Central Okanagan's Demographics

The following links provide demographic information for the Central Okanagan and it's major population centers. The sources for this information include: B.C. Stats, the B.C. Assessment Authority, Statistics Canada, Revenue Canada, B.C. Ministry of Social Services, B.C. Ministry of Finance, and Dept. of Consumer & Corporate Affairs, Ottawa. Since the last Canadian Census was in 1996, some of this data may appear dated. Despite this, we feel that the following should provide you with a generalized outlook on the Central Okanagan. However, please do not rely upon this data without verification. Also, please visit our Employment Page for more information on the Central Okanagan's economic and employment opportunities.

 

Jump Station
General Population 1996 Census Residential Assessments
Values of Building Permits Personal Taxation Statistics Dependency on the Safety Net Business Formations and Failures

 

General

Incorporated in 1967, the Central Okanagan Regional District has a well diversified economy. The main population centres of the region are the City of Kelowna (Kelowna & Westbank), and the Districts of Peachland and Lake Country (Winfield & Oyama). The three industries employing the most people in this area are Retail Trade, Manufacturing and Construction. The following paragraphs outline more specific information on each of these centres.

Kelowna

Incorporated in 1905, the City of Kelowna (Kelowna & Westbank) has a total area of 22,837.7 ha. By highway the City is 471 km east of Vancouver, 78 km north of Penticton and 606 km. west of Calgary. The three industries employing the most people in this area are Retail Trade, Health and Social Services, and Manufacturing.

Peachland

Incorporated in 1909, Peachland has a total area of 1,744.9ha. by highway the District is 40 km north of Penticton and 38 km south of Kelowna. The three industries employing the most people in this area are Accommodation, Food & Beverage Services, Retail Trade and Health and Social Services.

 

Lake Country

Incorporated in 1995, Lake Country (Winfield & Oyama) has a total land area of 121,57 square km. By highway, this district is located approximately 30 km north of Kelowna. The three industries employing the most people in this area are manufacturing, Retail Trade, and Construction.
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Population
Central Okanagan Kelowna Peachland Lake Country

 

Central Okanagan
 

Population
Year Okanagan % Change B.C. % Change
1993 129,841 5.7 3,575,619 2.8
1994 134,061 3.3 3,671,104 2.7
1995 137,806 2.8 3,766,221 2.6
1996 141,156 2.4 3,857,595 2.4
1997 145,177 2.8 3,933,273 2.0

 

Age and Gender

Central Okanagan

% Distribution
Male Female Cent. Ok. B.C
All Ages 66,435 70,105 100.0 100.0
0-14 13,580 12,875 19.4 19.7
15-24 8,265 8,105 12.0 13.0
25-44 19,435 20,670 29.4 32.7
45-64 17,770 15,470 22.2 21.8
65+ 10,385 12,975 17.1 12.8

 

Vital Statistics for Central Okanagan
Births Deaths
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
1,304 1,324 1,401 1,523 1,558 1,535 817 913 960 1,017 1,033 1,068

 

Kelowna
 

Population
Year Kelowna % Change B.C. % Change
1993 87,625 5.5 3,575,619 2.8
1994 89,713 2.4 3,671,104 2.7
1995 91,661 2.2 3,766,221 2.6
1996 92,621 1.0 3,857,595 2.4
1997 94,656 2.2 3,933,273 2.0

 

Age and Gender

Kelowna

% Distribution
Male Female Kelowna B.C
All Ages 42,985 46,450 100.0 100.0
0-14 8,390 7,905 18.2 19.7
15-24 5,745 5,860 13.0 13.0
25-44 12,740 13,425 29.3 32.7
45-64 9,155 9,790 21.2 21.8
65+ 6,960 9,480 18.4 12.8

 

Peachland
 

Population
Year Peachland % Change B.C. Population % Change
1993 4,299 12.7 3,575,619 2.8
1994 4,471 4.0 3,671,104 2.7
1995 4,577 2.4 3,766,221 2.6
1996 4,657 1.7 3,857,595 2.4
1997 4,770 2.4 3,933,273 2.0

