Bella Bella 1British Columbia

The First Nations reserve, home to 1,339 people, lies in British Columbia. The population grew 17% between 2016 and 2021.

Photo: Sam Beebe · CC BY 2.0

Population

1,339

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

36.4

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

40%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

37%

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Bella Bella 1 a good place to live?

Bella Bella 1’s strongest is health (A+). Getting around on foot or by bus is easy (A+). The weak point is schools (D−). Jobs and pay trail most towns (C).

No overall grade, and no ranking: Bella Bella 1 is a First Nations reserve, and Statistics Canada holds back or never gathers enough of a reserve’s figures to compare it fairly with other towns.

No Safety Grade: no police service publishes a crime rate for this place on its own. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread. A First Nations reserve: subject grades only, with no overall grade and no place in ranked lists.

StrongestA⁺Health A⁺WalkabilityWeakestD⁻Schools

How Bella Bella 1 grades

Each subject compares Bella Bella 1 with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.

How grading works

No overall grade, and no ranking: Bella Bella 1 is a First Nations reserve, and Statistics Canada holds back or never gathers enough of a reserve’s figures to compare it fairly with other towns.

HealthGraded on how healthy residents areA⁺Open →WalkabilityAmong the easiest places to get around without a carA⁺Open →SchoolsAmong the weakest of the towns comparedD⁻Open →Hazard riskBased on earthquake losses and radon in homes; a high wildfire risk can pull it downB⁺Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work trail most townsCOpen →

Cost of livingNot graded: not enough data–

SafetyNot graded: not enough data–

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Bella Bella 1 stand out

The 3 things Bella Bella 1 does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

37% walk, cycle or take transit

Against 8% in the median of Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Health

Better than 99%

of Canadian towns on health

Its health grade: A+.

Walkability

Better than 99%

of Canadian towns on walkability

Its walkability grade: A+.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Bella Bella 1.

HealthHealth A⁺

For health, Bella Bella 1 is ahead of almost every Canadian town

59%very good or excellent healthA⁺Health Grade

Lives here run to 84.3 years on average, above British Columbia’s towns (81.0) and Canadian towns (81.5) alike. In the health survey, 59% of adults in the region rate their health very good or excellent, more than British Columbia’s 50%. The region has fewer smokers than British Columbia, 6.5% of adults to 8.9%. Closer to home, a hospital is just 0.6 km from the average resident of Bella Bella 1, nearer than the usual 3.7 km.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Bella Bella 159%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Bella Bella 1	British Columbia	Canada
Very good or excellent health	59%	50%	52%
Chronic conditions (average share)	12%	15%	17%
Life expectancy at birth	84.3	81.0	81.5
Smokers	6.5%	9%	12%

84.3

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

0.6 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

6.5%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

167 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageBella Bella 1’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey59% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care0.6 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 167 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 86.3, men 82.3 Conditions and habits12% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Health survey and life expectancy: one figure for all of the North Shore/Coast Garibaldi Health Service Delivery Area

SchoolsSchools D⁻

The nearest high school to Bella Bella 1 is 164 km away

1school within 3 kmD⁻Schools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Bella Bella Community School IndependentIn Bella Bella 1Elementary	Elementary	–	Independent

Schools within 3 km	Bella Bella 1	British Columbia	Canada
Nearest secondary school	164 km	1.8 km	1.2 km
Nearest elementary school	38 km	0.6 km	0.5 km

164 km

to the nearest secondary school

38 km

to the nearest elementary school

Full pageBella Bella 1’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school1 elementary school Results0 of 1 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language0 of 1 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Bella Bella 1?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Climate

Summers stay cool in Bella Bella 1: July afternoons reach 19.2°C, below British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

19.2°CJuly afternoons

There are 27 days of frost in a typical year, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). Winter lows in Bella Bella 1 average 2.2°C in January. Snow peaks in December: 11 cm in a normal year. The most precipitation falls in November: 346 mm in a normal year.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter6.8°C

Spring11.8°C

Summer18.6°C

Autumn12.8°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Bella Bella 1	British Columbia	Canada
July afternoon high	19.2°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	2,612 mm	1,152 mm	883 mm
Days with frost a year	27	60	159
January night low	2.2°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C

39 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

209

days with precipitation a year

Full pageBella Bella 1’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 19.2°C, January lows 2.2°C Rain and snow2,612 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow39 cm of snow a year Weather station4.4 km to the station · Dryad Point

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Dryad Point)

Natural hazardsHazard risk B⁺

Bella Bella 1 faces few natural hazards: little fire nearby, low seismic risk, radon over the guideline in 2.5% of tested homes

Lowwildfire bandB⁺Hazard risk Grade

Little of the land around Bella Bella 1 has burned: 0.1% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.003% a year. For radon tests, the only official count covers all of the North Shore/Coast Garibaldi health region, Bella Bella 1 included.

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Bella Bella 12.5%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Bella Bella 1	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.061	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	2.5%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.061

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

Low

wildfire band

5.1 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageBella Bella 1’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Radon2.5% of tests above the guideline WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.1% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.061 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

Work & commuteJobs & income C

Commuters in Bella Bella 1 have a short way to work, 9 min on average, less than in British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

37%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van63%

Walk32%

Public transit2%

Bicycle2%

Census 2021	Bella Bella 1	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	9 min	26 min	26 min

$60,400

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

89%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageBella Bella 1’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment8.7% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work37% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to15 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Port Hardy

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Counted in May 2021, under pandemic rules: fewer commutes and more people between jobs than in a normal year.

Who lives here

More of Bella Bella 1’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 92%

36.4median age

15% of residents are 65 or over, below British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (19%) alike.

Bella Bella 1British ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

21%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree29%

Postsecondary qualification40%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 47.9% of Bella Bella 1

Here the census found 620 men and 570 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.

Who lives in Bella Bella 1
	Bella Bella 1	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	21%	14%	16%
15 to 64	65%	64%	64%
65+	15%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	29%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	40%	56%	56%

Full pageBella Bella 1’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages36.4 median age · 15% are 65 or over Households395 households · 3 people per household English and French2% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; British Columbia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

Weather

Expect November days around 9°C in Bella Bella 1, nights around 4°C

9°Ca normal November afternoon

For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Bella Bella forecast. Then December: 7°C by day, 2°C at night. Expect about 346 mm of rain and snow over November. Over the year, August is warmest at 20°C by day and January coldest at 2°C by night.

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November9°C

December7°C

January7°C

February7°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	7°C	2°C	728 mm
Spring	12°C	5°C	566 mm
Summer	19°C	12°C	427 mm
Autumn	13°C	8°C	891 mm

4°C

a normal November night

346 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageBella Bella 1’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest August, coldest January

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Dryad Point); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Ellis Ross (Conservative Party of Canada) represents Bella Bella 1 in Ottawa as MP for Skeena—Bulkley Valley

Across British Columbia, 20 of the 43 MPs sit with the Liberal Party of Canada.

Full pageBella Bella 1’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itIndian Reserve Provincial legislatureNorth Coast-Haida Gwaii

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade C

No public library is mapped in or near Bella Bella 1

Full pageBella Bella 1’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Places to belong0 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

From Bella Bella 1, Oliver Cove Marine Park is the nearest provincial park (19 km)

6.5%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected areas cover 6.5% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%. Outer Central Coast Islands Conservancy (14,839 ha) is the biggest, 4.8 km from town. Public parks and reserves within 10 km: 3, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (14) and Canadian towns (4). No national park lies within 100 km.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Bella Bella 16.5%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Bella Bella 1	British Columbia	Canada
Public protected areas within 10 km	3	14	4
Protected land within 10 km	6.5%	6.7%	2.3%

19 km

to Oliver Cove Marine Park

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageBella Bella 1’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas4 protected areas within 10 km · Outer Central Coast Islands Conservancy National & provincial parks19 km to a provincial park · Oliver Cove Marine Park

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

History

A younger housing stock: 96% of Bella Bella 1’s homes are from 1961 on

3.8%built before 1961

Add one just outside the town.

3.8%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

historic place just outside the town

Heritage	Bella Bella 1	British Columbia	Canada
Homes built before 1961	3.8%	11%	18%

Full pageBella Bella 1’s history pageOpen the full History page

Older homes3.8% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Bella Bella 1 have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Bella Bella 1

15pages on Bella Bella 1

The big questions

SafetyHousing & costProperty pricesSchoolsD⁻One school within 3 km HealthA⁺Life expectancy 84.3 in its region Work & commuteC50% of adults in work Natural hazardsB⁺Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors6.5% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 19°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 36.4 HistoryTown hallFamous people

About Bella Bella 1

First Nations reserve in British Columbia

Bella Bella 1 is a First Nations reserve in British Columbia, counted by Statistics Canada as its own census subdivision.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 1,339 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Central Coast
First Nation: Heiltsuk
Census subdivision: 5945801

Questions about Bella Bella 1

Has Bella Bella 1 grown?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 1,019 to 1,193 residents (up 17.1%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 1,339.

What kind of homes are in Bella Bella 1?

Mostly 84% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 3 people on average, and 18% have just one.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.

Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).