The population of Prince Rupert took a drop in 2014 and is now the lowest it has been in four years, according to the latest figures from BC Stats.
The agency's population estimates put Prince Rupert's population at 11,918, down 2.9 cent from the 12,275 estimate for 2013. That number puts Prince Rupert at the top of the list when it comes to year-over-year population declines in municipalities over 5,000, just ahead of Smithers at 2.7 per cent. The current population estimate is down even further compared to 2011 when BC Stats estimated 12,802 people called the city home, a drop of 884 people over the past four years.
But Prince Rupert isn't alone in seeing year-over-year declines. BC Stats estimates the population of Port Edward was also the lowest it has been in four years in 2014, sitting at 536 compared to a high of 554 in 2013 equal to a 3.4 per cent decline. Terrace's population is also estimated to be at a four-year low of 11,265, down from a high of 11,688 in 2011.
It's a different story on Haida Gwaii, where BC Stats estimates minor population increases in all communities.