 

Age and Gender

Peachland

% Distribution
Male Female Peachland B.C
All Ages 2,255 2,270 100 100.0
0-14 375 370 16.6 19.7
15-24 180 160 7.4 13.0
25-44 570 575 25.4 32.7
45-64 615 690 29.1 21.8
65+ 490 480 21.5 12.8

 

Lake Country
 

Population
Year Lake Country % Change B.C. Population % Change
1993 - 3,575,619 2.8
1994 - 3,671,104 2.7
1995 8,720 3,766,221 2.6
1996 9,279 6.4 3,857,595 2.4
1997 9,504 2.4 3,933,273 2.0

 

Age and Gender

Lake Country

% Distribution
Male Female Lake Country B.C
All Ages 4,590 4,415 100.0 100.0
0-14 1,045 955 22.2 19.7
15-24 525 450 10.8 13.0
25-44 1,370 1,445 31.2 32.7
45-64 1,115 995 23.4 21.8
65+ 535 575 12.3 12.8
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1996 Census Characteristics
Central Okanagan Kelowna Peachland Lake Country

 

Central Okanagan
 

Family Structure

Central Okanagan

B.C.
Total Census Families 39,320 1,008,440
Total husband-wife families 34,160 869,430
Total families of common-law couples 3,960 103,865
Total lone parent families 5,160 139,010
Never-married sons & daughters at home 38,595 1,133,315
Under 6 9,555 274,470
6-14 years 16,275 443,885
15-17 years 4,750 140,560
18 and over 8,010 274,395

Private Households
Central Okanagan

B.C.
Total Persons in Private Households 134,570 3,677,890
Persons 65 years and over 22,080 448,208
Average number of persons per household 2.5 2.6

Dwelling Structure
Central Okanagan

B.C
Total number of occupied private dwellings 53,675 1,424,640
Single-detached houses 33,615 800,095
Row houses 3,075 86,095
Apartment buildings, five or more stories 470 86,285
Apartment buildings, less than five stories 9,110 282,295

 

Kelowna

Family Structure

Kelowna

B.C.
Total Census Families 25,145 1,008,440
Total husband-wife families 21,410 869,430
Total families of common-law couples 2,590 103,865
Total lone parent families 3,735 139,010
Never-married sons & daughters at home 24,325 1,133,315
Under 6 6,060 274,470
6-14 years 9,810 443,885
15-17 years 3,055 140,560
18 and over 5,400 274,395

Private Households
Kelowna

B.C.
Total Persons in Private Households 88,205 3,677,890
Persons 65 years and over 15,600 448,208
Average number of persons per household 2.4 2.6

Dwelling Structure
Kelowna

B.C
Total number of occupied private dwellings 36,435 1,424,640
Single-detached houses 20,305 800,095
Row houses 2,735 86,095
Apartment buildings, five or more stories 455 86,285
Apartment buildings, less than five stories 8,520 282,295

 

Peachland

Family Structure

Peachland

B.C.
Total Census Families 1,515 1,008,440
Total husband-wife families 1,380 869,430
Total families of common-law couples 150 103,865
Total lone parent families 135 139,010
Never-married sons & daughters at home 1,100 1,133,315
Under 6 300 274,470
6-14 years 440 443,885
15-17 years 140 140,560
18 and over 230 274,395

Private Households
Peachland

B.C.
Total Persons in Private Households 4,515 3,677,890
Persons 65 years and over 975 448,208
Average number of persons per household 2.4 2.6

Dwelling Structure
Peachland

B.C
Total number of occupied private dwellings 1,850 1,424,640
Single-detached houses 1,655 800,095
Row houses 40 86,095
Apartment buildings, five or more stories 0 86,285
Apartment buildings, less than five stories 90 282,295

 

