Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia Population & Demographics: Is It a Good Place to Live?

Data source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population — View the official Tumbler Ridge census dataset on Statistics Canada

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Tumbler Ridge. It is a township in Canada that encompasses a land area of 1,557.41 km2. The township has a population density of 1.50 people per km2.

We highlight the Tumbler Ridge township's various population characteristics. From gender, age distribution, ethnicity, household and dwelling, and income to spoken languages, occupation, and religion.

Tumbler Ridge on the Map

The map and listings below are sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors, not Statistics Canada, and may be incomplete depending on how thoroughly the area has been mapped.

Tumbler Ridge location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Tumbler Ridge has a population of around 2,399 people. The township's population is in increased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Tumbler Ridge has increased by ▲ 20.73%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
1,9872,399 +20.73%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.84% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Tumbler Ridge's population is projected to reach approximately 2,896 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 1.86 people per km².

Population in 2021Projected Population in 2026Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
2,3992,8961.86

This projection is an estimate calculated by CAPopulation from the compound annual growth rate between the 2016 and 2021 censuses. Official 2026 complete census data expected to be released in late 2027.

Tumbler Ridge Population Trend & Context

Tumbler Ridge is the 107th-largest township in British Columbia, with a 2021 census population of 2,399 — an increase of 412 (▲ 20.73%) people from the 1,987 recorded in 2016.

The township's population has grown steadily over this period, reflecting broader growth trends among British Columbia townships. The township's median age of 39.6 years — below the national median of 41.9 — suggests a younger, potentially growing population.

How does Tumbler Ridge compare to other British Columbia townships?

Population By Genders

The male population of Tumbler Ridge is around 1,275 while the female population is around 1,125.

Of the 2,399 total population in Tumbler Ridge, the largest gender is male with around 1,275 women within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
1,2751,125 +11.76%

Is Tumbler Ridge a Good Place to Live?

Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Tumbler Ridge compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against British Columbia, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.

Employment & Economy

7.7%
Unemployment rate
0.7 pts below the province
59.9%
Employment rate
2.0 pts above the province
65.3%
Participation rate
2.0 pts above the province

Income & Affordability

$101,000
Median household income
$16,000 above the province
10.9%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
0.1 pts above the province

Commute

58.1%
Commute under 30 minutes
7.7 pts below the province
73.5%
Commute by car
6.4 pts below the province
13.5%
Commute by public transit
4.2 pts above the province

Housing Character

69.4%
Single-detached houses
27.0 pts above the province
16.4%
Apartments (any building size)
27.1 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.20 people
Average household size
0.20people below the province
36.1%
One-person households
6.7 pts above the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Tumbler Ridge Population Compared to British Columbia

British Columbia's population in 2021 was 5,000,879, spread across the area. Here's how Tumbler Ridge compares to the township's key indicators:

IndicatorTumbler RidgeBritish Columbia
Median household income$101,000$85,000
Unemployment rate7.7%8.4%
Median age39.642.8
Bachelor's degree or higher14.5%31.8%
Immigrants (%)7.9%29.0%

Population by Age Characteristics

Tumbler Ridge has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 60 to 64 years old, accounting for 7.90% of the total population. The township median age is 39.60.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
60 to 64 years105 8.20%80 7.10% 23.81%190 7.90%
30 to 34 years90 7.10%90 8.00% 0.00%180 7.50%
5 to 9 years100 7.80%80 7.10% 20.00%175 7.30%
35 to 39 years80 6.30%85 7.60% 5.88%170 7.10%
55 to 59 years90 7.10%75 6.70% 16.67%170 7.10%
0 to 4 years90 7.10%65 5.80% 27.78%155 6.50%
40 to 44 years90 7.10%65 5.80% 27.78%155 6.50%
45 to 49 years75 5.90%75 6.70% 0.00%155 6.50%
25 to 29 years80 6.30%70 6.20% 12.50%150 6.30%
65 to 69 years75 5.90%70 6.20% 6.67%150 6.30%
10 to 14 years80 6.30%65 5.80% 18.75%145 6.00%
50 to 54 years80 6.30%65 5.80% 18.75%145 6.00%
15 to 19 years60 4.70%65 5.80% 7.69%120 5.00%
20 to 24 years55 4.30%55 4.90% 0.00%115 4.80%
70 to 74 years55 4.30%40 3.60% 27.27%95 4.00%
75 to 79 years30 2.40%35 3.10% 14.29%65 2.70%
80 to 84 years25 2.00%20 1.80% 20.00%40 1.70%
Average age of the population40 39.60%40 39.60% 0.00%40 39.60%
Median age of the population40 40.00%39 38.80% 5.00%40 39.60%

Broader Age Groups

If the township's population is divided into broader age groups, most of the population falls into the 15 to 64 years age group. The group accounts for 64.60% of the population. The other age groups, 0 to 14 years and 65 years and over, account for 20.00% and 15.40%, respectively.

