OtherTemplate:Efn
Langley—Aldergrove	133,168	69.04%	10.04%	8.34%	3.73%	1.11%	3.93%	1.31%	1.16%	1.33%
Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam	132,004	46.03%	27.02%	4.75%	5.17%	8.52%	2.21%	2.15%	1.47%	2.69%
Surrey Centre	131,670	22.19%	7.45%	40.04%	14.46%	4.17%	2.82%	2.27%	3.5%	3.12%
Cloverdale—Langley City	130,665	53.12%	6.48%	21.26%	7.97%	1.5%	3.66%	1.72%	2.15%	2.13%
Vancouver Centre	126,995	56.77%	17.66%	5.04%	3.43%	6.79%	2.1%	4.54%	1.39%	2.27%
New Westminster—Burnaby	125,253	40.74%	20.98%	11.34%	11.06%	3.48%	2.53%	2.92%	3.73%	3.2%
Fleetwood—Port Kells	124,987	22.28%	17.97%	34.56%	14.97%	2.13%	1.59%	1.46%	1.96%	3.1%
North Vancouver	123,025	64.42%	9.69%	3.46%	4.95%	11.04%	2.2%	1.77%	0.66%	1.81%
Surrey—Newton	122,264	15.05%	2.97%	66.73%	5.85%	1.97%	1.63%	1.24%	2.3%	2.25%
Burnaby South	120,305	25.18%	43.09%	10.66%	9.01%	3.12%	1.48%	2.65%	1.53%	3.29%
South Surrey—White Rock	119,672	60.08%	18.65%	12.09%	2.69%	0.84%	2.12%	1.02%	1.14%	1.37%
Vancouver East	118,675	51.5%	22.49%	3.38%	8.15%	1.5%	5.22%	2.93%	1.9%	2.92%
Port Moody—Coquitlam	114,853	52.24%	23.73%	5.07%	5.17%	4.89%	2.65%	2.03%	1.64%	2.58%
Delta	110,721	51.7%	10.46%	25.68%	4.13%	0.86%	3.15%	0.97%	1.02%	2.01%
Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge	110,416	73.24%	5.92%	4.82%	4.51%	2.47%	4.76%	1.47%	1.48%	1.32%
Vancouver Granville	109,799	46.17%	34.77%	4.6%	5.16%	1.81%	1.62%	2.22%	1.12%	2.52%
Vancouver South	109,339	18.68%	38.14%	17.84%	16%	1%	1.41%	2.33%	1.25%	3.35%
Vancouver Quadra	109,328	53.96%	31.58%	3.46%	2.37%	2.42%	1.87%	1.59%	0.8%	1.96%
Burnaby North—Seymour	108,794	49.05%	29.13%	4.94%	4.69%	3.48%	2.51%	2.16%	1.42%	2.6%
Vancouver Kingsway	108,054	27.58%	35.53%	7.29%	19.4%	0.99%	1.73%	2.69%	1.31%	3.46%
Richmond Centre	107,707	17.2%	62.92%	4.91%	7.38%	1.83%	0.77%	1.08%	0.73%	3.17%
Steveston—Richmond East	102,230	20.76%	50.98%	9.95%	10.38%	1.89%	0.71%	0.99%	0.98%	0.71%

Ethnic groups

Indigenous peoples

As of around 2009, 3% of residents of Vancouver state that they have at least some ancestry from the First Nations, and of that 3%, over half state that they also have non-First Nations ancestry. A person with some First Nations ancestry may not necessarily identify as someone who is First Nations.

There is a small community of aboriginal people in Vancouver as well as in the surrounding metropolitan region, with the result that Vancouver constitutes the largest native community in the province, albeit an unincorporated one (i.e. not as a band government). There is an equally large or larger Métis contingent.

Indigenous peoples, who make up less than two percent of the city's population, are not considered a visible minority group by Statistics Canada.

