Victoria, British Columbia Population & Demographics: How Many People Live Here?

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

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Victoria. It is a city in Canada that encompasses a land area of 19.45 km2. The city has a population density of 4722.30 people per km2.

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

Victoria 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.

Victoria location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Victoria has a population of around 91,867 people. The city's population is in increased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Victoria has increased by 7.08%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
85,79291,867 +7.08%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.38% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Victoria's population is projected to reach approximately 98,372 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 5,057.69 people per km².

Population in 2021Projected Population in 2026Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
91,86798,3725,057.69

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.

Population By Genders

The male population of Victoria is around 43,585 while the female population is around 48,285.

Of the 91,867 total population in Victoria, the largest gender is female with around 48,285 women within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
43,58548,285 +9.73%

Is Victoria a Good Place to Live?

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

Employment & Economy

8.1%
Unemployment rate
0.3 pts below the province
61.7%
Employment rate
3.8 pts above the province
67.2%
Participation rate
3.9 pts above the province

Income & Affordability

$67,500
Median household income
$17,500 below the province
13.1%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
2.3 pts above the province

Commute

80.2%
Commute under 30 minutes
14.4 pts above the province
53.3%
Commute by car
26.6 pts below the province
11.1%
Commute by public transit
1.8 pts above the province

Housing Character

13.6%
Single-detached houses
28.8 pts below the province
79.1%
Apartments (any building size)
35.6 pts above the province

Household Composition

1.80 people
Average household size
0.60people below the province
49.0%
One-person households
19.6 pts above the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Other Cities Near Victoria

Population by Age Characteristics

Victoria has a young population. The majority of the population is people aged 30 to 34 years old, accounting for 9.80% of the total population. The city median age is 42.80.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
30 to 34 years4,545 10.40%4,490 9.30% 1.21%9,035 9.80%
25 to 29 years4,240 9.70%4,525 9.40% 6.30%8,765 9.50%
35 to 39 years3,820 8.80%3,635 7.50% 4.84%7,455 8.10%
20 to 24 years2,565 5.90%3,475 7.20% 26.19%6,040 6.60%
65 to 69 years2,675 6.10%3,345 6.90% 20.03%6,020 6.60%
40 to 44 years3,035 7.00%2,945 6.10% 2.97%5,985 6.50%
60 to 64 years2,755 6.30%3,205 6.60% 14.04%5,965 6.50%
70 to 74 years2,675 6.10%3,230 6.70% 17.18%5,905 6.40%
55 to 59 years2,665 6.10%2,895 6.00% 7.94%5,560 6.10%
50 to 54 years2,635 6.00%2,705 5.60% 2.59%5,340 5.80%
45 to 49 years2,635 6.00%2,570 5.30% 2.47%5,205 5.70%
75 to 79 years1,685 3.90%2,015 4.20% 16.38%3,705 4.00%
85 years and over1,045 2.40%2,270 4.70% 53.96%3,320 3.60%
0 to 4 years1,510 3.50%1,400 2.90% 7.28%2,910 3.20%
5 to 9 years1,395 3.20%1,440 3.00% 3.13%2,835 3.10%
15 to 19 years1,375 3.20%1,340 2.80% 2.55%2,710 2.90%
10 to 14 years1,340 3.10%1,365 2.80% 1.83%2,705 2.90%
80 to 84 years990 2.30%1,430 3.00% 30.77%2,410 2.60%
85 to 89 years605 1.40%1,065 2.20% 43.19%1,675 1.80%
90 to 94 years350 0.80%890 1.80% 60.67%1,235 1.30%
95 to 99 years80 0.20%275 0.60% 70.91%355 0.40%

Broader Age Groups

If the city'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 67.60% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 23.20% and 9.20%, respectively.

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

DataMaleFemaleTotal
Average age of the population44.00%46.30%45.20%
Median age of the population41.60%44.00%42.80%
65 years and over20.80%25.40%23.20%
0 to 14 years9.70%8.70%9.20%

Photos of Places & Sceneries in Victoria

Population of Victoria by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Victoria is quite diverse, which contributes to the city's vibrant cultural landscape. Victoria 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 30.48% of the total population, followed by Scottish (24.64%), Irish (20.71%), German (13.13%), and French (9.44%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include Canadian, British Isles, Ukrainian, Dutch, and Chinese.

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
English30.24%30.71%30.48%
Scottish23.63%25.56%24.64%
Irish19.67%21.66%20.71%
German12.94%13.30%13.13%
French9.03%9.82%9.44%
Canadian8.96%7.79%8.35%
British Isles6.54%6.63%6.58%
Ukrainian4.82%5.30%5.07%
Dutch4.34%4.80%4.59%
Chinese3.70%3.77%3.74%

Immigration Profile

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

About 20.0% of Victoria's population are immigrants (17,580 people).

