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Audience diversity

Last updated on November 13, 2025

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Diversity of disability

Anyone can have a disability, and a disability can occur at any point in a person’s life. However, disabilities are more common among adults 65 years of age and older.

  • 28.6% of British Columbians aged 15 years and older live with a disability
  • 70% of people with disabilities report more than one disability
  • 41.7% of British Columbians over the age of 65 live with a disability
  • As of 2021, over one million British Columbians were aged 65 years or older, representing about 20% of the population of B.C.

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Cultural diversity

  • We live and work on the territories of more than 200 distinct Nations across the province. Each with their own unique cultures, traditions and history
  • As of 2021, there are over 290,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in B.C.
  • In 2024, we welcomed over 63,000 new immigrants
  • 29% of British Columbians immigrated to B.C. from another country
  • Residents of B.C. trace their origins to over 200 countries or regions

Languages in B.C.

  • There are 35 First Nations languages with 7 distinct, unrelated language families in B.C. There are over 93 dialects within these languages
  • More than half of all First Nation languages in Canada are represented in B.C.
  • After English and French, the most common languages spoken at home are Mandarin, Punjabi and Cantonese
  • In 2021, just under 1 in 3 British Columbians spoke a language other than English or French as their first language

Literacy levels 

Literacy is measured across six levels. People with Level 1 or below are considered to have very low literacy skills, while Level 3 is considered the minimum required for coping with everyday life. Of British Columbians aged between 16 and 65 years:

  • 45.9% are reading at a Level 2 or below
  • 38.7% at Level 3
  • 15.4% at Level 4 to 5 (the highest level)

Use the plain language to create content that people can read and understand.

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