Lake Country

Family Structure

Lake Country

B.C.
Total Census Families 2,605 1,008,440
Total husband-wife families 2,385 869,430
Total families of common-law couples 245 103,865
Total lone parent families 220 139,010
Never-married sons & daughters at home 2,840 1,133,315
Under 6 665 274,470
6-14 years 1,285 443,885
15-17 years 325 140,560
18 and over 560 274,395

Private Households
Lake Country

B.C.
Total Persons in Private Households 8,930 3,677,890
Persons 65 years and over 1,045 448,208
Average number of persons per household 2.7 2.6

Dwelling Structure
Lake Country

B.C
Total number of occupied private dwellings 3,285 1,424,640
Single-detached houses 2,900 800,095
Row houses 80 86,095
Apartment buildings, five or more stories 0 86,285
Apartment buildings, less than five stories 40 282,295
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Residential Assessment Summary
Central Okanagan Kelowna Peachland Lake Country

 

Central Okanagan

Residential Properties
Residential Assessment Values ($'000)
Area

Number of Residences

Improvements

Land Assessment

Average Assessment
Central Okanagan 53,756 4,193,002 3,693,211 $146,704
Thompson/Okanagan 200,033 13,076,015 10,966,688 $120,194
British Columbia 1,403,601 107,185,949 169,991,525 $197,476

 

Kelowna

Residential Properties
Residential Assessment Values ($'000)
Area

Number of Residences

Improvements

Land Assessment

Average Assessment
Kelowna 30,876 2,613,562 1,927,807 $147,084
Central Okanagan 53,756 4,193,002 3,693,211 $146,704
Thompson/Okanagan 200,033 13,076,015 10,966,688 $120,194
British Columbia 1,403,601 107,185,949 169,991,525 $197,476

 

Peachland

Residential Properties
Residential Assessment Values ($'000)
Area

Number of Residences

Improvements

Land Assessment

Average Assessment
Peachland 1,866 160,170 115,611 $147,793
Central Okanagan 53,756 4,193,002 3,693,211 $146,704
Thompson/Okanagan 200,033 13,076,015 10,966,688 $120,194
British Columbia 1,403,601 107,185,949 169,991,525 $197,476

 

Lake Country

Residential Properties
Residential Assessment Values ($'000)
Area

Number of Residences

Improvements

Land Assessment

Average Assessment
Lake Country n/a n/a n/a n/a
Central Okanagan 53,756 4,193,002 3,693,211 $146,704
Thompson/Okanagan 200,033 13,076,015 10,966,688 $120,194
British Columbia 1,403,601 107,185,949 169,991,525 $197,476
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Values of Building Permits
Central Okanagan Kelowna Peachland Lake Country

 

Central Okanagan

Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Total
Number Value $'000 Value $'000 Value $'000 $'000
Year Cent. Ok B.C Cent. Ok B.C. Cent. Ok B.C. Cent. Ok B.C. Cent. Ok
1993 1,896 41,694 176,347 4,445,367 44,729 892,485 3,120 177,800 268,599
1994 1,391 40,082 139,949 4,546,362 34,638 1,075,329 10,232 175,311 194,986
1995 1,190 26,842 115,225 3,443,140 28,943 1,026,994 8,169 249,688 173,283
1996 1,555 32,410 139,213 4,095,987 36,953 1,225,837 7,809 252,646 209,810
1997 1,433 28,659 147,243 3,578,558 34,938 1,358,188 13,012 285,423 210,905

 

Kelowna

Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Total
Number Value $'000 Value $'000 Value $'000 $'000
Year Kelowna B.C Kelowna B.C. Kelowna B.C. Kelowna B.C. Kelowna
1993 1,210 41,694 105,920 4,445,367 37,813 892,485 2,240 177,800 172,477
1994 880 40,082 85,253 4,546,362 29,751 1,075,329 4,156 175,311 126,029
1995 795 26,842 73,033 3,443,140 23,883 1,026,994 7,284 249,688 115,862
1996 1,026 32,410 87,048 4,095,987 33,757 1,225,837 6,611 252,646 151,948
1997 909 28,659 93,783 3,578,558 23,801 1,358,188 10,132 285,423 143,070

