Aeriel view of Downtown Vancouver

Our city: Vancouver

Facts about Vancouver

  • Size: 114 square kilometres (44 square miles)
  • Population: 662,248 (2021 Census)
  • Map of Vancouver
  • Vancouver weather
  • Vancouver is the largest city in British Columbia, and the eighth largest municipality in Canada; the Greater Vancouver metropolitan area (which includes neighbouring cities such as Burnaby, Richmond, and Surrey) is the third largest in Canada
  • City Hall coordinates: 49° 15' 39.14" N, 123° 6' 50.23" W
  • Pacific time zone: GMT -8
  • Pacific maritime ecozone
  • Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America

Vancouver has a mild oceanic climate, making it one of Canada's warmest cities. It's bordered by Burrard Inlet, English Bay, the Fraser River, and the Strait of Georgia. Most streets follow a grid pattern, with numbered east-west avenues and named north-south streets.

Vancouver is also one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada with 52%  of the population speaking a first language other than English.    

Vancouver as a host city

Vancouver has hosted many international conferences and events, including the:

  • FIFA World Cup 2026™
  • 2010 Winter Olympics
  • 2010 Winter Paralympics

Indigenous Peoples in Vancouver

The City of Vancouver is located on the traditional, unceded territories of the: xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) , Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) , and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, who have lived on these lands since time immemorial.

As a City of Reconciliation, the City of Vancouver has committed to “form a sustained relationship of mutual respect and understanding with local First Nations and the urban Indigenous community.” This is an ongoing and evolving commitment, and one that is essential to our path forward.

Visiting Vancouver

Planning a trip to Vancouver? Get tips on what to see and getting around the city.

Canadians of South Asian Heritages Museum

Support our vision to make Vancouver the future home of the Province of BC’s Canadians of South Asian Heritages Museum.

International and consular relationships

The City of Vancouver has five sister-city relationships with Odessa, Yokohama, Edinburgh, Guangzhou, and Los Angeles

Architecture of City Hall

The Vancouver City Hall building was built in 1936. Discover the history, architecture, and interior design. Visit in person or online.

City symbols

The City of Vancouver has an official emblem, coat of arms, badge, flag, mace, colour, and flower. Many of the symbols represent our plant life, waterways, wildlife, and mountains.