The Capital Region's population has increased by over 23,000 inhabitants since 2011, according to 2016 census data released by Statistics Canada.

The last five years saw the fastest CMA population growth since the mid-1990's when the rate exceeded 13% between census periods. Over the last five years annual growth was 1.34%, jumping well above the previous decade's average of 1.0%.

 

The fastest growth occured on the Westshore, which saw a population rise of 13% – or just under 9,500 people – to a total of 82,543. The City of Langford put on more growth than any other municipality in the region with a 21% boost in its population to 35,342 from 29,228. Sooke had the second highest regional growth rate, at 13.7%, and saw its population rise to 13,001 from 11,435. Metchosin lost 95 inhabitants over the last five years and has a population of 4,708, while Highlands grew by 5% and is now home to 2,225 inhabitants. View Royal, the bridge between the region's urban core and the Westshore, grew by 11% to a total of 10,408 inhabitants and Colwood saw a rise of 4.8% to 16,859.

 

The region's four core municipalities of Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay and Esquimalt collectively grew by 11,686 individuals, or just over 5%. The fastest growth occurred in Esquimalt with 9%, bringing the municipality's population total to 17,655. Victoria-proper saw a rise of 7.2% pushing its population to 85,782. Saanich grew by 4,396 people, or 4%, totalling 114,148, while Oak Bay's population increased by just 79 residents and sits at 18,094.

 

The Saanich Peninsula, which comprises North Saanich, Sidney and Central Saanich, put on the least amount of growth. Central Saanich grew by 5.5% to total 16,814 inhabitants. North Saanich saw a rise of only 1.4% to 11,249. Sidney's population grew 4.4% to 11,672. The peninsula's population collectively rose to 39,735 from 38,203. C