 

Peachland

Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Total
Number Value $'000 Value $'000 Value $'000 $'000
Year Peachland B.C Peachland B.C. Peachland B.C. Peachland B.C. Peachland
1993 80 41,694 9,986 4,445,367 197 892,485 - 177,800 10,260
1994 39 40,082 4,530 4,546,362 70 1,075,329 - 175,311 6,071
1995 10 26,842 1,541 3,443,140 6 1,026,994 2 249,688 1,549
1996 - 32,410 - 4,095,987 - 1,225,837 - 252,646 -
1997 - 28,659 - 3,578,558 - 1,358,188 - 285,423 -

 

Lake Country

Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Total
Number Value $'000 Value $'000 Value $'000 $'000
Year Lake Country B.C Lake Country B.C. Lake Country B.C. Lake Country B.C. Lake Country
1993 n/a 41,694 n/a 4,445,367 n/a 892,485 n/a 177,800 n/a
1994 n/a 40,082 n/a 4,546,362 n/a 1,075,329 n/a 175,311 n/a
1995 n/a 26,842 n/a 3,443,140 n/a 1,026,994 n/a 249,688 n/a
1996 n/a 32,410 n/a 4,095,987 n/a 1,225,837 n/a 252,646 n/a
1997 n/a 28,659 n/a 3,578,558 n/a 1,358,188 n/a 285,423 n/a
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Personal Taxation Statistics
Central Okanagan Kelowna Peachland Lake Country

 

Central Okanagan

Total Income
Taxable Returns (#) Average Inc. ($) % Change Avg. Income
Year Central Okanagan B.C Central Okanagan B.C Central Okanagan B.C
1991 59,260 1,706,640 30,572 33,316 - -
1992 61,740 1,723,680 32,014 34,824 4.7 4.5
1993 65,200 1,786,730 33,104 35,456 3.4 1.8
1994 65,930 1,796,920 36,672 38,883 10.8 9.7
1995 68,230 1,844,970 32,935 36,126 -10.2 -7.1

Distribution of Individual Returns by Income Class ($ '000) 1995
<5 5-9.9 10-14.9 15-19.9 20-24.9 25-29.9 30-39.9 40-49.9 50+
B.C 335,800 345,770 386,560 267,140 214,390 193,080 325,570 218,730 353,510
Central Okanagan 10,530 12,720 16,680 11,770 8,910 7,630 11,900 7,270 10,100
Males 3,370 4,880 6,230 5,220 4,320 4,010 7,010 4,990 7,760
Females 7,160 7,840 10,440 6,550 4,600 3,630 4,880 2,290 2,350

Source of Income 1995
Central Okanagan B.C
$ Thousands % of Total % of Total
Employment 1,436,708 63.9 70.2
Pension 308,406 13.7 9.8
Investment 217,830 9.7 8.7
Self-Employed 123,434 5.5 5.4
Other 141,094 6.3 5.1
Tax Exempt 19,599 0.9 0.8
Total 2,247,129 100.0 100.0

 

Kelowna

Total Income
Taxable Returns (#) Average Inc. ($) % Change Avg. Income
Year Kelowna B.C Kelowna B.C Kelowna B.C
1991 47,290 1,706,640 31,139 33,316 - -
1992 48,950 1,723,680 32,592 34,824 4.7 4.5
1993 51,420 1,786,730 33,817 35,456 3.8 1.8
1994 52,340 1,796,920 37,365 38,883 10.5 9.7
1995 54,270 1,844,970 33,368 36,126 -10.7 -7.1

