British Columbia, Canada: List of the Largest Cities by Population

Outdoor adventures in British Columbia

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1. Vancouver – ~756,008
BC’s largest city; major cultural, financial and port centre on the Pacific coast.


2. Surrey – ~700,459
Rapidly growing Lower Mainland city, strong in immigration, trade and housing development.


3. Burnaby – ~298,986
Inner suburb of Vancouver; transit hub and home to high-tech and media industries.


4. Richmond – ~242,966 (city proper) ~229,800 (2023 est.)
Island city housing the Vancouver International Airport and vibrant Asian-Canadian communities. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}


5. Langley City – ~197,585
Adjacent to Metro Vancouver, historic core of the Fraser Valley with strong local commerce. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}


6. Abbotsford – ~175,087
Largest city by land area in BC; agricultural centre in Fraser Valley. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}


7. Coquitlam – ~174,248
Metro Vancouver city with residential and growing office sectors. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}


8. Kelowna – ~165,200
Interior Okanagan city famed for wineries, lakefront tourism, and technology growth. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}


9. North Vancouver – ~166,371
Mountain-ringed city and port district just north of downtown Vancouver. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}


10. Saanich – ~125,436
Largest municipality on Vancouver Island, surrounds Victoria and includes suburban and rural areas. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}


11. Delta – ~125,165
Fraser River delta city including riverfront communities and agricultural lands. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}


12. Nanaimo – ~101,513
Coastal Vancouver Island city and regional service centre with ferry links. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}


13. Kamloops – ~101,505
Interior transportation and education hub; known as Canada’s mountain biking capital. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}


14. Chilliwack – ~95,663
Fraser Valley city with agriculture, tourism and growing retail sectors. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}


15. Prince George – ~86,691–98,800 range
Northern BC city serving as regional resource and service centre. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}


16. Vernon – ~70,964–73,445 range
Okanagan city known for lakeside lifestyle and tourism economy. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}


17. Courtenay – ~49,300
Mid-Island city with retirement appeal and regional services. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}


18. Penticton – ~49,637
Okanagan resort city known for wine, lake activities and festivals. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}


19. Campbell River – ~38,028
Northern Island city known for outdoor recreation, fisheries and gateway to Discovery Islands. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}


20. Prince Rupert – ~14,118–16,000 range
Port city on BC’s north coast, important for freight and fishing industries. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}


21. Duncan – ~50,601
Cowichan Valley city with heritage architecture and cultural events. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}


22. Fort St. John – ~30,979
Resource-based city in the northeast, key to BC’s oil and gas industry. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}


23. Salmon Arm – ~21,059
Shuswap area city known for lakefront living, tourism and arts festivals. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}


24. Squamish – ~29,132
Outdoor adventure town between Vancouver and Whistler; windsurfing and climbing hotspot. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}


25. Quesnel – ~24,225
Cariboo Region city with forestry, ranching and Gold Rush heritage. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}


26. Terrace – ~21,766
North Coast city servicing river, forest and indigenous communities. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}


27. Williams Lake – ~25,059
Cariboo city with ranching history and rodeo festival tradition. :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}


28. Nelson – ~20,371
Kootenay city known for heritage architecture and arts community. :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}


29. Port Alberni – ~27,679
Mid-Island port city with forestry roots and ecotourism. :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}


30. Merritt – ~10,751
Thompson-Nicola town with rodeo culture and ranchland connections. :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}

The above is subject to change.

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