What Are the Latest Aging Population Statistics for Vancouver, BC?

Senior Health and Wellbeing  |  August 25, 2025

A comprehensive look at how Vancouver’s demographic landscape is shifting toward an older population

The Bottom Line: Vancouver is Getting Older, Fast

Here’s what you need to know right away: 17% of Vancouver’s population is now 65 years or older, and this demographic is growing at an unprecedented rate. According to the latest 2021 Census data, seniors are growing five times faster than those under 65. This isn’t just a gentle shift – it’s a demographic transformation that’s reshaping the city as we know it.

But let’s dig deeper into what these numbers really mean for Vancouver proper (not including the broader metro area).

The Current Picture: How Many Seniors Live in Vancouver?

The Core Numbers

Based on the most recent data from Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census:

• Total Vancouver population: 662,248 people
• Seniors (65+): Approximately 112,600 people (17% of the population)
• Growth trajectory: This age group is growing five times faster than those under 65

To put this in perspective, that’s more than one in six Vancouverites who are now seniors – and this number is climbing rapidly.

Historical Growth Trends

The aging trend isn’t new, but it’s accelerating. Looking at the data over the past two decades:

• 2006: About 13.1% of Vancouver’s population was 65+
• 2016: This increased to approximately 15-16%
• 2021: This increased to 17%
• Projected 2036: Seniors will represent one-fifth (21%) of the total population

From 1996 to 2016 the absolute number of seniors in the city increased by 46%, double the rate of growth in the overall population.

The Fastest-Growing Segment: The “Oldest Old”

Here’s where the statistics get really striking. While the overall senior population is growing rapidly, the oldest seniors – those 85 and older – are growing even faster.

Nationally, over 861,000 people aged 85 and older were counted in the 2021 Census, more than twice the number observed in the 2001 Census. This age group had a 12% increase from 2016, making it one of the fastest-growing demographic segments.

In Vancouver specifically, the 2016 data showed 10,635 seniors over 85, with the highest concentrations in Fairview, Arbutus-Ridge, and Victoria-Fraserview neighborhoods.

Geographic Distribution: Where Vancouver’s Seniors Live

Not all Vancouver neighborhoods are aging equally. Here’s the breakdown of where seniors are concentrated:

Highest Percentage of Seniors (2016 Census data):

1. Strathcona: 24% of residents are 65+
2. Arbutus Ridge: 19.7% seniors
3. Oakridge: 19.6% seniors
4. Shaughnessy: 18.0% seniors

Largest Senior Populations by Absolute Numbers:

1. Renfrew-Collingwood: 6,755 seniors
2. Kensington-Cedar Cottage: 5,805 seniors
3. Hastings-Sunrise: 5,355 seniors
4. West End: 5,100 seniors

About 8800 (11%) seniors live on the Downtown peninsula; over 39,000 (51%) east of Main Street; and 29,000 (39%) west of Main.

Living Arrangements: The Reality of Aging in Place

One significant trend is how Vancouver’s seniors are living. In 2001, there were 20,030 people over 65 (or 28.5% of all seniors) living alone in Vancouver. For 2006, this number increased slightly, to 20,570.

This matters because seniors living alone may face unique challenges around:

• Access to support services
• Social isolation
• Emergency response
• Healthcare navigation

Economic Context: The Income Reality

The aging trend intersects with economic pressures in Vancouver. About 12,000 of Vancouver’s 77,000 seniors have before-tax income below LICO (Low Income Cut-Off).

Income security varies dramatically by neighborhood:

• Downtown Eastside: 72.5% of seniors are low income
• Other high-concentration areas: Gastown, Strathcona, Mount Pleasant, and parts of Grandview-Woodlands also have significant numbers of low-income seniors

Housing: Where Seniors Call Home

Vancouver’s housing landscape significantly impacts its aging population:

• Approximately 50,000 Vancouver seniors own their homes
• About 26,000 rent
• Senior-led households are smaller than other age groups, but the number of bedrooms in a dwelling does not necessarily decrease at the same rate

The Broader BC Context

Vancouver’s aging trend reflects broader provincial patterns. In B.C., the number of seniors surpassed one million for the first time, with people aged 65 and older making up 20.3 per cent of B.C.’s population.

Interestingly, 77% of B.C. seniors over the age of 85 are doing so independently, up five points from 2016, and nearly 10 per cent higher than the national average.

What This Means for Vancouver’s Future

The city is responding to these demographic shifts. In early 2025, Vancouver City Council approved the Older Persons Strategic Framework and 2025 Early Actions to ensure that aging Vancouverites are engaged in our community and to enhance their quality of life.

The framework includes initiatives like:

• Making it easier to build seniors’ social housing
• Improving safety with wider sidewalks and longer pedestrian walk times
• Supporting digital literacy for older adults
• Running ageism awareness campaigns

Looking Ahead: Key Questions to Consider

As Vancouver continues to age, several questions emerge:

1. Housing affordability: How will the city accommodate seniors on fixed incomes in an expensive housing market?
2. Healthcare capacity: With more people – mainly older women – with chronic health conditions, how will healthcare systems adapt?
3. Community services: How can neighborhoods better support aging in place? 
4. Transportation: How will the city adapt infrastructure for less mobile residents?
5. Home-care solutions: Home-care services such as Comfort Keepers Vancouver will become increasingly required to service the aging population.
   

The Bottom Line

Vancouver’s aging is both a challenge and an opportunity. While the statistics show clear pressures on housing, healthcare, and community services, they also represent a wealth of experience and knowledge staying in the city.

The key insight from all these numbers? Vancouver isn’t just getting older – it’s getting older fast, and the city is actively working to adapt. Whether you’re a senior yourself, planning for aging, or simply a Vancouver resident, these demographic shifts will shape our city’s future in profound ways.

Understanding these statistics helps us plan better, advocate more effectively, and build a city that truly works for all ages.

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Bring The Best Home Care Assistance for Seniors Right Where You Live with Comfort Keepers®

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide elder care in homes throughout Vancouver, keeping seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond. Please call (604) 689-8609. 

Personal Care and Senior Homecare in Vancouver, BC

Learn more about our unique service, which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative and end-of-life care. Contact the Comfort Keepers® Vancouver office today.

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