Victoria is a city located in British Columbia, Canada with a current estimated population of 104,484. The population was recorded at 96,277 in the 2021 Canadian Census, and was previously recorded at 90,236 in the 2016 census. This is an annual change in population of 1,628, which is an annual growth rate of 1.58%.
Victoria, British Columbia is known as the Garden City due to its outstanding beauty. It is popular among tourists and retirees, as well as students attending the many colleges within the city. Victoria is the 15th most populated Canadian city with an overall population of 383,360 in the greater Victoria area.
The city center of Victoria is also among the most densely populated cities in the country at 85,792 – that’s approximately 4,405.8 people for every square kilometer (about 11,000 per square mile).
The city of Victoria covers a surface area of 19.47 km² (7.52 sq mi). The metro area expands outward to 696.15 km² (268.79 sq mi).
Victoria’s 5.1% unemployment rate is lower than the national average of 6.8%. However, even though unemployment remains low in Victoria as of today, it is slowly increasing, with evidence of a 5% increase during March of this year compared to the same month in 2014. What impact a higher unemployment rate might have on Victoria’s population remains to be seen.
Although notable for its older population, Victoria also has a thriving student population. Students are drawn to the rich artistic heritage of the area, which features the Royal British Columbia Museum and the Butchart Gardens, as well as the many universities based in the city. Originally founded in 1903 as Victoria College, the largest of these is the University of Victoria, a popular and academically respected institution that attracts students from around the world to Victoria.
Data after 2023 is projected based on recent change
Canada has always been welcoming to various cultures from around the world, but Victoria is a city that is particularly unique in this regard. Visiting Victoria is quite convenient for much of the world as the national tongue is English and 84% of the population are fluent speakers. There is a strong British presence in the city, but many other nationalities are also represented, including German, Chinese, and Punjabi. Residents of Chinese and South Asian descent make up 4% of the overall population. The city also boasts the highest population of residents above 80 years of age and, at 41.9 years, the median age for a resident of Victoria is higher than the national average of 40.6 years of age.
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