Kelowna is expected to grow by 50,000 people in the coming 20 years/ City of Kelowna

By Vernon Matters Staff

growth

Kelowna to grow by 50,000 by 2045

Nov 18, 2025 | 5:04 PM

Kelowna should expect a population increase of 50,000 over the next 20 years, or the equivalent of another West Kelowna and Peachland combined.

Demographic expert Andrew Ramlo told city council there will need to be 37,000 homes built to support that growth to 2045.

He said despite federal government moves to cut new permanent residents in the coming years, Kelowna will remain a growth centre because of its diversifying economy and lifestyle.

In recent years, 50 per cent of newcomers to Kelowna were from B.C., 33 per cent from elsewhere in Canada, and 17 per cent were international arrivals, Ramlo presented in his report.

“There has been a lot of recent variability in population and housing forecasts. Given scenario testing we did… a reasonable outlook is for the city to grow by about 50,000 people over the next two decades,” he reported.

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“Note that you [Kelowna] are slightly less exposed to shifts in immigration policy than other major metros. Kelowna will continue to be a growing population centre within BC, driven by its diversifying economy and lifestyle,” he noted.

“You will therefore need to continue to build new homes to accommodate both your existing residents and newcomers. There will always be some degree of pressure on housing availability & affordability in highly desirable regions. It is my hope that you continue to build on your recent success in addressing these issues.”