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BC Aboriginal Population Facts

Key Definitions

Aboriginal Community
The Aboriginal Community refers to First Nations, Tribal Councils, Métis communities and locals, and Inuit people, as well as families and extended community support networks. This definition includes people living on and off Reserve, and in urban and rural areas.

Aboriginal Service Agencies
The network of Aboriginal service agencies refer to the communities and organizations that provide employment related support to Aboriginal people and include the twelve Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreement (AHRDA) holders, the Aboriginal Skills Employment Partnerships (ASEP), some Friendship Centres, and the employment service providers.

Aboriginal People
The term Aboriginal people refers to all men and women who self-identify Aboriginal ancestry including First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and the federal government designations of status and non-status Indians.

Key Stats  

  • In 2006 (Census), there were 196,075 Aboriginal people living in BC – which represents about 4.4% of the general population of the province.
  • In British Columbia there are 203 First Nations / Bands, and roughly 30 Tribal Councils serving these First Nations.
  • Vancouver has the third highest urban Aboriginal population in Canada, behind Winnipeg and Edmonton.
  • It is expected that there will be over 200,000 Aboriginal people living in BC by 2009.
  • Approximately half the Aboriginal population lives in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, with the other half throughout the rest of the province.
  • Approximately half the Aboriginal population (96,700) is 15-years old or older, with two-thirds (63,600) considered to be participating in the labour force.
  • The Aboriginal youth population in BC (15-24 years old) in BC peaking at just over 54,000 people in 2013.
  • Aboriginal people have lower rates of secondary school completion than the general population.
  • Aboriginal people have lower labour force participation rates than the general population.
  • Aboriginal people have higher rates of unemployment, than the general population, even with comparable levels of education.