Indigenous Population in Vancouver
Aboriginal group	First Nations	7,865		7,510
	Métis	3,595		3,235
	Inuit	70		45
	Aboriginal, n.i.e.	305		210
	Multiple Aboriginal identities	100		140
Total Aboriginal population		11,945		11,145
Total population		590,210	100%	571,600	100%

Europeans

British Isles

Much of the ethnic white population consists of persons whose origins go back to Britain or Ireland and, until recently, British Columbians with British or Irish ancestry most likely came directly from those islands, rather than via Ontario or the Maritime provinces. Until the 1960s, it was easier to purchase the Times of London and The Guardian in Vancouver than it was to find the Toronto Globe and Mail or Montreal Gazette.

Continental Europeans

Other large and historically important European ethnic groups consist of Germans, Dutch, French (of both European and Canadian origin), Ukrainians, Scandinavians, Finns, Italians, Croats, Hungarians, Greeks, and lately numerous Romanians, Russians, Portuguese, Serbs and Poles. Non-visible minorities such as newly arrived Eastern Europeans and the new wave of Latin Americans are also a feature of the city's ethnic landscape. Prior to the Hong Kong influx of the 1980s, the largest non-British Isles ethnic group in the city was German, followed by Ukrainian and the Scandinavian ethnicities. Most of these earlier East European immigrant are fully assimilated or intermarried with other groups, although a new generation of East Europeans form a distinct linguistic and social community.

East Asians

Chinese

The first Chinese immigrants to British Columbia were men who came to "the British Colonies of Canada," as they called British Columbia, for the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush of 1858 and a decade later to work on building the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Koreans

As of 2014, there are about 70,000 ethnic Koreans in the Vancouver area.

An H-Mart and several Korean restaurants are located on Robson Street. As of 2008, there are many Korean national students at the university and primary/secondary levels studying English. Other areas with Korean businesses include Kingsway in Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster; other areas in Vancouver; North Road in Burnaby and Coquitlam, and areas of Port Coquitlam. As of 2011, Coquitlam is a popular area of settlement for Koreans.

Rimhak Ree (Yi Yimhak) came to Vancouver to study mathematics at the University of British Columbia in 1953, making him the first known ethnic Korean to live in the city. There were about 50 ethnic Koreans in Vancouver in the mid-1960s. The first Korean United Church congregation in the city opened in 1965. Numbers of Korean immigration to Canada increased due to more permissive immigration laws established in the 1960s as well as the home country's political conflict and poverty. There were 1,670 ethnic Koreans in Vancouver by 1975, making up 16% of all ethnic Koreans in Canada and a 3000% increase from the mid-1960s population. Korean immigration to Canada decreased after a more restrictive immigration law was enacted in 1978.

Christianity is a popular religion among ethnic Koreans. About 200 Korean churches are in the Vancouver area.

In 1986 Greater Vancouver had fewer than 5,000 ethnic Koreans. In 1991 the number had increased to 8,330. The number of ethnic Koreans in the Vancouver area increased by 69% in the period 1996 through 2001. The number of university students from Korea choosing to study in Vancouver had become most of the Korean students studying in Canada by the late 1990s. The first Korean grocery store in the North Road area opened in 2000. In 2001 28,850 ethnic Koreans live in Greater Vancouver, and this increased to 44,825 according to the 2006 census.

Canwest Global does a co-venture with the Canada Express, a Korean publication, to serve ethnic Koreans. It previously published a Korean edition of the Vancouver Sun but later stopped. Daniel Ahadi and Catherine A. Murray, authors of "Urban Mediascapes and Multicultural Flows: Assessing Vancouver's Communication Infrastructure," wrote that the Korean edition of the Vancouver Sun was "error-fraught".

South Asians

Punjabis

Punjabi immigrants first arrived in Vancouver during the late 19th century. Most ethnic South Asians in the Lower Mainland are Punjabi Sikhs. Surrey has the largest ethnic South Asian population in Metro Vancouver, at 32.4%. The Newton neighbourhood in Surrey contains the highest percentage of ethnic Indians in a neighbourhood in Metro Vancouver.

Other Asians

Other significant Asian ethnic groups in Vancouver are Vietnamese, Filipino, Cambodian and Japanese. In Vancouver the term 'Asian' is normally used to refer only to East Asian and Southeast Asian peoples, while South Asians are usually referred to as Indo-Canadian or East Indians. Technically, though, the term 'Asian' may refer to either group, and also to the large Persian and other Middle Eastern populations as well as elements from Central Asia.

Future projections

Panethnic origin projections (2041)

	2041
	Population	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	1,243,500
East AsianTemplate:Efn	1,054,000
South Asian	757,000
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	385,000
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	202,000
Latin American	112,000
Indigenous	105,500
African	90,000
Other/multiracial	112,000
Projected Metro Vancouver population	4,061,000

Language

Knowledge of languages

The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses. The following figures are from the 2021 Canadian census, and lists languages that were selected by at least 1,000 respondents.

Knowledge of Languages in Metro Vancouver

Language	2021
	Pop.	%
English	2,465,855
Mandarin	292,725
Punjabi	239,205
Cantonese	233,745
French	171,640
Hindi	110,490
Tagalog	109,935
Spanish	94,555
Korean	61,165
Iranian Persian	52,290
German	35,110
Vietnamese	34,655
Japanese	31,765
Russian	29,885
Arabic	28,450
Italian	24,325
Portuguese	23,835
Min Nan	22,615
Urdu	21,970
Serbo-Croatian	17,080
Polish	13,165
Gujarati	12,615
Ilocano	9,645
Romanian	8,735
Tamil	8,440
Dutch	8,285
Dari	7,840
Turkish	7,840
Ukrainian	7,515
Greek	7,010
Indonesian	5,895
Hebrew	5,655
Bengali	5,330
Hungarian	5,250
Czech	4,785
Afrikaans	4,765
Malayalam	4,615
Wu Chinese	4,550
Cebuano	4,315
Telugu	3,940
Swahili	3,930
Kurdish	3,720
Thai	3,500
Hakka	3,385
Tigrigna	3,095
Sinhala	3,045
Malay	2,955
Marathi	2,935
Slovak	2,835
Kacchi	2,750
Hiligaynon	2,655
Amharic	2,590
Swedish	2,540
Pashto	2,445
Danish	2,255
Aramaic	2,125
Somali	1,970
Bulgarian	1,960
Finnish	1,695
Khmer language	1,690
Nepali	1,640
Albanian	1,585
Burmese	1,560
Azerbaijani	1,475
Norwegian	1,440
Kannada	1,430
Armenian	1,385
Irish	1,360
Pampangan language	1,310
Lao	1,175
Bisayan languages	1,145
Yoruba	1,130
Akan language	1,015
Total responses	2,607,010
Total population	2,642,825

Mother tongue

The following figures come from the 2021 census profile for Vancouver, the census metropolitan area.

Population by mother tongue (Vancouver CMA)

Identified languages with 10,000+ speakers	Population	%
English	1,340,995	51.2
English + non-official language	117,335	4.5
Mandarin	191,475	7.3
Cantonese	182,910	7.0
Panjabi (Punjabi)	180,355	6.9
Tagalog (Filipino)	67,790	2.6
Persian (incl. Dari, Farsi)	54,350	2.0
Korean	52,525	2.0
Spanish	36,625	1.5
Hindi	27,990	1.0
Vietnamese	26,850	1.0
French	24,710	0.9
Russian	20,685	0.8
Portuguese	18,185	0.7
Arabic	18,130	0.7
German	18,090	0.7
Japanese	17,340	0.7
Serbo-Croatian (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Montenegrin)	13,295	0.5
Italian	13,285	0.5
Minnan Chinese (e.g. Hokkien, Teochew)	11,195	0.4
Polish	10,645	0.4
Urdu	10,495	0.4

Notes:

• The figures for Cantonese, Mandarin and Minnan do not include 1,125 speakers of "Chinese (not otherwise specified)", some of whom may speak Cantonese, Mandarin or Minnan. The total number of speakers of all varieties of Chinese is 393,030 (15.0% of the population).
• For the separate figures of Hindi and Urdu, see Hindi–Urdu controversy.
• The number of native speakers of both English and French only is 8,240, and with a non-official language too, 2,190. This means the self-identified mother-tongue speakers of both official languages amount to 10,430 (0.4% of the population).
• The 2021 census identified 1,800 individuals who had knowledge of an indigenous language of Canada.

Religion

Template:Pie chart Vancouver, like the rest of British Columbia, has a low rate of church attendance compared with the rest of the continent and the majority of the population does not practice religion. As of the 2021 Canadian census, 33.1 percent of Greater Vancouver is Christian, the largest percentage of any religion. 13.7 percent are Catholic, 8.7 percent are Christians of unspecified denomination, 7.2 percent are Protestant, 1.4 percent are Christian Orthodox, and 2.2 percent are other Christian or Christian-related traditions. Greater Vancouver has a notable Sikh (8.5 percent) and Buddhist (2.7 percent) population, mostly adherents of South Asian and East Asian ancestry. There is also a significant minority of Muslim residents (4.2 percent).

Religious groups in Metro Vancouver (1981–2021)

Religious group	2021		2011		2001		1991		1981
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Irreligion	1,227,760		945,405		692,765		493,220		283,965
Christianity	863,055		950,170		992,115		949,530		899,615
Sikhism	222,160		155,945		99,000		49,625		22,390
Islam	110,645		73,215		52,590		23,335		10,885
Buddhism	70,670		78,465		74,550		31,645		8,310
Hinduism	66,530		40,030		27,410		14,880		6,865
Judaism	20,125		18,730		17,270		14,360		12,865
Indigenous spirituality	1,865		1,550		—	—	—	—	—	—
Other	24,205		17,185		11,775		7,520		2,950
Total responses	2,607,010		2,280,695		1,967,480		1,584,115		1,250,605
Total population	2,642,825		2,313,328		1,986,965		1,602,502		1,268,183

Immigration

The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 1,089,185 persons or 41.8 percent of the total population of Metro Vancouver.

Immigrants in Metro Vancouver by country of birth (1911–2021)

Country of birth	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001		1996		1981Template:Rp		1941Template:Rp		1921Template:RpTemplate:Efn		1911Template:RpTemplate:Efn
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
China	204,825		188,970		159,200		137,245		101,770		72,915		16,820		6,065		10,060		6,591
India	151,405		125,640		111,265		90,090		67,825		53,470		20,440		842		940		1,947
Philippines	109,405		96,680		87,945		62,960		46,215		34,640		10,620		—	—	—	—	5Template:Efn
Hong Kong	76,115		71,720		72,230		75,775		85,985		86,210		17,975		—	—	—	—	—	—
United Kingdom	51,440		56,530		61,255		63,940		69,110		75,410		99,875		83,006		73,827		48,200
Iran	43,245		35,250		28,470		21,615		17,620		10,060		2,850		—	—	—	—	—	—
South Korea	42,090		36,860		34,365		30,990		20,730		12,695		2,995		—	—	—	—	—	—
Taiwan	38,670		37,430		40,725		40,805		43,755		29,330		16,450		—	—	—	—	—	—
United States	27,615		26,450		26,240		24,775		23,070		22,685		24,845		13,891		15,074		17,671
Vietnam	27,170		24,025		22,930		22,950		22,140		16,995		3,870		—	—	—	—	—	—
Japan	11,565		10,675		10,295		8,855		7,610		6,515		4,335		3,652		6,332		4,541
Germany	11,545		13,520		14,210		15,685		17,370		17,780		22,775Template:Efn		2,018Template:Efn		812Template:Efn		2,231Template:Efn
Pakistan	11,125		9,220		7,765		7,460		4,890		3,045		695		—	—	—	—	—	—
Mexico	10,060		7,850		6,540		4,650		3,785		2,015		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Russia	9,350		8,460		6,815		5,770		3,735		2,200		7,080Template:Efn		2,494Template:Efn		779		892
Poland	9,210		10,480		10,010		11,030		11,550		12,445		7,175		1,791		345		—	—
Italy	9,090		10,395		10,995		12,405		13,155		13,500		14,835		1,697		1,418		2,865
South Africa	9,005		8,200		8,030		8,240		7,835		5,755		3,670		296		313		202
Malaysia	7,975		7,515		7,455		7,565		6,975		6,575		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Romania	7,235		7,110		6,430		5,685		4,795		3,575		1,300		353		102		116Template:Efn
Total immigrants	1,089,185		989,545		913,310		831,265		738,550		633,740		372,010		136,921		125,412		100,354
Total responses	2,607,015		2,426,235		2,280,695		2,097,965		1,967,475		1,813,935		1,250,610		351,491		251,731		179,581
Total population	2,642,825		2,463,431		2,313,328		2,116,581		1,986,965		1,831,665		1,268,183		351,491		251,731Template:Efn		179,581Template:Efn

