Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Archived Content

Content is archived.

Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Saanich, DM - British Columbia

Map of Saanich, DM (shaded in green), British Columbia

Map of Saanich, DM

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Saanich, DM - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Saanich, DM - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
8
Nat. rank
44

In 2011, Saanich (District municipality) had a population of 109,752, representing a percentage change of 1.4% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 103.78 square kilometres with a population density of 1,057.6 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the provincial land area of 922,509.29 square kilometres with a population density of 4.8 persons per square kilometre.

In 2011, Saanich (District municipality) had 45,390 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 2.0%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Saanich (District municipality) is part of the census metropolitan area of Victoria.

Population and dwelling counts

Saanich (District municipality) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Saanich (District municipality) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Central Saanich, B.C. DM 15,936 15,745 1.2
Capital G, B.C. RDA 4,868 5,101 -4.6
Oak Bay, B.C. DM 18,015 17,908 0.6
Victoria, B.C. CY 80,017 78,057 2.5
Esquimalt, B.C. DM 16,209 16,840 -3.7
View Royal, B.C. T 9,381 8,768 7.0
Highlands, B.C. DM 2,120 1,903 11.4
Capital H (Part 1), B.C. RDA 4,173 4,250 -1.8

British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth

Table 2 British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Langford CY 29,228 22,459 30.1
Lake Country DM 11,708 9,606 21.9
Port Moody CY 32,975 27,512 19.9
Kent DM 5,664 4,738 E 19.5
Surrey CY 468,251 394,976 18.6

British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth

Table 3 British Columbia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Kitimat DM 8,335 8,987 -7.3
Peace River D RDA 5,479 5,749 -4.7
Esquimalt DM 16,209 16,840 -3.7
Hope DM 5,969 6,185 -3.5
Okanagan-Similkameen D RDA 5,717 5,913 -3.3

Age and sex

Saanich, DM – Age distribution

Chart C: Saanich, DM - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Saanich, DM - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 Saanich, DM – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 13.7% 14.7% 12.8%
15 to 64 68.0% 68.3% 67.8%
65 and over 18.3% 17.0% 19.4%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Saanich, DM was 18.3%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 68.0% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 13.7%. In comparison, the national percentages were 68.5% for the population aged 15 to 64 and 16.7% for the population aged 0 to 14.

Saanich, DM – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Saanich, DM – Population by broad age groups, sex and population change between 2006 and 2011, 2006 to 2011 censuses
Broad age groups by sex Population
2011 2006 change % change
Both sexes
Total 109,750 108,265 1,485 1.4
0 to 14 15,045 16,015 -970 -6.1
15 to 64 74,665 73,110 1,555 2.1
65 and over 20,045 19,140 905 4.7
Males
Total 52,940 51,880 1,060 2.0
0 to 14 7,760 8,210 -450 -5.5
15 to 64 36,160 35,250 910 2.6
65 and over 9,010 8,425 585 6.9
Females
Total 56,810 56,385 425 0.8
0 to 14 7,275 7,805 -530 -6.8
15 to 64 38,505 37,860 645 1.7
65 and over 11,030 10,710 320 3.0

Saanich, DM – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Saanich, DM - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Saanich, DM - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Saanich, DM – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 109,750 52,940 56,810
0 to 4 years 4,555 2,375 2,185
5 to 9 years 4,925 2,555 2,365
10 to 14 years 5,560 2,830 2,730
15 to 19 years 7,220 3,740 3,485
20 to 24 years 8,370 4,220 4,150
25 to 29 years 6,635 3,420 3,215
30 to 34 years 5,765 2,825 2,935
35 to 39 years 6,190 2,970 3,220
40 to 44 years 7,040 3,355 3,690
45 to 49 years 8,325 3,905 4,420
50 to 54 years 8,850 4,055 4,795
55 to 59 years 8,535 4,010 4,525
60 to 64 years 7,745 3,670 4,075
65 to 69 years 5,585 2,670 2,920
70 to 74 years 4,235 1,985 2,255
75 to 79 years 3,795 1,720 2,070
80 to 84 years 3,100 1,345 1,755
85 years and over 3,325 1,290 2,035
Median age 44.0 42.2 45.6

Saanich, DM – Median age1 of the population

Chart E: Canada, British Columbia and Saanich, DM - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, British Columbia and Saanich, DM - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

In 2011, the median age in Saanich, DM was 44 years. In comparison, the median age of British Columbia was 41.9 years.

Table 7 Canada, British Columbia and Saanich, DM – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
Saanich, DM 42.9 44.0

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Saanich was 31,310, which represents a change of 0.4% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Saanich, 72.7% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 11.9% were common-law-couples and 15.4% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Saanich - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Saanich - Census families by family structure

Saanich – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, British Columbia, CSD of Saanich, DM and neighbouring census subdivisions – Distribution of census families by family structure, 2011 Census
Geographic name Total families Married-couple families Common-law-couple families Lone-parent families % change, census families, 2006 to 2011
number % number % number %
Canada † 9,389,695 6,293,950 67.0 1,567,905 16.7 1,527,840 16.3 5.5
British Columbia † 1,238,155 887,990 71.7 160,360 13.0 189,805 15.3 6.6
Saanich, DM 31,310 22,765 72.7 3,720 11.9 4,820 15.4 0.4
Central Saanich, DM 4,865 3,765 77.4 500 10.3 600 12.3 2.7
Capital G, RDA 1,540 1,110 72.1 285 18.5 135 8.8 -3.4
Oak Bay, DM 5,110 4,080 79.8 465 9.1 560 11.0 -0.9
Victoria, CY 18,375 10,315 56.1 4,635 25.2 3,415 18.6 0.3
Esquimalt, DM 4,210 2,470 58.7 945 22.4 795 18.9 -5.3
View Royal, T 2,775 2,000 72.1 390 14.1 380 13.7 10.8
Highlands, DM 665 515 77.4 100 15.0 55 8.3 9.0
Capital H (Part 1), RDA 1,345 970 72.1 250 18.6 120 8.9 2.7

Saanich – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Saanich, 41.7% were couples with children aged 24 and under at home. In comparison, as a whole, 46.9% of couples in Canada had children aged 24 and under at home.

