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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Port Alberni, CY - British Columbia

Map of Port Alberni, CY (shaded in green), British Columbia

Map of Port Alberni, CY

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Port Alberni, CY - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Port Alberni, CY - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
36
Nat. rank
233

In 2011, Port Alberni (City) had a population of 17,743, representing a percentage change of 1.1% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 19.76 square kilometres with a population density of 897.9 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, Port Alberni (City) had 7,942 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 3.8%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Port Alberni (City) is part of the census agglomeration of Port Alberni.

Population and dwelling counts

Port Alberni (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Port Alberni (City) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Alberni-Clayoquot D, B.C. RDA 1,701 2,027 -16.1
Alberni-Clayoquot E, B.C. RDA 2,885 2,822 2.2
Alberni-Clayoquot F, B.C. RDA 1,916 1,882 1.8
Ahahswinis 1, B.C. IRI 160 148 8.1
Alberni 2, B.C. IRI 10 5 100.0
Tsahaheh 1, B.C. IRI 584 425 37.4

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

Port Alberni, CY – Age distribution

Chart C: Port Alberni, CY - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Port Alberni, CY - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 Port Alberni, CY – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 16.1% 16.6% 15.6%
15 to 64 63.3% 63.3% 63.2%
65 and over 20.7% 20.0% 21.3%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Port Alberni, CY was 20.7%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 63.3% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 16.1%. 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.

Port Alberni, CY – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Port Alberni, CY – 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 17,740 17,545 195 1.1
0 to 14 2,850 2,945 -95 -3.2
15 to 64 11,225 11,345 -120 -1.1
65 and over 3,665 3,255 410 12.6
Males
Total 8,715 8,705 10 0.1
0 to 14 1,445 1,535 -90 -5.9
15 to 64 5,520 5,680 -160 -2.8
65 and over 1,745 1,485 260 17.5
Females
Total 9,030 8,850 180 2.0
0 to 14 1,405 1,415 -10 -0.7
15 to 64 5,705 5,665 40 0.7
65 and over 1,925 1,770 155 8.8

Port Alberni, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Port Alberni, CY - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Port Alberni, CY - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Port Alberni, CY – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 17,740 8,715 9,030
0 to 4 years 945 470 475
5 to 9 years 900 465 430
10 to 14 years 1,010 510 495
15 to 19 years 1,105 565 535
20 to 24 years 810 395 410
25 to 29 years 830 395 430
30 to 34 years 950 470 475
35 to 39 years 945 450 495
40 to 44 years 1,030 505 520
45 to 49 years 1,255 600 655
50 to 54 years 1,440 715 725
55 to 59 years 1,520 740 780
60 to 64 years 1,355 680 670
65 to 69 years 1,130 580 550
70 to 74 years 855 415 445
75 to 79 years 710 340 365
80 to 84 years 495 230 260
85 years and over 475 175 300
Median age 46.6 46.1 47.0

Port Alberni, CY – Median age1 of the population

Chart E: Canada, British Columbia and Port Alberni, CY - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, British Columbia and Port Alberni, CY - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

In 2011, the median age in Port Alberni, CY was 46.6 years. In comparison, the median age of British Columbia was 41.9 years.

Table 7 Canada, British Columbia and Port Alberni, CY – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
Port Alberni, CY 44.7 46.6

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Port Alberni was 5,125, which represents a change of -1.1% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Port Alberni, 65.1% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 14.5% were common-law-couples and 20.4% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Port Alberni - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Port Alberni - Census families by family structure

Port Alberni – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, British Columbia, CSD of Port Alberni, CY 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
Port Alberni, CY 5,125 3,335 65.1 745 14.5 1,045 20.4 -1.1
Alberni-Clayoquot D, RDA 560 430 76.8 85 15.2 45 8.0 -11.8
Alberni-Clayoquot E, RDA 920 695 75.5 115 12.5 110 12.0 4.5
Alberni-Clayoquot F, RDA 605 465 76.9 70 11.6 65 10.7 -8.3
Ahahswinis 1, IRI 45 15 33.3 10 22.2 20 44.4 28.6
Tsahaheh 1, IRI 160 60 37.5 35 21.9 65 40.6 39.1

