The Lower Mainland is a geographic and cultural region of the mainland coast of British Columbia that generally comprises the regional districts of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Home to approximately 3.05Â million people as of the 2021 Canadian census, the Lower Mainland contains sixteen of the province's 30 most populous municipalities and approximately 60% of the province's total population.
Core area of the Lower Mainland
The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD), or simply Metro Vancouver, is a Canadian political subdivision and corporate entity representing the metropolitan area of Greater Vancouver, designated by provincial legislation as one of the 28 regional districts in British Columbia. The organization was known as the Regional District of Fraser–Burrard for nearly one year upon incorporating in 1967, and as the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) from 1968 to 2017.
Satellite image of Metro Vancouver
With 662,248 residents recorded in the 2021 census, Vancouver is the most populated city in Metro Vancouver.
With a population of 568,322 (2021), Surrey is the second-most populated city in Metro Vancouver.
Burnaby is the third-most populated city in Metro Vancouver with a population of 249,125 (2021).