If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Tumbler Ridge are within the 15 to 64 years age group.

DataMaleFemaleTotal

Photos of Places & Sceneries in Tumbler Ridge

Population of Tumbler Ridge by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Tumbler Ridge is quite diverse, which contributes to the township's vibrant cultural landscape. Tumbler Ridge is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the township appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in Tumbler Ridge are English, which accounts for 26.93% of the total population, followed by Scottish (25.68%), Irish (22.55%), French (13.78%), and German (13.36%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Tumbler Ridge include Canadian, British Isles, Norwegian, Caucasian (White), and First Nations (North American Indian).

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
English26.77%27.11%26.93%
Scottish25.20%26.67%25.68%
Irish22.05%22.67%22.55%
French12.99%14.67%13.78%
German14.57%12.00%13.36%
Canadian13.39%12.44%12.94%
British Isles8.66%6.67%7.72%
Norwegian7.87%4.44%6.26%
Caucasian (White)5.12%6.67%5.85%
First Nations (North American Indian)5.51%4.89%5.22%

Immigration Profile

Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Tumbler Ridge's population profile.

About 7.9% of Tumbler Ridge's population are immigrants (190 people).

The top countries of origin for Tumbler Ridge's immigrant population are United Kingdom (45), Philippines (45), Nigeria (20), China (15), El Salvador (10).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
United Kingdom45
Philippines45
Nigeria20
China15
El Salvador10

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 760 of Tumbler Ridge's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 1 person household.

Household Size

About 18.05% of the population lives in 1 person households. 2 persons households ranked second, accounting for 17.80% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 5.95%, 5.00%, and 3.40%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
1 person39518.05%
2 persons39017.80%
3 persons1305.95%
4 persons1105.00%
5 or more persons753.40%

Income in Tumbler Ridge

Analyzing income distribution in Tumbler Ridge can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Tumbler Ridge is $51,200.

A region's per capita data sheds light on the average income earned per person living in it. Since per capita income is calculated by dividing the region's total income by its population, it quantifies the population's economic situation on an individual basis.

Such data offers insights into the township's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Tumbler Ridge population or around 330 people falls in the $100,000 to $149,999 group. The next largest groups are the $50,000 to $79,999, and Under $10,000 with around 205 and 195 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Tumbler Ridge's median household income is $101,000, according to 2020 data.

Above national average Tumbler Ridge's median household income is 17,000 dollars above the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the township's economic landscape as well as the living standards of its population.

Analyzing such data enables researchers, policymakers, and businesses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the township's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Tumbler Ridge

This data sheds light on the distribution of Tumbler Ridge residents across educational milestones.

Such information is crucial in shaping the province’s policies on education, workforce development strategies, and initiatives that aim to improve access to quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

47.20% or most of the Tumbler Ridge population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 36.10% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, 16.75% has a No certificate, diploma or degree, and 14.45% has Bachelor's degree or higher.

Only using 25% sample data.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree8456601,50547.20%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate5256251,15536.10%
No certificate, diploma or degree30524554516.75%
Bachelor's degree or higher16028545514.45%

Below national average 14.5% of Tumbler Ridge's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Tumbler Ridge

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Tumbler Ridge. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Tumbler Ridge is at 5.04% which is quite high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate59.95%
Unemployment rate5.04%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the township who work as an employee. The majority of Tumbler Ridge's population (around 78.00%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the township, there are 45 men and 60 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 100.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed4560100

Employment Industry Sectors

The Tumbler Ridge industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Tumbler Ridge is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.

Tumbler Ridge has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (37%) works in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector. The Retail trade sector comes second at 11%, followed by Public administration at 7%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction34011537%
Retail trade359511%
Public administration40457%
Construction60156%
Health care and social assistance15455%
Transportation and warehousing40104%
Educational services0504%
Accommodation and food services20354%
Other services (except public administration)30204%
Arts, entertainment and recreation0353%
Manufacturing3002%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting1502%
Information and cultural industries10152%
Utilities0101%
Professional, scientific and technical services10101%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services1001%
Real estate and rental and leasing001%
Wholesale trade000%
Finance and insurance000%
Management of companies and enterprises000%

Labour Market Snapshot

A quick snapshot of where Tumbler Ridge residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.

