The population of the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), like the eight municipalities in it, has grown in the past five years.

According to Statistics Canada census information released this week, the population of the RDEK has grown nine per cent, from 60,439 in 2016 to 65,896 in 2021.

The total number of private dwellings is 35,931 and private dwellings occupied by usual residents is 28,264.

Private dwelling refers to a separate set of living quarters with a private entrance either from outside the building or from a common hall, lobby, vestibule or stairway inside the building. The entrance to the dwelling must be one that can be used without passing through the living quarters of some other person or group of persons.

A private dwelling occupied by usual residents refers to a private dwelling in which a person or a group of persons is permanently residing.

The population density in the region is a spacious 2.4 people per-square-kilometre.

British Columbia’s rural population is 634,976, up from 631,776 in 2016.

The province’s population has surpassed the five million mark, now sitting at 5,000,879, up from 4,648,055 in 2016 – a 7.6 per cent growth rate.

Lead image: Spillimacheen. e-KNOW file photos

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