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Thompson-Okanagan Population Growth Slows, Housing Stable
Population in B.C.'s Thompson-Okanagan region grew just 0.6% in the past year, as international migration dropped 77% and interprovincial inflows slowed. Kelowna rents rose 10%, and vacancy hit 6.4%, the highest among Canadian CMAs.
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The Thompson-Okanagan region added 4,033 residents over the 12 months through July 1, 2025, bringing its population to 669,958, according to data released Wednesday by the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. The 0.6% growth rate matched the provincial slowdown.
"It's a combination of factors, including fewer newcomers from other countries and weaker interprovincial migration," said Karen Christiansen, FCPA, FCA at CPABC. International migration into the region fell 77.2% to 1,752 net new residents. Inflow from other provinces dropped to under 500 people for the second straight year.
Intraprovincial migration held steady. The region gained 4,327 people from other parts of British Columbia. Natural change – births minus deaths – subtracted 2,488.
Kelowna, the region's largest census metropolitan area, added 2,957 people, a 1.2% increase. Kamloops lost 259 residents over the same period. Since July 2020, Kelowna's population has grown 12.6%, narrowly edging Greater Vancouver's 12.3% growth to become the province's fastest-growing CMA.