Major technology firms such as Electronic Arts, Creo (now part of Eastman Kodak), Ballard Power Systems and Telus base their operations in Burnaby; heavy industry includes Chevron Corporation and Petro-Canada petroleum refineries on the shores of Burrard Inlet. Other companies such as eBay (ceased operation in 2009), Future Shop, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Pacific Blue Cross and Nokia have significant facilities in Burnaby as well. Other firms with operations based in Burnaby include Canada Wide Media, Doteasy, Telus, Teradici, AFCC, Mercedes-Benz Fuel Cell, HSBC Group Systems Development Center, and TransLink. The city features high density residential areas, major commercial town centres, rapid transit, high technology research and business parks, film production studios such as The Bridge Studios, TV stations such as Global TV and comprehensive industrial estates.

本那比主要的科技公司有电子艺界公司、富士全录公司（现併入伊士曼柯达公司）、巴拉德动力系统和研科传讯公司，他们的公司都设置于此。而重工业则包括了雪佛龙公司和加拿大国营石油（Petro-Canada，枫叶石油）炼油厂等在布勒内湾设厂。其它公司如eBay等也有重要设施在本那比市。城市的住宅区以高密度为特色，市中心主要有高速运输系统、科研中心及商业园、电影和电视製作中心、以及全面性的工业区。

至于供应一般民生消费的零售商业中心主要集中在布兰活城购物中心（Brentwood Town Centre）、洛歇城购物中心（Lougheed Town Centre）、铁道镇购物中心等购物中心周围和北部高地地区。其中铁道镇大都会广场是卑诗省最大型的购物商场，有电影院、餐厅、酒楼等，店铺超过400间。而丽晶广场不但是本那比最大型的华人购物商场，更是本那比市的地标性建筑。

While Burnaby occupies about 4% of the land area of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, it accounted for about 10% of the region’s population in 2001. It is the third most populated urban centre in British Columbia (after Vancouver and Surrey) with an estimated population of 205,261. Like much of Greater Vancouver, Burnaby has always had large ethnic and immigrant communities: to cite two examples, North Burnaby near Hastings Street has long been home to many Italian restaurants and recreational bocce games, while Metrotown’s ever-sprouting condominium towers in the south have been fuelled in part by more recent arrivals from China (Hong Kong and Macau), Taiwan, and South Korea. According to the 2006 Census, 54% of Burnaby residents have a mother tongue that is neither English nor French.

虽然本拿比的土地面积只佔整个大温哥华地区约4%，但2016年时人口是大温地区的9.5%。本拿比的人口为232,755人，是卑诗省内继温哥华和素里后的第3大城市。就像大温哥华多数的地区一样，本那比也有许多的移民社区，举例来说：本那比北部的喜士定街长期以来都有许多的义大利餐听和义式滚球舘，而铁道镇内如雨后春笋般的多层公寓建筑群，某程度上亦是拜由大中华地区（包括台湾、香港和澳门）、南韩和南斯拉夫涌入的新移民所赐。根据2006年人口普查报告显示，本那比市约有54%的人并非以英语或法语作为母语的[6]。

据加拿大统计局公布2006年卑诗省人口普查中，有关华裔人口变化报告显示，卑诗省华裔人口已在1996年至2006年间，增长2%，每10个卑诗省民，就有1人具华裔背景。其中本那比市华裔人口佔了总人口的30.3%。