Good to know
Good to Know
- Whistler's immigrant population (24.7%) is significantly higher than the Canadian national average (22.6%) and the highest in the Sea to Sky region. The community includes substantial numbers from the UK, Australia, and Philippines.
- Roughly 10.4% of residents are non-permanent (temporary foreign workers and international students), reflecting the seasonal nature of the resort economy and ongoing labor demand.
- The population has declined slightly in recent years (−2.7% in 2024), reversing earlier rapid growth trends.
- Younger working-age cohorts (25–44) represent nearly 42% of the population, creating a dynamic, active lifestyle-oriented community.
- Tourism and hospitality dominate employment; remote work in tech and creative industries is an emerging trend attracting lifestyle-focused professionals.
- English is the dominant language (94.7%); French is second (4.4%). Newcomer communities speak diverse languages including Filipino, Spanish, Japanese, and Czech.
Gender
- Male Percent
- 53.7
- Female Percent
- 46.3
Income
- Households Below 30 Percent Income On Housing Percent
- 65.7
- Households Exceed 30 Percent Income On Housing Percent
- 34.3
- Year
- 2021
- Median Household Income Annual
- CA$99,000
- Shelter Cost Median Renter Monthly
- CA$1,780
- Shelter Cost Median Homeowner Monthly
- CA$1,720
Density
- Land Area Km2
- 240
- Population Density Per Km2
- 58.3
Language
- Bilingual Percent
- 0.4
- French Primary Percent
- 4.4
- English Primary Percent
- 94.7
- Other Languages Percent
- 0.5
Notable Mother Tongues Among Newcomers
- Filipino
- Japanese
- Spanish
- Czech
- Korean
- Slovak
- Chinese
- German
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Arabic
Age Demographics
- Seniors 65 Plus Percent
- 9.1
- Children Under 15 Percent
- 11.1
- Working Age 25 34 Percent
- 24.6
- Working Age 35 44 Percent
- 17.9
- Working Age 45 54 Percent
- 13.7
- Youth Young Adults Percent
- 12.6
- Nearing Retirement 55 64 Percent
- 10.9
- Median Age
- 37.9
Foreign Born Year
2021
Population Growth
- Growth Rate Annual Percent
- -2.7
- Year
- 2024
- Note
- Recent decline noted; earlier (2021-2016) saw 19% growth
Recent Immigrants
- Percent Of Immigrant Population
- 31.3
- Arrived 2016 To 2021 Count
- 1040
Foreign Born Count
3320
Canadian Born Count
8710
Foreign Born Percent
24.7
Permanent Population
- Count
- 13982
- Census Year
- 2021
- Year Recorded
- 2024
- Note
- Latest estimate from Statistics Canada's 2024 population data; 2021 Census recorded 14,771
Canadian Born Percent
64.9
Household Information
- Rented Percent
- 43.9
- Owner Occupied Percent
- 56.1
- Total Households
- 5600
- Vacant Dwellings
- 4468
- Occupied Dwellings
- 5597
- Typical Household Size
- 2.4
- Total Private Dwellings
- 10065
Seasonal And Temporary
- Non Permanent Residents Percent
- 10.4
- Seasonal Residents Estimate
- 3241
- Non Permanent Residents Count
- 1390
- Non Permanent Note
- Includes temporary foreign workers, international students, and refugee claimants
Business And Tech Presence
- Primary Economy
- Tourism and hospitality
- Employment Trends
- Seasonal hiring peaks in winter and summer; low unemployment due to constant service/hospitality demand. Tech and creative industries increasingly attract remote workers.
- Tech And Remote Work
- Emerging sector; remote work gaining traction in tech and creative industries. Historical small tech presence with established firms (Guestfolio Communications, Whistler Technologies).
- Primary Economy Note
- Skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking drive the visitor economy (over 2 million visitors annually)
Secondary Industries
- Outdoor recreation
- Retail
- Hospitality services
Top Nationalities Of Immigrants
United Kingdom
- Rank
- 1
Australia
- Rank
- 2
Philippines
- Rank
- 3
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Whistler
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.