Prince George's 2023 population is now estimated at 86,097. In 2012, the population of Prince George was 74,259. Prince George has grown by 1.52% annually. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Prince George, which typically includes Prince George's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.
Prince George is a Canadian city located in British Columbia. The city is one of the fastest-growing in the nation. Per estimates taken in 2016, the population of the city is 73,004, making it the largest city in northern British Columbia.
Breaking down the population, about 90% of residents were born in Canada. Eighty-seven percent of residents speak English only. The city, when compared with others in the province, had a lower number of one-person households and a higher number of households with married couples with children.
According to 2016 Census data, over 75% of residents are White. Over 15% are Aborigines. Minority groups that live in Prince George include South Asian (3.5% of the population), Chinese (1.3% of the population), Black (1% of the population), and Filipino (1.4% of the population. Minority groups that each total less than 1% include Latin American, Arab, West Asian, Southeast Asia, Korean, and Japanese.
In the city of Prince George, the median age is 33.9 years old, well below the median 38.4 for British Columbia. There is a higher number of residents under the age of 15 when compared to the province, and a lower rate of visible minorities. Thirty-one percent of residents are Protestant, while 21% are Catholic.
In terms of crime, Prince George has been named one of the most dangerous cities in Canada, most recently in 2016. Gangs, drug-related crimes, and homicides are the reasons behind the high crime rate, but each year, the rate has been declining.
The fur trading post Fort George was established at the site of Prince George in 1807. The area was mostly isolated throughout the 1800s. However, in 1903, the two began to develop as the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was constructed nearby, and agricultural settlements were set up. The population of the community began to grow as the land was promoted all over Canada and Britain by touting a bright future and agricultural opportunities.
The local economy was negatively affected during World War I. The construction of a railway was stopped, and many people left the area. The population dropped further with the Spanish Flu epidemic. Only during World War II did the population begin to grow again.
Army Camp Prince George was opened during the war and housed thousands of soldiers. At the end of the war, the city became prosperous from its sawmills as the need for lumber increased following the destruction of European cities during the war. The city continued to grow and thrive through the 1960s when a pulp mill, schools, and housing were built.
Now, the service industry contributed heavily to the city’s economy. Education is also very important, adding over $780 million into the economy each year. Major retailers have come to Prince George, and the city is now a hub for trade, government and transportation.
Prince George saw declines in its population from 1996 through 2006, with the population dropping from over 75,000 to less than 71,000. However, the numbers seem to be on the upswing in more recent years, with a 1.4% increase from 2006 to 2011, and double that growth (2.8%) from 2011 to 2016.