The top countries of origin for Victoria's immigrant population are United Kingdom (3,505), United States of America (1,945), Philippines (1,845), China (1,110), India (650).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
United Kingdom3,505
United States of America1,945
Philippines1,845
China1,110
India650

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 24,100 of Victoria's population live in a 1 person. In addition, most of them are living in 1 person household.

Household Size

About 24.50% of the population lives in 1 person households. 2 persons households ranked second, accounting for 17.35% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 4.35%, 2.65%, and 1.15%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
1 person24,10024.50%
2 persons17,06017.35%
3 persons4,2954.35%
4 persons2,6202.65%
5 or more persons1,1451.15%

Income in Victoria

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

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Victoria is $43,200.

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 city's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Victoria population or around 12,610 people falls in the $50,000 to $79,999 group. The next largest groups are the $10,000 to $29,999, and $30,000 to $49,999 with around 12,370 and 10,750 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Victoria's median household income is $67,500, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Victoria's median household income is 16,500 dollars below the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the city'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 city's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Victoria

This data sheds light on the distribution of Victoria 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.

71.15% or most of the Victoria population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 45.35% of the population has a Bachelor's degree or higher, 22.05% has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 6.85% has No certificate, diploma or degree.

Only using 25% sample data.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree41,88550,75592,63071.15%
Bachelor's degree or higher26,09032,80058,88545.35%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate15,76513,73529,50022.05%
No certificate, diploma or degree5,3004,0359,3356.85%

Above national average 45.4% of Victoria's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Victoria

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Victoria. 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 5.45% which is quite high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate61.75%
Unemployment rate5.45%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the city who work as an employee. The majority of Victoria's population (around 68.50%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the city, there are 4,580 men and 3,815 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 8,390.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed4,5803,8158,390

Employment Industry Sectors

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

Victoria has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (15%) works in the health care and social assistance sector. The Public administration sector comes second at 13%, followed by Professional, scientific and technical services at 12%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Health care and social assistance1,9405,91015%
Public administration3,2253,69013%
Professional, scientific and technical services3,5202,65012%
Retail trade2,6452,74510%
Accommodation and food services2,3152,3759%
Educational services1,6952,7558%
Construction2,6303256%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services1,4401,0255%
Other services (except public administration)7801,3154%
Arts, entertainment and recreation8007503%
Manufacturing1,0854453%
Transportation and warehousing1,0953453%
Information and cultural industries7505703%
Finance and insurance6556502%
Real estate and rental and leasing6305052%
Wholesale trade4451951%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting2101151%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction100300%
Management of companies and enterprises55350%
Utilities65150%

Labour Market Snapshot

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

Top employer sectors in Victoria: Health care and social assistance (15%), Public administration (13%), Professional, scientific and technical services (12%)

Top occupation categories in Victoria: Sales and service occupations (25%), Business, finance and administration occupations (18%), 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 city. 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 work13,64015,39529,04059.20%
Worked at home6,9107,81514,72530.00%
No fixed workplace address3,6451,5455,19510.60%
Worked outside Canada85251100.20%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Victoria 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 Victoria residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

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

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
15 to 29 minutes42.60%
Less than 15 minutes37.60%
30 to 44 minutes14.10%
45 to 59 minutes3.20%
60 minutes and over2.40%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Victoriashed 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 city's social fabric. We can gain insights into Victoria's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
46.25%
Married or living common-law
53.75%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights city'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 Victoria. About 86,515 people living in the province speak English, 1,645 people speak French, 650 people speak Neither English nor French language, and 305 people speak English and French language.

LanguagePopulation
English86,515
French1,645
Neither English nor French650
English and French305

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
English81.0%91.1%
Non-official languages14.3%6.1%
French1.9%0.5%

Religion

Victoria is predominantly Christian. About 24,930 of its population is Christian (10,775 males and 10,775 females).

The second largest religion in the province is Muslim with 1.9% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Buddhist and Jewish, both represent 1.4% and 1.1% of the population, while Hindu represent 0.8% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian28.4%
Islam1.9%
Buddhist1.4%
Jewish1.1%
Hindu0.8%
Sikh0.5%

Frequently Asked Questions about Victoria

According to the 2021 census, Victoria has a population of approximately 91,867 people.

Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Victoria increased by 7.08%.

Victoria has a population density of approximately 4,722.30 people per square kilometre.

Victoria covers a land area of approximately 19.45 km².

The median age of the population in Victoria is 42.80 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Victoria is English.

The median household income in Victoria is $67,500, based on 2020 data.

English is the most common first official language spoken in Victoria.

Christian is the predominant religion in Victoria.

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.