Demographics of Metro Vancouver
Population growth
The following table shows the development of the number of inhabitants according to census data of Statistics Canada. The former municipalities of Point Grey and South Vancouver are not included in the data prior to 1931.[1]
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Ethnic origin
The demographics of Vancouver reveal a multi-ethnic society. There remains a small population, less than 2%, of Aboriginal peoples, who according to archeological and historical records, have inhabited this region for more than 3,000 years.[citation needed]
From the time of Vancouver's first non-indigenous settlement in the second half of the 19th century, people from Britain and Ireland were the largest group of immigrants and, collectively, remain the largest ethnic grouping in Vancouver to this day. Chinese are by far, the largest visible minority group, although ethnic Germans are the largest non-British group and only in the 21st Century were outnumbered by the Chinese for the first time.[citation needed] The city has one of the most diverse Chinese-speaking communities with several dialects of Chinese being represented. Vancouver contains the second-largest Chinatown in North America (after San Francisco's), and many multicultural neighbourhoods such as the Punjabi Market, Little Italy, Greektown, Japantown and Commercial Drive. Bilingual street signs can be seen in Chinatown and the Punjabi Market, and commercial signs in a wide array of languages can be seen all over the metropolitan area.
Aboriginal peoples
There is a small community of aboriginal people in Vancouver as well as in the surrounding metropolitan region, with the result that Vancouver constitutes the largest native community in the province, albeit an unincorporated one (i.e. not as a band government).[citation needed] There is an equally large or larger Métis contingent, with this being a mix of traditional "real" Metis from the Prairies and others whose mixed native/non-native ancestry qualifies them legally as Metis.[citation needed]
British Isles and European origins
Non-visible minorities such as newly arrived Eastern Europeans and the new wave of Latin Americans are also a feature of the city's ethnic landscape. Prior to the Hong Kong influx of the 1980s, the largest non-British Isles ethnic group in the city was German, followed by Ukrainian and the Scandinavian ethnicities. Most of these earlier immigrant groups are fully assimilated or intermarried with other groups, although a new generation of East Europeans form a distinct linguistic and social community.
Much of the European population consists of persons whose origins go back to the British Isles and, until recently, British Columbians with British and Irish ancestry most likely came directly from the Britain and Ireland, rather than via Ontario or the Maritime Provinces. Until the 1960s it was easier to purchase the Times of London and the Manchester Guardian in Vancouver than it was to find the Toronto Globe and Mail or Montreal Gazette. Other large and historically important European ethnic groups consist of Germans, Dutch, French (of both European and Canadian origin), Ukrainians, Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, Finns, Italians, Croats, Hungarians, Greeks, and lately numerous Romanians, Russians, Portuguese, Serbs and Poles.
Asian origins
The first Chinese immigrants to British Columbia were men who came to "the Colonies of T'ang (China)," as they called British Columbia, for the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush of 1858 and a decade later to work on building the Canadian Pacific Railway. Because of various loopholes in the Head Tax and other anti-Chinese legislation, there was a steady influx of Chinese families from the late 19th century until the Second World War. Then in the 1980s, a huge influx immigrants from Hong Kong came to Vancouver in anticipation of and during the transfer of sovereignty of that former British colony from the United Kingdom to China. This continued a tradition of immigration from around the world that had already established Vancouver as the second most multi-ethnic of Canada's cities (after Toronto) before the Hong Kong influx began.
