Kelowna falls to 19th fastest-growing city in Canada

Population growth in Greater Kelowna fell to its slowest rate in more than a decade, putting Kelowna as the 19th fastest-growing city in Canada.

Statistics Canada figures compiled by real estate analysis firm, the Rennie Report, show that Kelowna has fallen far down the ranks in the list of 41 census metropolitan areas.

It’s a far cry from a few years ago when, in 2022, Kelowna was crowned the fastest-growing city in Canada, with the 2021 census saying it had grown 14%.

But the situation changed and in 2025, Kelowna expanded its population by 2,957 to 254,605, a 1.2% increase.

“Notably, this was the smallest absolute increase in Kelowna’s population since 2012 and the lowest in percentage terms since 2002,” the Rennie Report says.

The report says out of the almost 3,000 new residents, 2,179 came from domestic migration, 1,108 from international migration, and the region experienced a natural decline of 330 more deaths than births.

Kelowna also saw a huge downturn in out-of-province migration.

The report says Kelowna added just 646 people from other provinces and territories in 2025, a 70% decline from the 10-year average. Ordinarily, on average, almost 2,200 people a year move to the city from other provinces across Canada.

“Domestic migration has historically been the region’s main population driver, and changes in migratory patterns there have arguably been the bigger constraint on growth,” the report reads. 

Migration within the province held steady, only seeing a 7% drop from the decade average. The report says 1,533 people moved from other parts of BC to Kelowna.

The report highlights that changes to national immigration policy in late 2024 have had sweeping affects across the country and the number of non-permanent residents in Canada has already declined by 300,000.

However, this disproportionately inpacted Canada’s largest urban centres and had less of an impact on Kelowna.

“The more critical factor in Kelowna lies within our own borders, with a more sustainable growth path hinging on both the region’s and the province’s ability to restore their historical appeal to domestic migrants,” the Rennie Report reads.

Nationwide the fastest growing census metropolitan area was Edmonton at 3.1%, followed by Moncton at 3%, Calgary at 2.9%, and Chilliwack at 2.6%.

In contrast, Montreal grew by just 0.5%, Vancouver at 0.2% and Toronto declined by 0.01%.