Presence of children within couple families
* Children aged 24 and under at home
Married couples with children * 9,955
Married couples without children * 12,810
Common-law-couples with children * 1,080
Common-law-couples without children * 2,640

Saanich – Marital status

Chart H: Saanich - Marital status

Chart H description: Saanich - Marital status

In Saanich, 57.1% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (49.3%) or living with a common-law partner (7.9%).

The remaining 42.8% were not married and not living with a common-law partner, including those who were single (never-married), separated, divorced or widowed.

Note: Percentages may not total 100 percent due to random rounding.

Table 9 Canada, British Columbia, Saanich, DM – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Saanich, DM British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 94,710 100.0 3,722,690 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 54,125 57.1 2,154,575 57.9 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 46,675 49.3 1,832,605 49.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 7,455 7.9 321,965 8.6 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 40,580 42.8 1,568,120 42.1 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 26,145 27.6 1,014,270 27.2 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 2,225 2.3 102,035 2.7 698,245 2.5
Divorced 6,520 6.9 246,515 6.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 5,695 6.0 205,300 5.5 1,584,525 5.7

Saanich – Types of private households

There were 45,390 private households3 in Saanich in 2011, a change of 1.8% from 2006. Of these, 23.2% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -5.8% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, British Columbia, Saanich, DM – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Saanich, DM British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 45,390 100.0 1,764,635 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 10,550 23.2 431,135 24.4 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 14,475 31.9 532,995 30.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 4,465 9.8 168,530 9.6 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 12,430 27.4 498,925 28.3 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 900 2.0 50,410 2.9 268,060 2.0
Other households9 2,575 5.7 82,640 4.7 543,340 4.1

Saanich – Structural type of dwelling

In Saanich, 50.3% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 0.8% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 11 Canada, British Columbia, Saanich, DM – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Saanich, DM British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 45,390 100.0 1,764,640 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 22,810 50.3 842,120 47.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 1,195 2.6 52,825 3.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 3,395 7.5 130,370 7.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 385 0.8 143,970 8.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 8,345 18.4 361,150 20.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 9,175 20.2 184,355 10.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 65 0.1 2,885 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 20 0.0 46,960 2.7 183,510 1.4

Language

Saanich, DM – Mother tongue

Chart J: Saanich, DM - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Saanich, DM - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Note: Counts for mother tongue as well as those for language spoken most often at home include single responses only.

In Saanich, 79.6% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.2% reported French only, and 17.7% reported a non-official language only, in 2011. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 70.3% for English only, 1.3% for French only and 26.5% for only non-official languages.

In 2011, 88.8% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.3% spoke only French and 8.4% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 80.5% for only English, 0.4% for only French and 15.4% for only a non-official language.

Table 12 Saanich, DM – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 108,835 100.0 108,835 100.0
English 86,590 79.6 96,615 88.8
French 1,355 1.2 370 0.3
Non-official language 19,285 17.7 9,185 8.4
Multiple responses 1,605 1.5 2,665 2.4
Table 13 Saanich, DM – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention12
(in percentage)
Total retention; language spoken at home at least on a regular basis Complete retention; language spoken most often at home Partial retention; language spoken at home on a regular basis
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
English 99.8 99.5 0.2
French 52.4 26.8 25.6
Non-official language 75.8 52.1 23.6

Saanich, DM – Non-official languages

In Saanich, the three most common mother tongues were Panjabi (Punjabi) (2.6%), Chinese, n.o.s. (2.5%) and Cantonese (1.8%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the provincial / territorial level were Panjabi (Punjabi) (4.5%), Cantonese (3.2%) and Chinese, n.o.s. (2.9%).

Table 14 Saanich, DM – The most common non-official-language mother tongues, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Number Percentage of non-official language mother-tongue population Percentage of total population
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
Panjabi (Punjabi) 2,830 13.7 2.6
Chinese, n.o.s. 2,735 13.2 2.5
Cantonese 1,980 9.6 1.8
German 1,505 7.3 1.4
Mandarin 1,205 5.8 1.1

Saanich, DM – Bilingualism

Table 15 Saanich, DM – Rate of English-French bilingualism by mother tongue and age groups, 2011 Census
Age groups Mother tongue
Total English French Non-official language
Note: Counts for mother tongue include single responses only. Consequently, the total excludes multiple responses.
Total 8.4 7.8 89.7 5.5
0 to 19 10.7 10.6 92.0 8.2
20 to 44 9.7 9.4 92.7 5.1
45 to 64 7.1 5.9 90.5 5.3
65 and over 6.1 4.9 83.3 4.8
Table 16 Saanich, DM – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 108,830 100.0
English only 97,850 89.9
French only 25 0.0
English and French 9,385 8.6
Neither English nor French 1,570 1.4

Symbols:

···
not applicable
†
excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements. For further information, refer to Notes.
incompletely enumerated Indian reserve or Indian settlement. For further information, refer to Notes.
A
adjusted figure due to boundary change. For further information, refer to Content considerations.
E
use with caution. For further information, refer to Cautionary note.


Source:

Statistics Canada. 2012. Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-310-XWE2011004. Ottawa, Ontario. Analytical products, 2011 Census. Last updated October 24, 2012.
 

Related data:

Date modified: