Status Indian Population Estimates
The population estimates presented in this report were created by the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency specifically for this project, based on the Status Indian Entitlement files from the B.C. Medical Services Plan (MSP). These files contain the age and usual residence of Status Indians who have registered to have their MSP premiums funded by the federal government. The MSP files were adjusted for births and deaths by cross-matching with historical annual files from the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency. The resulting estimates of Status Indian residents by age and gender were reviewed by the Medical Services Branch, Health Canada.
Population estimation is a complex undertaking. Using the MSP administrative files as the basis for deriving population estimates has both strengths and weaknesses. On one hand, the addresses in the MSP files enable the project to produce regional population estimates which are not available elsewhere. On the other hand, since registration is voluntary, the files might not include Status Indians who are covered by a spouse's or employer's MSP coverage. Overall, the MSP database was considered to be the best available source for estimating the Status Indian population living in B.C. The Agency is working closely with Medical Services Branch of Health Canada to further develop the population estimation methodology. At this time, the latest population estimates presented in this report are intended for research purposes only.
Table 3 provides 1998 population estimates by age and gender for Status Indians and all other B.C. residents, while Table 3a provides similar information for 1998 for the Status Indian populations in each of the four administrative areas. Provincial and regional population estimates for individual years, 1991 to 1997, are presented in Appendix 1 and 1a, respectively. In order to assist researchers who wish to calculate other rates, Appendix 1 and 1a also include a table of population aggregates for the eight-year period.
The major highlights of the population estimates are summarized below:
- In 1998, one in 30 B.C. residents was a Status Indian. The population of Status Indians in the province was estimated at 132,081, or 3.3 % of the provincial population. The Status Indian population grew at a compound growth rate of 3.1% annually since 1991. In comparison, all other B.C. residents (the population who are not Status Indian) grew at 2.5% over the same period.
- The largest and fastest growing Status Indian population was in the South Mainland area. The Status Indian population in the North East area was the smallest and slowest growing.
| Population | 1998 Population | Pop. Growth 1991-1998 |
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| Status Indian Population | 132,081 | 3.1% |
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| South Mainland Area | 59,488 | 3.6% |
| Vancouver Island Area | 28,631 | 2.9% |
| North West Area | 17,993 | 1.7% |
| North East Area | 25,606 | 3.0% |
| All Other B.C. Residents | 3,877,841 | 2.5% |
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- In 1998, there were 48,569 Status Indian children and youth under 20 years of age in the province. More than one-third (36.8%) of the Status Indian population and one quarter (25.1%) of all other B.C. residents were in this young age group. Although overall Status Indians made up 3.3 % of the provincial population, they comprised 5.8% of the B.C. population under age 20 due to the higher birth rate among Status Indians in recent decades.
[Click here to download a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet of the above table]
[Click here to download a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet of the above table]
- In 1998, almost one in five (19.1%) Status Indians was over 44 years of age and less than one in twenty (4.2%) was 65 or older. For other B.C. residents, the proportions were 35.8% and 13.0%, respectively.
- The Status Indian population is younger than other B.C. residents. Comparing the average age of the two populations in 1998, the B.C. Status Indian population was 28.3 years old, which was more than 8 years younger than the average age of 36.8 years for other B.C. residents.
- A graphical comparison of these age distributions can be seen in the population pyramids which show the percentage of the population in each five-year age group, with males shown on the left and females on the right. For Status Indians, the population pyramid is roughly triangular in shape, with a wide base indicating high birth rates and population growth. The pyramid for all other B.C. residents (labeled All Others) is characterized by the baby boomer bulge in the middle age groups, and a narrowing base resulting from declining birth rates in the last 25 years.
- A dependency ratio is one measure commonly used to compare different age distributions. A dependency ratio is a theoretical estimate of the number of dependents (defined as children under 15 and the older group 65 or older) supported by each person in the 'working age' population (defined as between the ages of 15 and 64). It is calculated in the following way:
- The 1998 dependency ratio for Status Indians was 0.48 compared to 0.46 for all other B.C. residents. Although these appear similar, the number of children and seniors for every 100 people in the 'working age' population (15 to 64 years) varied greatly. In the Status Indian population, there were approximately 42 children (under age 15) and 6 seniors (over age 64) for every 100 people in the 'working age' population. Among all other residents of the province there were 27 children and 19 seniors per 100 people in the 'working age' population.
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