Kelowna: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Kelowna: The median total income of households in Kelowna was C$82,000 in 2020, as reported in the 2021 Census, joint 26th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the median for Canada was C$84,000.
- Education in Kelowna: 31.3% of people aged 25 to 64 in Kelowna held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 29th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, below the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in Kelowna: 10.1% of people in private households in Kelowna, 14,290 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), 33rd lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of Kelowna?
Statistics Canada estimates that Kelowna (the municipality) had 167,654 residents on 1 July 2025, 31st smallest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 1.6% more than a year earlier (164,947) and 10.7% more than on 1 July 2021 (151,516).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is Kelowna growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of Kelowna changed by +10.7%, 31st fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and Kelowna held 0.40% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in Kelowna at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 144,576 people in Kelowna, +13.5% on the 127,390 counted in 2016 (3rd fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 212 square kilometres, or 682 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in Kelowna?
The median age in Kelowna was 42.4 years at the 2021 Census, joint 22nd oldest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 21.4% of residents were 65 or older and 13.5% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs Kelowna?
In Canada, cities and towns are run by regional or upper-tier municipalities: Mostly councillors sent from lower-tier councils; some heads elected directly. Regional planning, transit, water and policing in some areas.
How local power works in Canada
Cities of a similar size in Canada
- Regina 263,419
- Oakville 243,107
- Richmond 239,584
- Abbotsford-Mission 223,828
- Richmond Hill 222,031
- Oshawa 213,592
- Burlington 197,737
- Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury 188,504
- Sherbrooke 184,135
- Abbotsford 175,358
- Barrie 174,469
- Coquitlam 173,599
- Cambridge 165,354
- Langley 163,885
- Whitby 162,413
- Lévis V 160,882
Up a level: all cities in Canada · Canada · government and power
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census subdivisions, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CSD, gender total, counts and rates), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 46d086943a5e…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 17-10-0155-01: Population estimates, July 1, by census subdivision, 2021 boundaries (Web Data Service extract, 2021-2025; request saved as popest-17100155-csd.request.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 95b5a4929299…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 14-10-0459-01: Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted (Web Data Service extract: unemployment and employment rates, latest 13 months; request saved as lfs-14100459-cma.request.json, geography names in lfs-14100459-metadata.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f4399c9fdfa…)
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