British Columbia · Census Metropolitan Area
Kelowna by the numbers
Kelowna is Canada's 19th largest metro area, home to about 255K people, growing faster than the country since 2021 (+9.7% vs +9.3%). A two-bedroom rents for about $2,098, the median age is 44.4 and January averages -2°C.
People
Population of Kelowna
The Kelowna census metropolitan area had an estimated 254,605 people on July 1, 2025, up +9.7% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 222,162 people, +14.0% more than in 2016.
The City of Kelowna itself had an estimated 167,654 residents in 2025.
Municipalities in the Kelowna area
| Municipality | 2025 estimate | 2021 Census | 2016–21 growth | People / km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelowna | 167,654 | 144,576 | +13.5% | 682 |
| West Kelowna | 40,274 | 36,078 | +10.5% | 296 |
| Lake Country | 17,637 | 15,817 | +22.4% | 130 |
| Tsinstikeptum 9 | 10,514 | 9,134 | +20.0% | 1,352 |
| Peachland | 6,302 | 5,789 | +6.7% | 360 |
| Central Okanagan | 4,784 | 4,258 | +11.6% | 3 |
| Central Okanagan West | 3,298 | 2,897 | +45.5% | 2 |
| Duck Lake 7 | 2,091 | 1,847 | +11.0% | 919 |
| Tsinstikeptum 10 | 2,081 | 1,766 | +24.7% | 534 |
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0148-01, Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0155-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0003-01
2021 Census
Who lives in Kelowna
Age
Median age is 44.4 (Canada: 41.6). 22.6% of residents are 65 or older and 13.8% are under 15.
Languages
6.9% can speak both official languages. At home, 93.2% speak mostly English, 0.3% mostly French and 5.0% mostly another language.
Immigration
14.4% of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and 2.0% arrived between 2016 and 2021.
Education: 27.5% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 24.5% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 10.5% a trades certificate.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0030-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0223-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0227-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0302-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0384-01
Money
Income and jobs in Kelowna
Half of Kelowna households made more than $85,000 in 2020 and half made less. Across Canada the median was $84,000.
Unemployment rate
In September 2026, the unemployment rate was 8.6% and 62.9% of adults had a job.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01, Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01
Housing
Housing in Kelowna
Average rent (October 2025)
A two-bedroom apartment rented for $2,098 a month on average, +9.5% from a year earlier and +53.4% over five years. The rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.
New homes being built
Builders started 1,907 new homes in the Kelowna area in the 12 months to September 2026, -15.4% from the year before. That is 7.5 new homes per 1,000 residents. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0154-01 (CMHC housing starts)
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0258-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0256-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0253-01, Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0133-01, Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0127-01
Commuting
Getting around Kelowna
Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.
Safety
Crime in Kelowna
The Crime Severity Index weighs each police-reported crime by how serious it is. Canada in 2006 = 100. Kelowna's index fell -3.5% in the latest year.
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01
Every crime type in Kelowna → Car theft, break-ins, fraud, homicides and more.
Climate
Kelowna weather and climate
30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Winfield weather station, 17.4 km from the city centre.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010
Official city data
Kelowna open data & fun facts
Open Kelowna · 133 datasets
- Legal Parcel Parcels within the City of Kelowna.
- Road Roads within the City of Kelowna.
- Address Points Addressing for parcels within the City of Kelowna.
- Interests Registered interests within the City of Kelowna up until 2018.
Out of all Canadian metro areas with data
How Kelowna ranks
Compare
Cities near Kelowna
Interactive timeline
History of Kelowna
Kelowna sits on the east shore of Okanagan Lake in the territory of the Syilx Okanagan people, whose name for the area means grizzly bear. An Oblate mission founded in 1859 brought the first orchards, and the town incorporated in 1905 grew into the "Orchard City" and later the main urban centre of the Okanagan. Since the 1950s new bridges and highways, tourism and retirement migration have driven fast growth, while wildfires in 2003 and 2023 have shaped its recent history.
FAQ
Kelowna questions, answered
What is the population of Kelowna?
The Kelowna metro area had an estimated 254,605 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of Kelowna itself had about 167,654.
How much is rent in Kelowna?
In October 2025 the average rent in Kelowna was $1,597 for a one-bedroom and $2,098 for a two-bedroom apartment (CMHC Rental Market Survey).
What is the average household income in Kelowna?
The median household income in Kelowna was $85,000 before tax in 2020 ($75,500 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $106,900.
What is the unemployment rate in Kelowna?
The unemployment rate in Kelowna was 8.6% in September 2026 (Labour Force Survey, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted).
How cold does it get in Kelowna?
January averages -1.9°C, with average lows of -4.1°C. Kelowna gets about 91 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 26.8°C (1981–2010 climate normals).
Is Kelowna bilingual?
6.9% of people in Kelowna can speak both English and French; 92.5% speak English only and 0.0% French only (2021 Census).
What is the median age in Kelowna?
The median age in Kelowna was 44.4 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.
Is Kelowna safe?
Kelowna had a Crime Severity Index of 103.7 in 2025, compared with 75.0 for Canada as a whole. A lower number means less, and less serious, police-reported crime.
Built October 30, 2026 from the latest published official data.