Nanaimo: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Nanaimo: The median total income of households in Nanaimo was C$75,500 in 2020, as reported in the 2021 Census, 17th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the median for Canada was C$84,000.
- Education in Nanaimo: 28.6% of people aged 25 to 64 in Nanaimo held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 24th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, below the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in Nanaimo: 11.1% of people in private households in Nanaimo, 10,720 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), 29th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of Nanaimo?
Statistics Canada estimates that Nanaimo (the municipality) had 111,845 residents on 1 July 2025, 9th smallest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 1.1% more than a year earlier (110,580) and 7.5% more than on 1 July 2021 (104,022).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is Nanaimo growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of Nanaimo changed by +7.5%, 22nd slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and Nanaimo held 0.27% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in Nanaimo at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 99,863 people in Nanaimo, +10.3% on the 90,504 counted in 2016 (joint 8th fastest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 90 square kilometres, or 1,104 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in Nanaimo?
The median age in Nanaimo was 45.2 years at the 2021 Census, joint 6th oldest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 24.6% of residents were 65 or older and 14.2% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs Nanaimo?
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
- Kingston 149,527
- Waterloo 142,450
- Ajax 141,111
- St. John's 128,693
- Terrebonne 126,872
- Saanich 126,011
- Delta 124,670
- Brantford 123,521
- Thunder Bay 117,671
- Red Deer 115,409
- Lethbridge 113,671
- Chatham-Kent 112,716
- Kamloops 108,793
- Cape Breton 106,752
- Chilliwack 105,520
- Victoria 103,888
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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