Photo: Canuckle · CC0Immigrants make up 60% in Richmond, more than in 98% of Canadian towns
30% of households live in a single-detached house; across Canada’s towns the figure is 64%. Residents without Canadian citizenship are more common here than in 90% of Canadian towns. With about 239,584 residents in July 2025, Richmond counted 81,080 households at the 2021 Census. On the census count, 13% of residents are under 15.
What stands out about the people of Richmond
More immigrants than most towns
60% of residents are immigrants, against 16% across British Columbia’s towns and 17% across Canada’s towns. The largest groups of immigrants were born in Asia (88%) and in Europe (5.9%); 22% of them arrived from 2011 to 2021. Immigrants & newcomers ↓
A mix of backgrounds
Visible minority residents make up 80%, more than in 97% of Canadian towns, and immigrants 60%. Identity & religion ↓
Written from the data on this page: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census.
Faster growth than 62% of Canadian towns: Richmond changed by +6% since 2016
The 2021 Census is the source of every figure here unless a date says otherwise. The census counts of 2016 and 2021, the estimate after them, and the change set beside other towns.
Change, 2016 to 2021
Statistics Canada’s estimate for July 2025 is 14% higher again.
Older than 59% of Canadian towns: half of Richmond is over 43.6
Share of residents in each five-year band; the tick is the typical town.
More residents are 55–59 than any other five-year age: 7.7% of residents. The highest share aged 65 or over among British Columbia’s towns is Qualicum Beach’s: 56%. Residents aged 15 to 24 make up 11%, close to the figure across Canada’s towns.
Median age of Canadian towns of 2,500+
■ Richmond, 43.6. The typical town is 42.
Broad ages · share of residents
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 92 men for every 100 women.
2.6 people per household, more than in 67% of Canadian towns
Household types, then household sizes.
Against British Columbia’s towns and Canada’s towns
People per household
Canada’s towns.
25% of households are one person living alone, against 27% across Canada’s towns. Census figures put one-parent families at 9.4% in Richmond.
4.9% of residents 15 and over live common-law, fewer than in 91% of Canadian towns
Marital status of residents 15 and over, with common-law couples counted apart.
Marital status · residents 15 and over
28% of adults have never married and don’t live common-law (typical: 27%). Common-law partners make up 11% across Canada’s towns. Across Richmond, 54% of residents 15 and over are married.
A higher share of households in buildings of five or more storeys than 86% of Canadian towns, at 19%
Houses and apartments, owners and renters, older and newer homes. Prices, rents and shelter costs are on Cost of living.
Type of home
Owners and renters · share of households
When homes were built · share of homes
Against a figure of 25% across Canada’s towns, the share of renter households in Richmond comes in at 29%. Newer homes outnumber old: 39% date from 2001 or later, 3.4% from before 1961.
Households here have a median income of $79,000 a year
Census incomes cover 2020, when emergency benefits like CERB lifted many households’ totals. What households took in before tax, at the middle and across income groups.
Households by income · share of households
Half of Richmond’s households had a total income below $79,000, 8% under the median across Canada’s towns ($86,000). The middle household across British Columbia’s towns has $87,000 before tax. COVID-19 benefits went to 31% of residents with an income (typical: 28%).
A higher share of residents who moved in within the year than 68% of Canadian towns, at 13%
Immigrants by continent of birth and when they arrived, citizenship, and who moved in recently.
Immigrants, by continent of birth · share of all residents; the bar runs to 70%
When immigrants arrived · share of immigrants
Citizenship and moving · share of residents
Most recent wave: just over a fifth of immigrants arrived in 2011–2021 (Canada’s towns: 27%). For residents who moved in within the year, the comparison across Canada’s towns is 11%. The largest groups of immigrants were born in Asia (88%) and in Europe (5.9%).
Richmond: 80% of residents belong to a visible minority, above 97% of Canadian towns
Visible minority and Indigenous identity, then religion.
Visible minority and Indigenous identity · all residents
Religion · all residents
Among other religions: Buddhist (5.6%), Muslim (3.7%) and Sikh (3.4%). As a yardstick, 15% of residents belong to a visible minority across Canada’s towns. Higher than in 91% of Canadian towns: 53% of residents said they have no religion. Indigenous residents: 0.7% here and 2.8% across Canada’s towns.
