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Visible Minority Seniors Statistics

Canada’s senior population is rapidly rising and becoming more diverse. In the year 2000, seniors comprised 13% of the population of British Columbia. By 2021, 19% of the BC population is expected to be over the age of 65. A similar proportion is reflected and projected nationally. Six percent of seniors currently belong to visible minority groups, compared to 13% of persons under the age of 45. The eventual aging of that demographic group, combined with increasing immigration patterns, will lead to a very significant rise in the number of seniors from visible minority groups over the next two decades.

Population of visible minority groups by age (2001 census)

TITLE	Age Groups (8)
TITLE	Total - Age groups	Under 15 years	15-24 years	25-34 years	35-44 years	45-54 years	55-64 years	65 years and over
Total - Total population by visible minority groups	29,639,035	5,737,675	3,988,200	3,973,085	5,074,090	4,393,180	2,847,955	3,624,850
Total visible minority population	3,983,845	942,195	634,685	650,490	700,820	517,105	277,405	261,155
Chinese	1,029,395	195,255	157,730	148,385	194,270	158,530	73,420	101,810
South Asian	917,075	228,345	139,810	161,875	148,595	110,880	71,855	55,720
Black	662,215	195,120	110,610	105,935	101,960	70,895	45,110	32,580
Filipino	308,575	68,795	44,490	46,355	62,535	45,480	22,630	18,285
Latin American	216,980	48,450	38,550	40,900	41,085	28,490	12,260	7,245
Southeast Asian	198,880	50,125	32,775	34,055	40,145	22,835	9,585	9,360
Arab	194,685	53,210	30,830	36,355	34,075	21,430	10,725	8,060
West Asian	109,290	23,365	20,010	18,680	21,950	14,645	5,985	4,650
Korean	100,660	19,520	21,110	16,985	16,885	13,410	8,165	4,585
Japanese	73,315	12,735	10,980	13,115	10,665	9,225	6,760	9,830
Visible minority, n.i.e.	98,915	21,705	14,890	16,975	18,170	13,865	7,260	6,050
Multiple visible minorities	73,870	25,570	12,900	10,870	10,485	7,425	3,650	2,980
All others	25,655,185	4,795,480	3,353,520	3,322,600	4,373,270	3,876,080	2,570,545	3,363

Source: Statistics Canada

Visible Minority Seniors Statistics

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