Population Trends

Vancouver still biggest city

Black Press
Jul 12 2006

Surrey won't overtake Vancouver as the province's biggest city any time soon, according to new projections from B.C. Statistics.

The provincial government department estimates the population of Surrey and White Rock combined will reach 421,100 this year. That's projected to grow by more than 50 per cent to 637,381 by 2031.

Vancouver, by contrast, is now at 597,589 and is projected to grow just over 15 per cent to 692,438 over the next quarter century.

The new projections released last week are by local health areas, and aren't broken down by all municipalities.

The numbers show Surrey and Langley are growing this year slightly faster than had been projected a year ago.

Some other parts of the region, including Maple Ridge and Coquitlam, are slightly lagging behind previous projections.

Other population milestones coming up:

• Maple Ridge is projected to reach 100,000 in 2012;

• Langley reaches 150,000 in 2015;

• Chilliwack reaches 100,000 in 2019;

• Mission passes 50,000 in 2015

• Coquitlam reaches 250,000 in 2016 and 300,000 in 2029

• Richmond hits 200,000 in 2018

• Burnaby reaches 250,000 in 2021

• Surrey-White Rock passes 600,000 in 2026

Overall, the Greater Vancouver Regional District's present population of 2,181,882 is projected to climb 32 per cent to 2,892,107 in 2031.

The Fraser Valley Regional District, now at 268,750, is poised to grow even faster – by 52 per cent – to 411,192 in 2031.