Nanaimo's 2026 population is now estimated at 113,864. In 2001, the population of Nanaimo was 76,338. Nanaimo has grown by 2,019 in the last year, which represents a 1.81% annual change. These population values and projections come from Statistics Canada Table 17-10-0155-01: Population estimates, July 1, by census subdivision, 2021 boundaries and World Population Review Internal Projections .
Nanaimo is a city in British Columbia, Canada. The city is located on Vancouver Island. Based on population, it is the 62nd largest in the country. Data from the 2016 census counts the population at 90,504 residents. Because of its location on Vancouver Island, the city has been nicknamed The Harbour City.
The population of Nanaimo is estimated to exceed 90,000 as of 2018. At the time of the last official census, however, the population was just 83,810 in 2011.
Based on the data from the 2011 census, the majority of residents are of European descent, accounting for 86.4% of the total population. The Aboriginal population was recorded as 6.3% of the total population, followed by 2.7% of East Asian descent, 1.9% of South Asian descent, 0.5% black, 0.3% Latin American, 0.2% West Asian, 0.2% Multiracial, 0.1% Arab, and 0.2% from another descent.
Looking further into data from the census shows that over half of the residents do not practice a set religion. Which is more than double the national average for Canada. Of those that do follow a religion, over 44% are Christian-based. Other religions observed among Nanaimo residents included Buddhism and Sikh.
The average age in the city is 44.8 years of age, which exceeds the national average. The median income and average household income of residents falls below the national medians. Unemployment rates in the city are 9.2%.
The majority – 88.6% — of residents speak English, while 9.1% speak one or more of a variety of non-official languages. A total of 1.4% of the population speak French.
Nanaimo Bay was discovered by Europeans in 1791. During the 19th century, the city was set up as a trading post. Coal was discovered during the mid-1800s and became a chief export for the city. Coal mines were established throughout the harbor area and the city began to expand with the addition of steam railways.
While the coal mines allowed the city to prosper, they did not come without their dangers. An explosion in 1887 killed 150 miners. More were killed in an explosion just one year later. The city didn’t stay down for long, and into the 1940s, the coal industry was still thriving and was supplemented along with the lumber industry. The forestry industry is still thriving today and brings over half a million dollars a day into the economy through the MacMillan Bloedel pulp mill.
Today, the city has something that appeals to all of its residents. This includes a variety of annual marine festivals, sports clubs, museums, and a thriving music scene.
During the last Canadian census in 2016, the population was recorded as 92,004; reflecting an increase of 7.8% from the population recorded in 2011. This exceeds the national growth rate of 5.6%. The population estimated in 2011 surpassed 80,000, showing that growth is continuing over time. Based on these figures, the city will continue to see steady growth that will be reflected during the next official census.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 3,358,275 | 2.64% |
| Montreal | 1,943,903 | 1.49% |
| Calgary | 1,678,073 | 4.04% |
| Edmonton | 1,284,480 | 3.73% |
| Ottawa | 1,218,903 | 2.59% |
| Winnipeg | 870,032 | 2.33% |
| Brampton | 801,732 | 3.08% |
| Mississauga | 768,794 | 0.55% |
| Vancouver | 751,644 | 1.51% |
| Surrey | 731,630 | 3.99% |
| Hamilton | 652,266 | 1.84% |
| Quebec | 602,025 | 1.58% |
| Halifax | 532,856 | 3.1% |
| London | 508,883 | 2.85% |
| Laval | 466,247 | 1.03% |
| Markham | 376,096 | 1.24% |
| Vaughan | 364,031 | 1.53% |
| Kitchener | 338,883 | 4.62% |
| Saskatoon | 328,613 | 3.32% |
| Burnaby | 309,694 | 3.34% |