Statistics Canada data shows that over 17% of the approximately 2.5 million people living in the metropolitan area are ethnic Chinese. Vancouver has one of the most diverse Chinese-speaking communities as reflected in the diversity of Chinese cuisine (from several regions of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Hainan, Malaysia/Singapore, etc.) made available to consumers in Vancouver and adjacent communities such as Richmond and Burnaby. The ethnic Chinese from Hong Kong who speak Cantonese make up the largest group within Vancouver's Chinese-speaking community. However, the Chinese-speaking community has residents who speak Mandarin, Hakka, Shanghainese, Taiwanese, and Teochiu who have arrived in Vancouver via Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Southeast Asia. Note that there are also many Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong whose origin is from other areas of China such as Shanghai. Immigration from Taiwan increased as of the late-1980's/early-1990s and continues at a steady pace. Many Taiwanese are currently choosing to retire in Vancouver or raise their families in the city.[citation needed] The most recent Chinese immigrants to Vancouver are also those who come directly from Mainland China. Vancouver continues to receive immigration not only from Mainland China but also from Taiwan and Hong Kong, though to a lesser extent than in the 1990s. South Asians (in particular Indo-Canadians) are one of Vancouver's largest Asian minorities; as of current statistics, Vancouver has Canada's second largest Indo-Canadian population.
Other significant Asian ethnic groups in Vancouver are Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Cambodian, Japanese, and Russians from the Russian Far East and Siberia. In Vancouver the term 'Asian' is normally used to refer only to East Asian peoples, while South Asians (mostly Punjabis) are usually referred to as Indo-Canadian or East Indians. Technically, though, the term 'Asian' may refer to either group, and also to the large Persian and other Middle Eastern populations as well as elements from Central Asia.
Visible minorities
Vancouver has more interracial couples and less residential segregation than Canada's two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal. In total, 7.2% of married and common-law couples in Greater Vancouver are interracial; double the Canadian average of 3.2%, and higher than in Toronto (6.1%) and Montreal (3.5%).
In the city of Vancouver, 47.1% of the population are members of visible minority groups.[3]
Aboriginal peoples, who make up less than two percent of the city's population, are not officially considered a visible minority group by Statistics Canada.
Tables of ethnicities (for census metropolitan area)
| Ethnic Origin by Regional Group[4] | Population | Percent of 2,097,960* |
|---|---|---|
| British Isles origins | 753,215 | 35.90% |
| French origins | 138,145 | 6.58% |
| Aboriginal origins | 59,110 | 2.82% |
| Other North American origins (Canadian and American) | 296,895 | 14.15% |
| Caribbean origins | 11,830 | 0.56% |
| Latin, Central and South American origins | 28,575 | 1.36% |
