Population Characteristics
According to the latest census, Esquimalt has a population of around 17,533 people. The township's population is in decreased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Esquimalt has decreased by -0.69%.
| Population in 2016 | Population in 2021 | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 17,655 | 17,533 | --0.69% |
2026 Population Projection
Esquimalt's population declined between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, so a 2026 growth projection is not shown. The most recent confirmed figure remains the 17,533 people recorded in the 2021 census.
Population By Genders
The male population of Esquimalt is around 8,810 while the female population is around 8,720.
Of the 17,533 total population in Esquimalt, the largest gender is male with around 8,810 women within the population.
| Male | Female | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 8,810 | 8,720 | -1.02% |
Is Esquimalt a Good Place to Live?
Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Esquimalt compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against British Columbia, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.
Employment & Economy
Income & Affordability
Commute
Housing Character
Household Composition
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.
Other Townships Near Esquimalt
- Saanich (4.3 km)
- Oak Bay (7.1 km)
- Highlands (9.3 km)
- Metchosin (10.6 km)
- Central Saanich (18.3 km)
- Sooke (24.1 km)
- North Saanich (25.2 km)
- North Cowichan (49.3 km)
Population by Age Characteristics
Esquimalt has a young population. The majority of the population is people aged 30 to 34 years old, accounting for 8.40% of the total population. The township median age is 43.20.
| Data | Male | Female | Difference | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 to 34 years | 775 8.80% | 700 8.00% | 9.68% | 1,480 8.40% |
| 35 to 39 years | 740 8.40% | 690 7.90% | 6.76% | 1,430 8.20% |
| 55 to 59 years | 635 7.20% | 695 8.00% | 8.63% | 1,335 7.60% |
| 40 to 44 years | 685 7.80% | 625 7.20% | 8.76% | 1,315 7.50% |
| 25 to 29 years | 705 8.00% | 605 6.90% | 14.18% | 1,310 7.50% |
| 60 to 64 years | 640 7.30% | 655 7.50% | 2.29% | 1,290 7.40% |
| 65 to 69 years | 565 6.40% | 655 7.50% | 13.74% | 1,225 7.00% |
| 50 to 54 years | 560 6.40% | 535 6.10% | 4.46% | 1,095 6.20% |
| 45 to 49 years | 510 5.80% | 505 5.80% | 0.98% | 1,015 5.80% |
| 70 to 74 years | 465 5.30% | 540 6.20% | 13.89% | 1,005 5.70% |
| 20 to 24 years | 460 5.20% | 405 4.60% | 11.96% | 865 4.90% |
| 5 to 9 years | 385 4.40% | 380 4.40% | 1.30% | 765 4.40% |
| 0 to 4 years | 390 4.40% | 350 4.00% | 10.26% | 735 4.20% |
| 15 to 19 years | 335 3.80% | 300 3.40% | 10.45% | 640 3.70% |
| 10 to 14 years | 350 4.00% | 280 3.20% | 20.00% | 635 3.60% |
| 75 to 79 years | 290 3.30% | 325 3.70% | 10.77% | 615 3.50% |
| 80 to 84 years | 175 2.00% | 215 2.50% | 18.60% | 390 2.20% |
| 85 years and over | 140 1.60% | 250 2.90% | 44.00% | 390 2.20% |
| 85 to 89 years | 90 1.00% | 130 1.50% | 30.77% | 220 1.30% |
| 90 to 94 years | 40 0.50% | 95 1.10% | 57.89% | 135 0.80% |
| Average age of the population | 43 42.80% | 45 45.40% | 6.61% | 44 44.10% |
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 67.10% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 20.70% and 12.20%, respectively.
If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Esquimalt are within the 15 to 64 years age group.
| Data | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age of the population | 41.60% | 45.20% | 43.20% |
| 65 years and over | 18.60% | 22.80% | 20.70% |
| 0 to 14 years | 12.80% | 11.50% | 12.20% |
Photos of Places & Sceneries in Esquimalt
Population of Esquimalt by Ethnicity and Origin
The population of Esquimalt is quite diverse, which contributes to the township's vibrant cultural landscape. Esquimalt is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the province appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.
The top 5 ethnicities and origins in the province are English, which accounts for 34.07% of the total population, followed by Scottish (25.71%), Irish (20.30%), German (13.33%), and Canadian (10.50%).
Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include French, British Isles, Ukrainian, Welsh, and Dutch.
| Ethnicity and Origin | Male | Female | Percentage in Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 33.66% | 34.45% | 34.07% |
| Scottish | 24.78% | 26.62% | 25.71% |
| Irish | 19.02% | 21.58% | 20.30% |
| German | 12.97% | 13.69% | 13.33% |
| Canadian | 10.43% | 10.56% | 10.50% |
| French | 9.63% | 10.03% | 9.83% |
| British Isles | 6.22% | 6.15% | 6.19% |
| Ukrainian | 5.65% | 4.52% | 5.12% |
| Welsh | 4.03% | 4.93% | 4.51% |
| Dutch | 3.75% | 3.89% | 3.79% |
Immigration Profile
Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Esquimalt's population profile.
About 15.3% of Esquimalt's population are immigrants (2,640 people).
The top countries of origin for Esquimalt's immigrant population are United Kingdom (525), Philippines (270), United States of America (215), India (145), China (115).
| Country of Birth | Population |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 525 |
| Philippines | 270 |
| United States of America | 215 |
| India | 145 |
| China | 115 |
Household and Dwelling Characteristics
About 3,970 of Esquimalt's population live in a apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys. In addition, most of them are living in 1 person household.
Household Size
About 19.40% of the population lives in 1 person households. 2 persons households ranked second, accounting for 18.70% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 6.05%, 4.05%, and 1.80%, respectively.
| Number of Person(s) in Household | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3,325 | 19.40% |
| 2 persons | 3,200 | 18.70% |
| 3 persons | 1,040 | 6.05% |
| 4 persons | 690 | 4.05% |
| 5 or more persons | 310 | 1.80% |
Income in Esquimalt
Analyzing income distribution in Esquimalt can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.
Per Capita Income
According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Esquimalt is $44,800.
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 Esquimalt population or around 2,590 people falls in the $50,000 to $79,999 group. The next largest groups are the $30,000 to $49,999, and $10,000 to $29,999 with around 2,125 and 2,090 people, respectively.
Household Income
The Esquimalt's median household income is $76,000, according to 2020 data.
Below national average Esquimalt's median household income is 8,000 dollars below 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 Esquimalt
This data sheds light on the distribution of Esquimalt 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.
61.20% or most of the Esquimalt population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 30.25% of the population has a Bachelor's degree or higher, 28.35% has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 10.45% has No certificate, diploma or degree.
| Degree | Men | Women | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree | 7,255 | 8,085 | 15,345 | 61.20% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3,380 | 4,175 | 7,560 | 30.25% |
| High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate | 3,920 | 3,325 | 7,250 | 28.35% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 1,585 | 1,145 | 2,730 | 10.45% |
Below national average 30.3% of Esquimalt's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).
Employment in Esquimalt
This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Esquimalt. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.
The data shows that the unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is at 5.21% which is quite high.
| Status | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Employment rate | 60.66% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.21% |
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 Esquimalt's population (around 71.80%) are working permanent position as an employee.
Self-employed
In the township, there are 740 men and 610 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 1,355.
| Status | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed | 740 | 610 | 1,355 |
Employment Industry Sectors
The Esquimalt industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Esquimalt is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.
Esquimalt has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (21%) works in the public administration sector. The Health care and social assistance sector comes second at 14%, followed by Retail trade at 10%.
| Industry | Men | Women | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public administration | 1,195 | 855 | 21% |
| Health care and social assistance | 370 | 980 | 14% |
| Retail trade | 505 | 530 | 10% |
| Accommodation and food services | 390 | 370 | 8% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 400 | 355 | 8% |
| Construction | 565 | 80 | 7% |
| Educational services | 190 | 390 | 6% |
| Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services | 320 | 170 | 5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 200 | 230 | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 280 | 135 | 4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 270 | 40 | 3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 110 | 135 | 3% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 90 | 115 | 2% |
| Finance and insurance | 70 | 110 | 2% |
| Information and cultural industries | 80 | 50 | 1% |
| Wholesale trade | 85 | 35 | 1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 30 | 50 | 1% |
| Utilities | 15 | 0 | 0% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 10 | 0 | 0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Labour Market Snapshot
A quick snapshot of where Esquimalt residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.
Top employer sectors in Esquimalt: Public administration (21%), Health care and social assistance (14%), -45 Retail trade (10%)
Top occupation categories in Esquimalt: Sales and service occupations (26%), Business, finance and administration occupations (17%), Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (17%)
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.
| Work Location | Men | Women | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual place of work | 2,895 | 2,875 | 5,770 | 62.80% |
| Worked at home | 920 | 1,070 | 1,990 | 21.60% |
| No fixed workplace address | 1,035 | 375 | 1,410 | 15.30% |
| Worked outside Canada | 25 | 0 | 25 | 0.30% |
Commuting
The data sheds light on how Esquimalt 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 Esquimalt residents and sustainable urban planning.
