A population centre, in Canadian census data, is a populated place, or a cluster of interrelated populated places, which meets the demographic characteristics of an urban area, having a population of at least 1,000 people and a population density of no fewer than 400 persons per square km2."From urban areas to population centres" . Statistics Canada, May 5, 2011. All areas outside population centres are classified as rural areas.
The term was first introduced in the Canada 2011 Census; prior to that, Statistics Canada used the term urban area.In the 2021 Census of Population, Statistics Canada listed 108 population centres in the province of British Columbia.
List The below table is a list of those population centres in British Columbia from the 2021 Census of Population as designated, named, and delineated by Statistics Canada.
RankPopulation centreSize groupPopulation (2021)Population (2016)ChangeLand area (km2)Population density Vancouver Large urban Victoria Large urban Kelowna Large urban Abbotsford Large urban White Rock Large urban Nanaimo Large urban Kamloops Medium Chilliwack Medium Prince George Medium Vernon Medium Courtenay Medium Campbell River Medium Penticton Medium Mission Medium Parksville Small Duncan Small Tsawwassen Small Ladner Small Squamish Small Port Alberni Small Fort St. John Small Cranbrook Small Salmon Arm Small Terrace Small Powell River Small Aldergrove Small Trail - Fruitvale Small Duck Lake Small Quesnel Small Williams Lake Small Prince Rupert Small Dawson Creek Small Sooke Small Nelson Small Ladysmith Small Castlegar Small Whistler Small Summerland Small Gibsons Small Sechelt Small Revelstoke Small Shawnigan - Mill Bay Small Kitimat Small Oliver Small Fernie Small Creston Small Armstrong Small Smithers Small Merritt Small Peachland Small Kimberley Small Osoyoos Small Aldergrove East Small Hope Small Cumberland Small Grand Forks Small Chemainus Small Sparwood Small Kent Small Rossland Small Golden Small Cobble Hill Small Port Hardy Small Invermere Small Lake Cowichan Small Enderby Small Pemberton Small Mackenzie Small Princeton Small Cowichan Bay Small Fort Nelson Small Tumbler Ridge Small Chase Small Blind Bay Small Port McNeill Small Rosedale Small Tofino Small Okanagan Falls Small Burns Lake Small Houston Small Sicamous Small Vanderhoof Small Ucluelet Small Rayleigh Small Roberts Creek Small Elkford Small Keremeos Small One Hundred Mile House Small Lillooet Small Harrison Hot Springs Small Fort St. James Small Lumby Small Crofton Small Miller's Landing Small Lions Bay Small Yarrow Small Logan Lake Small Telkwa Small Barriere Small Fairwinds Small Puntledge Small Ashcroft Small Cultus Lake Small Salmo Small Welcome Beach Small Nakusp Small Mile 108 Recreational Ranch Small Naramata Small
See also List of the largest population centres in Canada
References