| Western European origins (Germany, Austria, Benelux, Switzerland) | 289,030 | 13.78% |
| Northern European origins (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland) | 123,620 | 5.89% |
| Eastern European origins | 219,325 | 10.45% |
| Southern European origins | 172,425 | 8.22% |
| Other European origins (Basque, Romany, Jewish, misc. Slav) | 26,485 | 1.26% |
| African origins | 22,610 | 1.08% |
| Arab origins | 14,170 | 0.68% |
| West Asian origins | 40,145 | 1.91% |
| South Asian origins | 208,535 | 9.94% |
| East and Southeast Asian origins | 584,895 | 27.88% |
| Oceania origins | 18,125 | 0.86% |
| *Percentages total more than 100% due to multiple responses, e.g. German-East Indian, Norwegian-Irish-Polish |
| Ethnic Origin[4] | Population | Percent of 2,097,960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cornish | 225 | 0.01% |
| English | 484,340 | 23.09% |
| Irish | 251,695 | 12.00% |
| Manx | 640 | 0.03% |
| Scottish | 337,230 | 16.07% |
| Welsh | 41,805 | 1.99% |
| British Isles, n.i.e.** | 35,505 | 1.69% |
| Acadians | 1,280 | 0.06% |
| French | 137,270 | 6.54% |
| Inuit | 580 | 0.03% |
| Métis | 17,110 | 0.82% |
| North American Indian | 43,190 | 2.06% |
| American | 27,000 | 1.29% |
| Canadian | 278,350 | 13.27% |
| Newfoundlander | 390 | 0.02% |
| Nova Scotian | 120 | 0.01% |
| Ontarian | 20 | less than 0.01% |
| Québécois | 350 | 0.02% |
| Other North American provincial or regional groups | 150 | 0.01% |
| Antiguan | 105 | 0.01% |
| Bahamian | 50 | less than 0.01% |
| Barbadian | 925 | 0.04% |
| Bermudan | 100 | less than 0.01% |
| Carib | 85 | less than 0.01% |
| Cuban | 540 | 0.03% |
| Dominican, n.o.s.*** | 195 | 0.01% |
| Grenadian | 175 | 0.01% |
| Guyanese | 825 | 0.04% |
| Haitian | 405 | 0.02% |
| Jamaican | 4,645 | 0.22% |
| Kittitian/Nevisian | 15 | less than 0.01% |
| Martinican | 10 | less than 0.01% |
| Montserratan | 10 | less than 0.01% |
| Puerto Rican | 260 | 0.01% |
| St. Lucian | 80 | less than 0.01% |
| Trinidadian/Tobagonian | 2,185 | 0.10% |
| Vincentian/Grenadinian | 120 | 0.01% |
| West Indian | 1,245 | 0.06% |
| Caribbean, n.i.e.** | 620 | 0.03% |
| Aboriginal from Central/South America | 830 | 0.04% |
| Argentines | 790 | 0.04% |
| Belizean | 60 | less than 0.01% |
| Bolivian | 90 | less than 0.01% |
| Brazilian | 1,115 | 0.05% |
| Chilean | 2,935 | 0.14% |
| Colombian | 2,125 | 0.10% |
| Costa Rican | 355 | 0.02% |
| Ecuadorian | 225 | 0.01% |
| Guatemalan | 1,405 | 0.07% |
| Hispanic | 555 | 0.03% |
| Honduran | 745 | 0.04% |
| Maya | 575 | 0.03% |
| Mexican | 7,680 | 0.37% |
| Nicaragua | 860 | 0.04% |
| Panamanian | 145 | 0.01% |
| Paraguayan | 170 | 0.01% |
| Peruvian | 1,910 | 0.09% |
| Salvadoran | 5,760 | 0.27% |
| Uruguayan | 60 | less than 0.01% |
| Venezuelan | 535 | 0.03% |
| Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.** | 1,225 | 0.06% |
| Austrian | 21,500 | 1.02% |
| Belgian | 6,555 | 0.31% |
| Dutch (Netherlands) | 71,710 | 3.42% |
| Flemish | 815 | 0.04% |
| Frisian | 155 | 0.01% |
| German | 203,715 | 9.71% |
| Luxembourger | 235 | 0.01% |
| Swiss | 10,130 | 0.48% |
| Finnish | 12,745 | 0.61% |
| Danish | 22,800 | 1.09% |
| Icelandic | 9,630 | 0.46% |
| Norwegian | 46,260 | 2.20% |