Port Alberni – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Port Alberni, 34.8% 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 * 1,100
Married couples without children * 2,230
Common-law-couples with children * 315
Common-law-couples without children * 425

Port Alberni – Marital status

Chart H: Port Alberni - Marital status

Chart H description: Port Alberni - Marital status

In Port Alberni, 55.8% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (45.7%) or living with a common-law partner (10.1%).

The remaining 44.2% 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, Port Alberni, CY – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Port Alberni, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 14,890 100.0 3,722,690 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 8,310 55.8 2,154,575 57.9 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 6,810 45.7 1,832,605 49.2 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 1,500 10.1 321,965 8.6 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 6,585 44.2 1,568,120 42.1 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 3,575 24.0 1,014,270 27.2 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 505 3.4 102,035 2.7 698,245 2.5
Divorced 1,325 8.9 246,515 6.6 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 1,180 7.9 205,300 5.5 1,584,525 5.7

Port Alberni – Types of private households

There were 7,940 private households3 in Port Alberni in 2011, a change of 3.7% from 2006. Of these, 17.4% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -12.1% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, British Columbia, Port Alberni, CY – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Port Alberni, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 7,940 100.0 1,764,635 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 1,385 17.4 431,135 24.4 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 2,590 32.6 532,995 30.2 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 985 12.4 168,530 9.6 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 2,660 33.5 498,925 28.3 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 80 1.0 50,410 2.9 268,060 2.0
Other households9 245 3.1 82,640 4.7 543,340 4.1

Port Alberni – Structural type of dwelling

In Port Alberni, 71.3% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 1.3% 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, Port Alberni, CY – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Port Alberni, CY British Columbia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 7,945 100.0 1,764,640 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 5,665 71.3 842,120 47.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 235 3.0 52,825 3.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 380 4.8 130,370 7.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 105 1.3 143,970 8.2 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 1,195 15.0 361,150 20.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 240 3.0 184,355 10.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 15 0.2 2,885 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 105 1.3 46,960 2.7 183,510 1.4

Language

Port Alberni, CY – Mother tongue

Chart J: Port Alberni, CY - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Port Alberni, CY - 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 Port Alberni, 88.4% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.8% reported French only, and 8.9% 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, 95.9% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.3% spoke only French and 2.5% 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 Port Alberni, CY – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 17,525 100.0 17,520 100.0
English 15,485 88.4 16,810 95.9
French 320 1.8 60 0.3
Non-official language 1,555 8.9 430 2.5
Multiple responses 165 0.9 225 1.3
Table 13 Port Alberni, CY – 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 99.9 99.8 0.1
French 32.5 15.6 16.9
Non-official language 61.1 34.4 26.6

Port Alberni, CY – Non-official languages

In Port Alberni, the three most common mother tongues were Panjabi (Punjabi) (1.8%), German (1.5%) and Dutch (1.1%), 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 Port Alberni, CY – 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) 315 18.9 1.8
German 270 16.2 1.5
Dutch 195 11.7 1.1
Italian 155 9.3 0.9
Croatian 60 3.6 0.3

Port Alberni, CY – Bilingualism

Table 15 Port Alberni, CY – 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 5.3 4.1 75.0 3.5
0 to 19 7.3 7.0 50.0 6.3
20 to 44 5.2 4.7 75.0 2.4
45 to 64 3.7 2.3 71.4 2.9
65 and over 5.7 1.8 75.8 3.3
Table 16 Port Alberni, CY – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 17,520 100.0
English only 16,510 94.2
French only 5 0.0
English and French 950 5.4
Neither English nor French 55 0.3

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.
 

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