Top employer sectors in Tumbler Ridge: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (37%), -45 Retail trade (11%), Public administration (7%)

Top occupation categories in Tumbler Ridge: Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (35%), Sales and service occupations (19%), Business, finance and administration occupations (11%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the township. It provides a snapshot of workplaces, showing their geographic distribution and the flow of workers across different areas.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work LocationMenWomenTotalPercentage
Usual place of work44540084074.30%
No fixed workplace address1854523020.40%
Worked at home1050605.30%
Worked outside Canada0000.00%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Tumbler Ridge residents travel to school or work. It highlights the frequency of different modes of transportation like walking, cycling, carpooling, and public transit.

The data is pivotal in the making of transportation policies as well as the development of transit systems. Ultimately commuting data contributes to improving the quality of life of Tumbler Ridge residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Tumbler Ridge spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the township's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the township.

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
Less than 15 minutes42.80%
30 to 44 minutes19.50%
60 minutes and over19.10%
15 to 29 minutes15.30%
45 to 59 minutes2.80%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Tumbler Ridgeshed light on its societal dynamics. It captures the diverse types of marital statuses of the population.

Long-term commitments, such as common-law partnerships, civil unions, and marriages, reflect the township's social fabric. We can gain insights into Tumbler Ridge's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
61.46%
Married or living common-law
38.54%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights township's linguistic diversity, showing elegances of solo language as well as bilingual harmonies. Other than language, it also shows the cultural landscape in Canada.

English is the most spoken official language in Tumbler Ridge. About 2,360 people living in the province speak English, 40 people speak French, 0 people speak English and French language, and 0 people speak Neither English nor French language.

LanguagePopulation
English2,360
French40
English and French0
Neither English nor French0

Mother Tongue & Home Language

Useful for newcomers researching an area: this shows the language residents first learned at home in childhood (mother tongue) and the language they speak most often at home now, which can differ as families settle in.

LanguageMother TongueSpoken Most Often at Home
English90.8%97.9%
Non-official languages6.3%1.3%
French1.9%0.4%

Religion

Tumbler Ridge is predominantly Christian. About 935 of its population is Christian (455 males and 455 females).

The second largest religion in the province is Buddhist with 0.0% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Hindu and Jewish, both represent 0.0% and 0.0% of the population, while Muslim represent 0.0% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian39.0%
Buddhist0.0%
Hindu0.0%
Jewish0.0%
Islam0.0%
Sikh0.0%

Points of Interest in Tumbler Ridge

Schools

Parks

Libraries

Community Centres

Places to Visit in Tumbler Ridge

Attractions

Green Spaces in Tumbler Ridge

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Other Townships in British Columbia

Frequently Asked Questions about Tumbler Ridge

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Tumbler Ridge has a population of 2,399 people, making it the 106th township in British Columbia. The population increased significantly from 1,987 in 2016, an increase of 412 people or 20.73%. The township has a population density of 1.5 people per km² across a land area of 1,557.41 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.

Tumbler Ridge's population grew by 20.73% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 1,987 to 2,399 people, a gain of 412 residents. This growth is above average compared to many other British Columbia townships during this period. The median age of 39.60 years suggests a relatively balanced demographic profile. The relatively high proportion of one-person households (36.1%) may indicate young adults leaving for larger centres. Official 2026 Census data, which will confirm whether this trend continued, is expected from Statistics Canada in February 2027.

Tumbler Ridge has a population density of approximately 1.50 people per square kilometre.

Tumbler Ridge covers a land area of approximately 1,557.41 km².

The median age of the population in Tumbler Ridge is 39.60 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Tumbler Ridge is English.

The median household income in Tumbler Ridge is $101,000, based on 2020 data.

English is the most common first official language spoken in Tumbler Ridge.

Christian is the predominant religion in Tumbler Ridge.

Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca) conducted the 2026 Census of Population in May 2026. However, census data goes through an extensive processing, validation, and quality-assurance period before public release. Based on the release plan, the 2026 Census results begin rolling out on February 10, 2027, with complete community-level profiles available by December 1, 2027. Until then, this page uses 2021 Census data as its primary source, supplemented by a population projection estimate for 2026 calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from the 2016–2021 Census period.