| Swedish | 39,920 | 1.90% |
| Scandinavian, n.i.e.** | 3,830 | 0.18% |
| Estonian | 2,590 | 0.12% |
| Latvian | 2,160 | 0.10% |
| Lithuanian | 3,100 | 0.15% |
| Byelorussian | 820 | 0.04% |
| Czech | 10,385 | 0.50% |
| Czechoslovakian | 2,810 | 0.13% |
| Slovak | 5,700 | 0.27% |
| Hungarian (Magyar) | 23,365 | 1.11% |
| Polish | 60,715 | 2.89% |
| Romanian | 14,055 | 0.67% |
| Russian | 47,935 | 2.28% |
| Ukrainian | 81,725 | 3.90% |
| Albanian | 650 | 0.03% |
| Bosnian | 2,535 | 0.12% |
| Bulgaria | 1,960 | 0.09% |
| Croatian | 12,475 | 0.59% |
| Cypriot | 270 | 0.01% |
| Greek | 15,025 | 0.72% |
| Italian | 76,345 | 3.64% |
| Kosovar | 85 | less than 0.01% |
| Macedonian | 600 | 0.03% |
| Maltese | 990 | 0.05% |
| Montenegrin | 370 | 0.02% |
| Portuguese | 20,335 | 0.97% |
| Serbian | 7,690 | 0.37% |
| Sicilian | 180 | 0.01% |
| Slovenian | 2,475 | 0.12% |
| Spanish | 36,000 | 1.72% |
| Yugoslavs | 5,525 | 0.26% |
| Basque | 405 | 0.02% |
| Gypsy (Roma) | 250 | 0.01% |
| Jewish | 21,465 | 1.02% |
| misc. Slav (European) | 760 | 0.04% |
| European, n.i.e.** | 3,975 | 0.19% |
| Afrikaner | 290 | 0.01% |
| Akan | 25 | less than 0.01% |
| Amhara | 65 | less than 0.01% |
| Angolan | 70 | less than 0.01% |
| Ashanti | 65 | less than 0.01% |
| Bantu | 170 | 0.01% |
| Black | 3,005 | 0.14% |
| Burundian | 90 | less than 0.01% |
| Congolese (Zairian) people | 75 | less than 0.01% |
| Congolese, n.o.s.*** | 85 | less than 0.01% |
| Dinka | 25 | less than 0.01% |
| East African people | 610 | 0.03% |
| Eritrean | 335 | 0.02% |
| Ethiopian | 1,625 | 0.08% |
| Gabonese | 10 | less than 0.01% |
| Gambian | 15 | less than 0.01% |
| Ghanaian | 1,100 | less than 0.01% |
| Guinean, n.o.s.*** | 95 | less than 0.01% |
| Ibo | 15 | less than 0.01% |
| Ivoirian | 15 | less than 0.01% |
| Kenyan | 765 | 0.04% |
| Malagasay | 35 | less than 0.01% |
| Mauritian | 325 | 0.02% |
| Nigerian | 880 | 0.04% |
| Oromo | 145 | 0.01% |
| Rwandan | 225 | 0.01% |
| Senegalese | 20 | less than 0.01% |
| Seychellois | 20 | less than 0.01% |
| Sierra Leonean | 115 | 0.01% |
| Somali | 1,320 | 0.06% |
| South African | 4,120 | 0.20% |
| Sudanese | 705 | less than 0.01% |
| Tanzanian | 135 | 0.01% |
| Tigrian | 50 | less than 0.01% |
| Togolese | 15 | less than 0.01% |
| Ugandan | 360 | 0.02% |
| Yoruba | 80 | less than 0.01% |
| Zambian | 40 | less than 0.01% |
| Zimbabwean | 230 | 0.01% |
| Zulu | 70 | less than 0.01% |
| African, n.i.e.** | 6,490 | 0.31% |
| Egyptian | 2,120 | 0.10% |
| Iraqi | 1,805 | 0.09% |
| Jordanian | 300 | 0.01% |
| Kuwaiti | 75 | less than 0.01% |
| Lebanese | 6,175 | 0.29% |
| Libyan | 25 | less than 0.01% |
| Algerian | 390 | 0.02% |
| Berber | 150 | 0.01% |
| Moroccan | 635 | 0.03% |
| Tunisian | 70 | less than 0.01% |
| Maghrebi origins, n.i.e.** | 160 | 0.01% |
| Palestinian | 1,050 | 0.05% |
| Saudi Arabian | 255 | 0.01% |
| Syrian | 925 | 0.04% |
| Yemeni | 75 | less than 0.01% |
| Arab, n.i.e.** | 3,075 | 0.15% |
| Afghan | 4,620 | 0.22% |
| Armenian | 1,910 | 0.09% |
| Assyrian | 355 | 0.02% |
| Azeribaijani | 405 | 0.02% |
| Georgian | 240 | 0.01% |
| Iranian | 27,155 | 1.29% |
| Israeli | 765 | 0.04% |
| Kurd | 1,145 | 0.05% |
| Pashtun | 170 | 0.01% |