Recent immigration

The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 154,820 people who immigrated to Metro Vancouver between 2016 and 2021.

Recent immigrants to Metro Vancouver by country of birth (2016 to 2021)
Country of birth	Population	% recent immigrants
India	30,545
China	28,970
Philippines	15,090
South Korea	6,125
Iran	5,615
United States	5,460
Brazil	4,625
United Kingdom	4,555
Syria	3,380
Mexico	2,460
Hong Kong	2,385
Vietnam	2,275
Ireland	2,105
Pakistan	1,850
Russia	1,740
Taiwan	1,650
Japan	1,610
Ukraine	1,585
Iraq	1,435
Eritrea	1,415
Total	154,820

Homelessness

The 2011 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count revealed that there were at least 2,650 people found to be homeless in Metro Vancouver. This particular homeless count is and continues to be conducted once every three years, taking place over a brief 24-hour period. The report published on these results stated, "It is important to note that all Homeless Counts are inherently undercounts and that the 2011 Metro Vancouver Count was no exception." Nonetheless, these counts can be used as indicators to determine homelessness trends within Metro Vancouver. Between 2002 and 2005, "the count revealed that homelessness in the region nearly doubled from 1121 to 2174 persons". From 2005 to 2008, the count revealed a much smaller increase in homelessness, from 2174 to 2660 persons. Thus, the count conducted in 2011 implies that the homeless population has remained relatively stable between 2008 and 2011.

Of the homeless people surveyed in 2011, "71% were sheltered in either an emergency shelter, safe house, transition house or temporary facility such as a hospital, jail or detoxification centre...while 29% slept in outdoor locations or at someone else's place". 74 of the 2,650 homeless persons counted were children – those under the age of 19 – who accompanied a parent who was also homeless. Furthermore, of the homeless youth surveyed, 102 individuals were under the age of 19, 221 between the ages of 19 and 24, and 74 whose ages could not be identified, for a total of 397 homeless. Adults constituted the largest cohort of homeless in Metro Vancouver with 275 individuals between the ages of 25 and 34, 328 between the ages of 35 and 44, and 397 between the ages of 45 and 54, for a total of 1,000 homeless. Lastly, seniors – those above the age of 55 – constituted 268 homeless people. Of the 2,650 people identified in the count, ages for 985 people could not be provided.

Homelessness doesn't occur suddenly, rather it is a progression wherein an individual becomes part of the group of 'at risk' individuals, remains in this group for some time, and then, finally, becomes homeless due to economic hardships and social dislocation. "Contemporary definitions split homelessness into two broad groups: 'absolute' homelessness, which refers to persons or households literally without physical shelter, and 'relative' homelessness, which includes a range of housing situations characterized as being at-risk of homelessness." Indeed, being classified as at-risk of homelessness does not imply that an individual or household will become homeless in the future, only that various pre-conditions exist that may lead to this. These pre-conditions include, but are not restricted to the following: people living in SROs (Single Room Occupancy), people living in rooming houses, and people paying more than 50% of their net income towards housing costs. "Two-thirds of responses from homeless individuals enumerated in a recent homeless count in Greater Vancouver cited economic reasons for their being homeless – with lack of income and cost of housing accounting for 44% and 22% of responses respectively."

