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Thompson-Okanagan grew by more than 12,500 people in 2022

Image Credit: Submitted/City of Kelowna

An estimated 12,536 more people lived in the Thompson-Okanagan region in 2022 versus 2021, according to the most recent Government of B.C. population estimates.

The estimated total population for the region is 631,367, which includes five regional districts.

The fastest growing of those regions was the Central Okanagan at a rate of 2.8% (versus 2% for the region as a whole). That tied it with Greater Vancouver as the fastest growing region in B.C.

That added 6,467 more people to the Central Okanagan while B.C., as a whole, now has more than 5.3 million people.

READ MORE: Another Okanagan mobile home park is for sale

Broken down by city, Lake Country had the fastest growth rate in the Thompson-Okanagan at 5.9%.

Of the region’s five largest cities, West Kelowna led the way with a 3% growth rate.

Kelowna grew by 2.4%, taking its population over the 150,000 mark to 153,385. Kamloops and Vernon both grew by 1.8% and Penticton by 1.3%.

West Kelowna is on the brink of taking over from Penticton as the region’s fourth largest city. It now has an estimated 38,745 residents, only 76 less than Penticton and has twice the growth rate.

Estimated 2022 populations:

  • 631,367 – Thompson Okanagan
  • 235,472 – Central Okanagan
  • 150,365 – Thompson Nicola
  • 94,903 – North Okanagan
  • 91,749 – Okanagan Similkameen
  • 58,878 – Columbia Shuswap

 

  • 153,385 – Kelowna
  • 103,159 – Kamloops
  • 45,549 – Vernon
  • 38,821 – Penticton
  • 38,745 – West Kelowna

To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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