B.C. population could reach 6.662 million by 2038: Statistics Canada

British Columbia’s population could grow to 6.662 million by 2038, according to a new report by Statistics Canada.

The report examined five population growth scenarios for each provincial and territorial jurisdiction. In all but one growth scenarios for B.C., immigration is the most significant factor for population growth, including the high-growth scenario of an additional two million residents over the next 25 years.

The low-growth scenario projects the population to reach 5.18 million due to lower levels of immigration, resulting in interprovincial migration becoming the main factor in population growth.

Currently, B.C.’s population sits at 4.582 million, with 2.5 million residing in Metro Vancouver and approximately 800,000 on Vancouver Island.

In 1989, the province had a population of 3.197 million and it crossed the four million mark in 1999-2000.

bc population 2038 statistics canada

Alberta’s population is expected to surpass B.C.’s in most scenarios, bringing it from 4.025 million to between 5.6 million and 6.8 million during the same time period.

As a whole, the national population could reach between 39.35 million and 43.47 million by 2038 – up from 35.158 million in 2013. Ontario and Quebec will remain as the highest populated provinces within this timeframe. In most scenarios, the Maritime provinces are expected to see a population decrease due to interprovincial migration flows.

A long-term high-growth model indicates the Canadian population will grow to 63.5 million by 2063.

Canada

Current population: 35,158,000
High-growth (2038): 43,474,000
Low-growth (2038): 39,345,000

Newfoundland and Labrador

Current population: 526,700
High-growth (2038): 536,400
Low-growth (2038): 426,500

Prince Edward Island

Current population: 145,200
High-growth (2038): 194,100
Low-growth (2038): 162,100

Nova Scotia

Current population: 940,800
High-growth (2038): 993,300
Low-growth (2038): 881,200

New Brunswick

Current population: 756,100
High-growth (2038): 797,400
Low-growth (2038): 715,900

Quebec

Current population: 8,155,300
High-growth (2038): 10,232,000
Low-growth (2038): 8,730,000

Ontario

Current population: 13,538,000
High-growth (2038): 18,256,100
Low-growth (2038): 14,848,500

Manitoba

Current population: 1,265,000
High-growth (2038): 1,786,600
Low-growth (2038): 1,445,700

Saskatchewan

Current population: 1,108,300
High-growth (2038): 1,527,000
Low-growth (2038): 1,173,900

Alberta

Current population: 4,025,100
High-growth (2038): 6,826,600
Low-growth (2038): 5,662,900

British Columbia

Current population: 4,582,000
High-growth (2038): 6,662,100
Low-growth (2038): 5,180,200

Yukon

Current population: 36,700
High-growth (2038): 62,000
Low-growth (2038): 35,900

Northwest Territories

Current population: 43,500
High-growth (2038): 48,800
Low-growth (2038): 38,300

Nunavut

Current population: 35,600
High-growth (2038): 53,300
Low-growth (2038): 43,800

Feature Image: Granville Street crowd via Shutterstock