Housing affordability has and continues to be the top priority housing issue Vancouverites must resolve. In 1996, a study published by BC Housing revealed that 25% of renter households in Vancouver pay 50% or more of their incomes to rent. The core housing need model, developed by the CMHC, uses a threshold of households spending at least 30% of their income on shelter costs to illuminate households experiencing acute housing affordability needs. "Moving from the 30% shelter cost-to-income ratio (STIR) used in the core housing need model, to a 50% threshold, typically reduces the number of households identified by more than half." In 2001, Statistics Canada published a study using both the 30% and 50% thresholds to identify renters and homeowners facing unaffordable housing costs in Metro Vancouver. This study revealed that 8.1% of homeowners and 27.8% of renters exceeded the 30% threshold, while 4.0% of homeowners and 10.8% of renters exceeded the 50% threshold. More in depth still, this study also found that 18.5% of immigrants living in Vancouver exceeded the 30% threshold and 8.0% exceed the 50% threshold. Only 11.3% and 4.8% of Canadian born households exceeded the 30% and 50% thresholds, respectively.

Heather Smith and David Ley found that in Canada's gateway cities, "the appreciable growth of the low-income population during the 1990s was almost entirely attributable to the growing poverty of recent immigrants". They go on to state, "adult immigrants who had landed in the previous decade endured a poverty rate of...37 percent in Vancouver". Immigrants, recent and old, therefore constitute a large proportion of households in Metro Vancouver considered to be at-risk of homelessness. Analysis conducted by Robert Fiedler revealed that, in 2001, "29.1% of persons in households...in Greater Vancouver are below more than one CMHC housing standard, indicating that...some households not only must spend an unsustainably high proportion of their income on shelter costs, but must also live in overcrowded and/or substandard conditions to access housing". Although many new immigrants to Canada come from educated backgrounds, many having bachelor's degrees, they are paid less on average than Canadian born individuals and "Over the past 25 years, the incomes of recent immigrants to Canada have progressively declined relative to the native-born."

Recently, the City of Vancouver released a new strategy targeting homelessness and affordable housing. The strategy will be enacted in 2012 and will run until 2021, with the goal of ending street homelessness completely by 2015, as well as increasing affordable housing choices for all Vancouverites. The City of Vancouver indicates that from 2002 to 2011, "homelessness has increased nearly three-fold" from approximately 628 homeless in 2002, to 1,605 homeless in 2011. The strategy goes on to report that SRO rooms are increasingly being lost to conversions and rent increases even though SRO hotels constitute a majority of Vancouver's lowest income housing stock. As Robert Fiedler noted in 2006, "renters are disproportionately located in the City of Vancouver, which contains only 27.8% of the area's total population, but 40.2% of all renters". Furthermore, low vacancy rates in Vancouver's market rental stock, a decreasing new supply of apartments in recent decades, and a widening gap of household incomes and housing prices are just a few challenges that must be overcome. By 2021, the City of Vancouver hopes to enable 5,000 additional social housing units, 11,000 new market rental-housing units, and 20,000 market ownership units.

References

• Baker, Don. "Koreans in Vancouver: A Short History." Journal of the Canadian Historical Association, 2008, Vol.19(2), pp. 155–180

Further reading

• Gumpp, Ruth. "Ethnicity and Assimilation: German Postwar Immigrants in Vancouver, 1945–1970" (MA thesis). University of British Columbia, 1989.
• Walhouse, Freda. 1961. The Influence of Minority Ethnic Groups on the Culture Geography of Vancouver (MA thesis), University of British Columbia.