The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) is in southern British Columbia, adjacent to the U.S. state of Washington. It is bounded by Fraser Valley Regional District to the west, Thompson-Nicola Regional District and Regional District of Central Okanagan to the north, Regional District of Kootenay Boundary to the east, and by Okanogan County, Washington to the south. At the 2011 census the population was 80,742. The district covers a land area of . The administrative offices are in Penticton.

Population history 2021: 90,178 (+8.6%) 2016: 83,022 (+2.8%) 2011: 80,742 (+1.6%) 2006: 79,475 (+3.7%) 2001: 76,635 (+0.9%) 1996: 75,933

Municipalities RDOS comprises six municipalities and nine rural electoral areas designated Electoral areas A - I. The municipalities of RDOS are Penticton, Summerland, Osoyoos, Oliver, Princeton, and Keremeos.

Municipality Type Population Growth 2016-2021 Penticton City 36,8859.3% Summerland District municipality12,0423.7% Osoyoos Town 5,55610.0% Oliver Town5,0943.4% Princeton Town2,8263.0% Keremeos Village1,6087.1%

Demographics As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

Ethnicity + Panethnic groups in the Okanagan–Similkameen Regional District (2001−2021)Panethnicgroup20212016201120062001 European 73,430 68,860 69,095 70,640 69,205 Indigenous 6,640 6,145 4,910 3,380 2,865 South Asian 3,445 2,950 2,630 2,805 2,030 East Asian 1,315 940 655 780 940 Southeast Asian 1,205 735 510 415 380 Latin American 590 270 160 130 365 African 555 240 230 125 165 Middle Eastern 185 115 75 30 30 Other 305 195 125 160 10 Total responses 87,665 80,445 78,395 78,475 75,985 Total population 90,178 83,022 80,742 79,475 76,635 Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

Language According to the 2011 Census, 84.43% of Okanagan-Similkameen's population have English as mother tongue; German is the mother tongue of 2.99% of the population, followed by Punjabi (2.86%), French (1.90%), Portuguese (1.06%), Dutch (0.80%), Ukrainian (0.42%), Hungarian (0.41%), Spanish (0.41%), and Italian (0.39%).Census Profile Okanagan-Similkameen, RD British Columbia http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=5907&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&Data=Count&SearchText=Okanagan-Similkameen&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1

Mother tongue Population Percentage English 67,360 84.43% German 2,385 2.99% Punjabi 2,280 2.86% French 1,515 1.90% Portuguese 845 1.06% Dutch 640 0.80% Ukrainian 335 0.42% Hungarian 330 0.41% Spanish 330 0.41% Italian 310 0.39%

Electoral areas

Okanagan-Similkameen A Rural areas surrounding Osoyoos, including Anarchist Mountain to the east between Rock Creek and Osoyoos. Population: 2,139

Okanagan-Similkameen B The valley of the Similkameen River from Cawston downstream to Chopaka, at the US border. Population: 1,151

Okanagan-Similkameen C Rural areas surrounding Oliver. Population: 3,986

Okanagan-Similkameen D Rural areas and unincorporated communities southeast of Penticton, including Okanagan Falls. Population: 4,016

Okanagan-Similkameen E Rural areas and unincorporated settlements to the northeast of Penticton including Naramata. Population: 2,015

Okanagan-Similkameen F Rural areas west of Summerland and northwest of Penticton. Population: 2,092

Okanagan-Similkameen G Rural areas of the middle Similkameen Valley surrounding Keremeos, including Hedley. Population: 2,298

Okanagan-Similkameen H Rural areas and unincorporated communities in the upper Similkameen Valley, including Tulameen and Coalmont. Population: 2,232

Okanagan-Similkameen I Rural areas southwest of Penticton, including Kaleden and Apex. Population: 2,207

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