Census 2021 Reveals Surrey's Potential to Become BC'S Largest City

Statistics Canada released the first of many findings from the 2021 Census now available online at statcan.gc.ca/census. The data provides overall population and dwelling counts that are vital to understanding how population growth and international and internal migration patterns have changed the fabric of Canada's provinces and territories, as well as its cities, towns and rural areas.

Census data is used to determine our system of political representation, inform business development and investment, and allocate government funds to where they are most needed. Given the importance of the census to many public and private stakeholders, ensuring an accurate count and the collection of high-quality data is a national policy priority.

Entrepreneurs both large and small rely on census information to make decisions about a wide variety of investments, including new real estate developments and office or store locations, the construction of hospitals and urgent care facilities, and expansions of distribution services and warehouse facilities. The census offers detailed information that helps businesses better understand community needs, measure potential markets, and assess local labor environments. Census data also helps businesses identify prospective customer locations, better assess customer demand, and gauge the comparative performance of diverse business geographies. Census data is relied upon by governments, businesses, communities and Canadians to make informed decisions in areas such as immigration policy, economic development, social programs, urban planning, community well-being and where to live.

Canada's population grew at almost twice the pace of every other G7 country from 2016 to 2021, bringing our population to a total of 36,991,981 people. Approximately 1.8 million more people called Canada home in 2021 compared with 5 years earlier, with most of that growth attributable to new arrivals from around the world. Canada's population growth was however slowed down with the onset of the pandemic.

The next release, on April 27, 2022, will look at the pace of population aging and showcase Canada's oldest and youngest communities. For the first time, census information about gender identity in Canada will be released. For more information about subsequent data release topics and timelines, visit the 2021 Census dissemination planning web page.

QUICK FACTS

• Surrey is growing faster than Vancouver (9.7% population growth vs 7.3%).

• Surrey is growing slower than the entirety of Metro Vancouver (9.7% vs 15.4%).

• Surrey did not make the top 25 fastest-growing cities 12.statcan.gc.ca.cfm.

• Ontario experienced high levels of growth.