Highest Poverty in British Columbia

Top 89 cities ranked by highest poverty

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Highest Poverty - British Columbia

1 Metro Vancouver A 30.0%
2 Cariboo 25.6%
3 Central Kootenay H 21.6%
4 Duncan 20.1%
5 Strathcona 17.4%
6 Richmond 15.9%
7 Southern Gulf Islands 15.9%
8 West Vancouver 15.4%
9 Nanaimo F 15.0%
10 Port Alberni 14.6%
11 Comox Valley A 14.4%
12 Hope 14.3%
13 Garden City 14.1%
14 Merritt 14.0%
15 Saltspring Island 13.7%
16 Burnaby 13.5%
17 Vancouver 13.2%
18 Victoria 13.1%
19 Peace River B 12.8%
20 White Rock 12.8%
21 Powell River 12.6%
22 Columbia-Shuswap C 11.8%
23 Spallumcheen 11.7%
24 Oliver 11.6%
25 Nelson 11.6%
26 Dawson Creek 11.5%
27 Parksville 11.4%
28 Courtenay 11.4%
29 Kent 11.4%
30 Vernon 11.3%
31 Trail 11.3%
32 North Vancouver 11.1%
33 Nanaimo 11.1%
34 Langley 10.9%
35 Salmon Arm 10.7%
36 Cariboo A 10.5%
37 Castlegar 10.3%
38 Comox Valley C 10.1%
39 New Westminster 10.1%
40 Kelowna 10.1%
41 North Cowichan 10.0%
42 Chilliwack 9.9%
43 Peachland 9.9%
44 Armstrong 9.8%
45 Prince Rupert 9.5%
46 Terrace 9.3%
47 Qualicum Beach 9.2%
48 Cranbrook 9.1%
49 Prince George 9.0%
50 Tsinstikeptum 10 9.0%
51 Surrey 8.8%
52 Nanaimo A 8.7%
53 Kimberley 8.7%
54 Comox Valley B 8.6%
55 Ladysmith 8.3%
56 Abbotsford 8.3%
57 Sooke 8.2%
58 Lake Country 8.2%
59 Saanich 8.2%
60 Summerland 8.1%
61 Sidney 8.1%
62 Fort St. John 8.1%
63 Oak Bay 8.0%
64 Smithers 8.0%
65 Nanaimo E 7.9%
66 Nanaimo G 7.8%
67 Bulkley-Nechako A 7.8%
68 Cowichan Valley C 7.5%
69 Port Coquitlam 7.4%
70 Cowichan Valley B 7.3%
71 Port Moody 7.0%
72 West Kelowna 7.0%
73 Maple Ridge 6.9%
74 Delta 6.9%
75 Langford 6.8%
76 Whistler 6.8%
77 East Kootenay C 6.7%
78 Revelstoke 6.7%
79 Peace River C 6.6%
80 Metchosin 6.6%
81 Pitt Meadows 6.5%
82 Squamish 6.3%
83 Fernie 6.1%
84 View Royal 6.1%
85 Central Saanich 5.5%
86 Kitimat 5.4%
87 Coldstream 5.2%
88 Colwood 4.9%
89 North Saanich 4.8%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in British Columbia face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Metro Vancouver A has a poverty rate of 30.0%.

High poverty rates impact communities in multiple ways: reduced access to healthcare and healthy food, lower educational outcomes, higher crime rates, and deteriorating infrastructure. These challenges are interconnected and require comprehensive solutions.

Addressing poverty in these cities requires a multi-pronged approach including economic development, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare access, and workforce training programs targeting underserved populations.

Did You Know?

  • 1. In Metro Vancouver A, 30.0% of residents - roughly 1 in 3 people - live below the poverty line.
  • 2. Child poverty rates in these cities are often even higher than the overall rate, sometimes exceeding 40%.
  • 3. Poverty is measured by household income relative to family size - the threshold varies from $15,060 for an individual to $31,200 for a family of four.

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