Distribution of Individual Returns by Income Class ($ '000) 1995
<5 5-9.9 10-14.9 15-19.9 20-24.9 25-29.9 30-39.9 40-49.9 50+
B.C 335,800 345,770 386,560 267,140 214,390 193,080 325,570 218,730 353,510
Kelowna 8,050 10,100 13,360 9,390 7,060 6,060 9,500 5,690 8,200
Males 2,620 3,920 4,940 4,180 3,360 3,160 5,470 3,820 6,200
Females 5,430 6,190 8,420 5,210 3,700 2,900 4,020 1,870 2,010

Source of Income 1995
Kelowna B.C
$ Thousands % of Total % of Total
Employment 1,155,014 63.8 70.2
Pension 241,464 13.3 9.8
Investment 186,365 10.3 8.7
Self-Employed 102,893 5.7 5.4
Other 109,907 6.1 5.1
Tax Exempt 15,170 0.8 0.8
Total 1,810,867 100.0 100.0

 

Peachland

Total Income
Taxable Returns (#) Average Income ($) % Change Avg. Income
Year Peachland B.C Peachland B.C Peachland B.C
1991 7,530 1,706,640 28,737 33,316 - -
1992 8,160 1,723,680 30,173 34,824 5.0 4.5
1993 2,340 1,786,730 30,366 35,456 0.6 1.8
1994 2,310 1,796,920 34,681 38,883 14.2 9.7
1995 2,360 1,844,970 30,507 36,126 -12.0 -7.1

Distribution of Individual Returns by Income Class ($ '000) 1995
<5 5-9.9 10-14.9 15-19.9 20-24.9 25-29.9 30-39.9 40-49.9 50+
B.C 335,800 345,770 386,560 267,140 214,390 193,080 325,570 218,730 353,510
Peachland 380 480 570 440 310 270 410 220 320
Males 110 160 240 200 170 160 280 170 260
Females 270 320 330 230 130 110 140 60 60

Source of Income 1995
Peachland B.C
$ Thousands % of Total % of Total
Employment 39,337 54.6 70.2
Pension 16,608 23.1 9.8
Investment 5,811 8.1 8.7
Self-Employed 3,303 4.6 5.4
Other 6,168 8.6 5.1
Tax Exempt 769 1.1 0.8
Total 71,997 100.0 100.0

 

Lake Country

Total Income
Taxable Returns (#) Average Inc. ($) % Change Avg. Income
Year Lake Country B.C Lake Country B.C Lake Country B.C
1991 n/a 1,706,640 n/a 33,316 n/a -
1992 n/a 1,723,680 n/a 34,824 n/a 4.5
1993 n/a 1,786,730 n/a 35,456 n/a 1.8
1994 n/a 1,796,920 n/a 38,883 n/a 9.7
1995 n/a 1,844,970 n/a 36,126 n/a -7.1

Distribution of Individual Returns by Income Class ($ '000) 1995
<5 5-9.9 10-14.9 15-19.9 20-24.9 25-29.9 30-39.9 40-49.9 50+
B.C 335,800 345,770 386,560 267,140 214,390 193,080 325,570 218,730 353,510
Lake Country n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Males n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Females n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Source of Income 1995
Lake Country B.C
$ Thousands % of Total % of Total
Employment n/a n/a 70.2
Pension n/a n/a 9.8
Investment n/a n/a 8.7
Self-Employed n/a n/a 5.4
Other n/a n/a 5.1
Tax Exempt n/a n/a 0.8
Total n/a 100.0 100.0
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Dependency on the Safety Net
Central Okanagan Kelowna Peachland Lake Country
Central Okanagan

Percentage of Population by Age Receiving Benefits - March 1998
Basic B.C. Benefits Unemployment Ins. Basic B.C. & UI Total
Age Group Cent. Ok. B.C Cent. Ok. B.C Cent. Ok. B.C.
Under 19 10.1 10.2
19-24 9.5 9.0 5.7 4.3 14.4 12.7
25-54 6.0 6.4 5.5 4.5 11.1 10.7
55-64 2.6 3.7 2.4 2.8 5.0 6.4
19-64 5.8 6.4