| Tatar | 235 | 0.01% |
| Turk | 3,380 | 0.16% |
| West Asian, n.i.e.** | 1,350 | 0.06% |
| Bangladeshi | 785 | 0.04% |
| Bengali | 415 | 0.02% |
| East Indian | 181,895 | 8.67% |
| Goan | 280 | 0.01% |
| Gujurati | 515 | 0.02% |
| Kashmiri | 70 | less than 0.01% |
| Nepali | 460 | 0.02% |
| Pakistani | 6,875 | 0.33% |
| Punjabi | 13,735 | 0.65% |
| Sinhalese | 415 | 0.02% |
| Sri Lankan | 3,740 | 0.18% |
| Tamil | 740 | 0.04% |
| South Asian, n.i.e.** | 6,495 | 0.31% |
| Burmese | 865 | 0.04% |
| Cambodian | 1,525 | 0.07% |
| Chinese | 402,000 | 19.16% |
| Filipino | 83,760 | 3.99% |
| Hmong | 75 | less than 0.01% |
| Indonesian | 3,140 | 0.15% |
| Japanese | 30,230 | 1.44% |
| Khmer | 135 | 0.01% |
| Korean | 46,040 | 2.19% |
| Laotian | 1,065 | 0.05% |
| Malaysian | 3,365 | 0.16% |
| Mongolian | 680 | 0.03% |
| Singaporean | 515 | 0.02% |
| Taiwanese | 9,810 | 0.47% |
| Thai | 1,565 | 0.07% |
| Tibetan | 100 | 0.00% |
| Vietnamese | 26,115 | 1.24% |
| East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.** | 1,170 | 0.06% |
| Asian, n.o.s.*** | 80 | less than 0.01% |
| Australian | 5,525 | 0.26% |
| New Zealander | 2,390 | 0.11% |
| Fijian | 8,920 | 0.43% |
| Hawaiian | 660 | 0.03% |
| Maori | 375 | 0.02% |
| Polynesia | 265 | 0.01% |
| Samoan | 160 | 0.01% |
| Pacific Islander, n.i.e.** | 210 | 0.01% |
| *Percentages total more than 100% due to multiple responses, e.g. German-East Indian, Norwegian-Irish-Polish | ||
| **'not included elsewhere.' | ||
| ***'not otherwise specified.' |
Religion
Vancouver, like the rest of British Columbia, has a low rate of church attendance compared with the rest of the continent and the majority of the population does not practice religion[5][6]. It has a significant Buddhist population, mostly adherents from China.[citation needed]
Vancouver religious profile from 2001 Census[3] 42.2% no religious affiliation, including agnostic, atheist, Humanist, Darwinism, and "no religion" 19.0% Catholic 17.4% Protestant 6.9% Buddhist 4.4% other Christian, not identified elsewhere 2.8% Sikh 1.8% Jewish 1.7% Muslim 1.7% Christian Orthodox 1.4% Hindu 0.5% other religions, including Aboriginal spirituality, Pagan, Wicca, Unity, New Thought,
Pantheist, Scientology, Rastafarian, New Age, Gnostic, Satanist0.3% Bahá'í, Eckankar, Jains, Shinto, Taoist, Zoroastrian and Eastern religions not identified elsewhere
References
- ^ "Vancouver Public Library" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-02-06.
- ^ Data taken from: "British Columbia Regional District and Municipal Census Populations" (PDF). BC Stats.; "British Columbia Municipal and Regional District 1996 Census Results". BC Stats.;"British Columbia Municipal and Regional District 2001 Census Results". BC Stats.;Davis, Chuck (1997). The Greater Vancouver Book: An Urban Encyclopedia. Surrey, BC: Linkman Press. p. 780. ISBN 978-1896846002.
- ^ a b 2001 Vancouver Community Profile from 2001 Census at Statistics Canada
- ^ a b Profile of Ethnic Origin and Visible Minorities for Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census
- ^ Clark, Warren. "Patterns of Religious Attendance".
- ^ Babych, Art. "Attendance Drops in Church". Western Catholic Reporter.