68% have a mother tongue other than English or French
English, French and the other languages people grew up with or speak at home.
Can hold a conversation in · share of all residents
Mother tongue · share of all residents
At home, 46% mostly speak another language; 11% speak neither English nor French. On bilingual residents, Richmond sits lower than just over four fifths of Canadian towns: 4.4%. Across Canada’s towns, the share of residents whose mother tongue is French is 1.5%; Richmond has 0.5%.
Richmond: 46% of residents 25 to 64 hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, above 80% of Canadian towns
Highest certificate, diploma or degree of residents aged 25 to 64.
Highest qualification · residents 25 to 64
At the other end, 6.1% hold no certificate, diploma or degree, against a typical 9.5%. Set beside that, 27% of residents 25 to 64 hold a bachelor’s degree or higher across Canada’s towns.
Employment: 54% of residents 15 and over had a job
Counted in May 2021, during COVID-19, these rates catch the job market before it had recovered. The census’s work rates at a glance. Jobs, industries and the commute are on Work & commute.
At 54%, fewer residents are in work than the typical 58% across Canada’s towns, and 20% are 65 or over.
Ranked by age, 13th oldest of 41 towns this size
Similar-sized towns by median age; each dot is a town.
Median ages here range from 36 in Milton to 50.4 in Cape Breton. Closest in median age to Richmond are Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury (43.2), Richmond Hill (43.6), Lévis (44) and Delta (44).
Among its 6 nearest neighbours, 2 are older than Richmond
The closest towns, coloured by how old their residents are.
| Town | People | Away | Median age | 65+ | Immigrants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 239,584 | — | 43.6 | 20% | 60% |
| Marpole | 28,182 | 6.0 km | 40.3 | 17% | 52% |
| Oakridge | 14,071 | 7.8 km | 43 | 23% | 54% |
| Sunset | 37,186 | 7.8 km | 38.8 | 16% | 54% |
| Kerrisdale | 14,105 | 8.0 km | 45.2 | 21% | 48% |
| Victoria-Fraserview | 31,095 | 8.7 km | 45 | 23% | 58% |
| Musqueam 2 | 1,879 | 9.3 km | 42 | 20% | 0% |
Health, work, housing and schools
What this data can and can’t tell you
- The census’s own words. “Visible minority” is the census’s term from the Employment Equity Act: people, other than Indigenous peoples, who are non-white in colour or race. Indigenous identity, immigrant status and religion are as residents answered. The page compares them with other towns and never labels a town by them.
- Against British Columbia’s towns and Canada’s towns. Provincial and national yardsticks: British Columbia’s towns and neighbourhoods of at least 2,500 residents, and all Canadian towns of that size. No whole city and no First Nations reserve is in either median.
- What these tables don’t give. For origins the charts stop at visible minority and Indigenous identity, and the Census Profile has nothing on unpaid care, cars or the internet, or on change by age since 2016.
Questions about Richmond’s residents
What religion are people in Richmond?
31% are Christian and 53% have no religion; 16% follow another religion.
Is Richmond good for families?
Under 15: 13% (Canada’s towns: 16%). Couple families: 50% of households. One-parent families: 9.4%. Schools near Richmond are on its Schools page.
What is the median income in Richmond?
The median household in Richmond took in $79,000 in 2020, against $86,000 across Canada’s towns.
What is the population of Richmond?
Richmond had about 239,584 residents in July 2025, Statistics Canada estimates; the 2021 Census counted 209,937, 6% more than 2016.
What is the average age in Richmond?
A median age of 43.6, older than 59% of Canadian towns. Children under 15 make up 13%, and people 65 and over 20%.
Is Richmond bilingual?
Both official languages are spoken by 4.4% of residents, against a typical 7.5% across Canada’s towns. 85% speak only English and 0% only French; 0.5% grew up with French.
How diverse is Richmond?
60% of residents are immigrants (Canada’s towns: 17%); 80% belong to a visible minority and 0.7% have an Indigenous identity.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population · Statistics Canada, population estimates for 1 July 2025 (table 17-10-0155). 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).