Commuting Duration
This data reveals the average time that the residents of Esquimalt 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.
| Duration | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 15 to 29 minutes | 45.10% |
| Less than 15 minutes | 35.80% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 12.70% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 3.30% |
| 60 minutes and over | 3.10% |
Marital Status
The statistics on marital status in Esquimaltshed 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 Esquimalt's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.
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 Esquimalt. About 16,645 people living in the province speak English, 560 people speak French, 95 people speak Neither English nor French language, and 70 people speak English and French language.
| Language | Population |
|---|---|
| English | 16,645 |
| French | 560 |
| Neither English nor French | 95 |
| English and French | 70 |
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.
| Language | Mother Tongue | Spoken Most Often at Home |
|---|---|---|
| English | 83.3% | 91.8% |
| Non-official languages | 10.7% | 4.6% |
| French | 3.1% | 1.4% |
Religion
Esquimalt is predominantly Christian. About 5,540 of its population is Christian (2,510 males and 2,510 females).
The second largest religion in the province is Buddhist with 1.5% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Muslim and Jewish, both represent 0.9% and 0.7% of the population, while Hindu represent 0.3% of the population.
| Religion | Population |
|---|---|
| Christian | 32.0% |
| Buddhist | 1.5% |
| Islam | 0.9% |
| Jewish | 0.7% |
| Hindu | 0.3% |
| Sikh | 0.3% |
Points of Interest in Esquimalt
Schools
Parks
- Rockcrest Park
- Phil Ross Park
- Memorial Park
- Saxe Point Park
- Arm Street Promenade
- McNaughton Water Access
- Glen Vale Water Access
- Kinver Water Access
- Nelson Water Access
- Sturdee Water Access
- Yarrow Place Rain Garden
- Hither Green
- Paradise Park
- Highrock Park
- Captain Jacobson Park
- Fleming Beach
- Brodeur Field
- Freeman Ken Hill Park
- Bullen Park
- Lugrin Park
- Wurtele Place Park
- Colville Park
- Reeve Common
- Anderson Park
- Lampson Park
- Transfer Street Lineal Park
- Naden Park
Libraries
Community Centres
Places to Visit in Esquimalt
Museums
- CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum - NAD20
- CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum - NAD29
- Gorge Waterway Nature House
- Craigflower Manor
Historic Sites
- S. F. Tolmie
- Esquimalt Cenotaph
- McLoughlin Point
- Military Artillery/Machine Guns
- Bert Owen Thomas
- Craigflower Manor
- Esquimalt Naval Sites
- The Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC)
- HMCS Esquimalt
- Day of Mourning
- HMS Warspite
- The Founding of the Canadian Naval Service
- Golf Hill Battery
- Highrock Cairn
- Bickford Tower
Green Spaces in Esquimalt
| Name | Type | Approx. Area |
|---|---|---|
| Rockcrest Park | Parks | 1.0 ha |
| Phil Ross Park | Parks | 0.2 ha |
| Memorial Park | Parks | 0.9 ha |
| Saxe Point Park | Parks | 7.6 ha |
| Arm Street Promenade | Parks | 0.1 ha |
| McNaughton Water Access | Parks | 0.0 ha |
| Glen Vale Water Access | Parks | 0.2 ha |
| Kinver Water Access | Parks | 0.0 ha |
| Nelson Water Access | Parks | 0.0 ha |
| Sturdee Water Access | Parks | 0.0 ha |
| Yarrow Place Rain Garden | Parks | 0.1 ha |
| Hither Green | Parks | 0.0 ha |
| Paradise Park | Parks | 0.1 ha |
| Highrock Park | Parks | 7.1 ha |
| Captain Jacobson Park | Parks | 0.2 ha |
| Matson Conservation Area | Nature Reserves | 1.0 ha |
Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.
Frequently Asked Questions about Esquimalt
According to the 2021 census, Esquimalt has a population of approximately 17,533 people.
Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Esquimalt decreased by 0.69%.
Esquimalt has a population density of approximately 2,476.70 people per square kilometre.
Esquimalt covers a land area of approximately 7.08 km².
The median age of the population in Esquimalt is 43.20 years.
The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Esquimalt is English.
The median household income in Esquimalt is $76,000, based on 2020 data.
English is the most common first official language spoken in Esquimalt.
Christian is the predominant religion in Esquimalt.
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.