With nearly 1 in 4 people born outside its borders and over 200 languages spoken at home, Canada’s true identity is painted not in a single color, but in the vibrant, living mosaic of its people, as revealed by the latest census data.
Key Takeaways
- According to the 2021 Census, 69.8% of Canada's population identified as White, representing about 25.4 million people out of 36.5 million total population
- In 2021, South Asian population in Canada numbered 2.57 million, making up 7.1% of the total population
- Chinese ethnic origin was reported by 1.71 million Canadians in 2021, accounting for 4.7% of the population
- In 2021, 8.3% of Canadians reported Indigenous identity, totaling 1.8 million First Nations, Métis, and Inuit
- Canada admitted 405,303 permanent residents in 2021, with 62% economic class
- India was top source country with 127,795 immigrants in 2021, 32% of total
- 81.7% of recent immigrants proficient in English or French in 2021
- English as mother tongue for 52.6% of Canadians in 2021 Census
- French mother tongue 18.9%, or 7.0 million people in 2021
- Sikhism practiced by 2.1% or 770,000 Canadians in 2021
- Hinduism 2.3%, 828,195 adherents in 2021 Census
- Islam 4.9%, 1.78 million Muslims in 2021
- First Nations people totaled 1,048,405 identity population in 2021, 2.9% of Canada
- Métis population 624,220 by identity in 2021 Census
- Inuit numbered 70,545 in 2021, mostly Nunavut 85%
Canada is a diverse nation where visible minorities now constitute over a quarter of the population.
Ethnic Composition
1According to the 2021 Census, 69.8% of Canada's population identified as White, representing about 25.4 million people out of 36.5 million total population
Verified2In 2021, South Asian population in Canada numbered 2.57 million, making up 7.1% of the total population
Verified3Chinese ethnic origin was reported by 1.71 million Canadians in 2021, accounting for 4.7% of the population
Verified4Black population in Canada reached 1.55 million in 2021, or 4.3% of total residents
Directional5Filipino origin identified by 957,355 people in 2021 Census, comprising 2.6% nationally
Single source6Arab population totaled 694,015 in 2021, representing 1.9% of Canada's population
Verified7Latin American origin reported by 580,235 Canadians in 2021, or 1.6%
Verified8Southeast Asian ethnic group numbered 375,670 in 2021, 1.0% of population
Verified9West Asian origin by 387,345 people, 1.1% in 2021 Census
Directional10Korean population was 218,140 in 2021, 0.6%
Single source11Japanese origin identified by 80,265 Canadians, 0.2% in 2021
Verified12Visible minorities constituted 26.5% of Canada's population in 2021, up from 22.3% in 2016
Verified13Multiple ethnic origins reported by 35.6% of Canadians in 2021
Verified14In Ontario, 29.3% identified as South Asian in 2021 among visible minorities
Directional15British Isles origins (English, Scottish, Irish) totaled 14.0 million single responses in 2021
Single source16French origins reported by 4.7 million as single response, 12.8% in 2021
Verified17German origin single response by 2.0 million, 5.5%
Verified18Dutch origins 864,145 single responses, 2.4% in 2021
Verified19Ukrainian origin 1.3 million total responses
Directional20Indigenous ancestry reported by 5% or 1.8 million in 2021
Single source21In Quebec, 74.2% White population in 2021
Verified22British Columbia had 27.3% visible minorities in 2021
Verified23Alberta's Chinese population 4.8% in 2021
Verified24Manitoba South Asian 4.6%
Directional25Saskatchewan Black population 2.0% in 2021
Single source26In Toronto CMA, 54.4% visible minorities in 2021
Verified27Vancouver CMA 48.6% visible minorities
Verified28Montreal CMA 34.2% visible minorities in 2021
Verified29Calgary CMA 41.0% visible minorities
Directional30Ottawa-Gatineau CMA 29.5% visible minorities in 2021
Single sourceEthnic Composition Interpretation
While Canada is often celebrated as a multicultural mosaic, the 2021 census reveals the artwork is still very much a work in progress, with a predominantly white base layer (69.8%) gradually being enriched by vibrant and growing visible minority populations (26.5%), particularly in its major urban centers.
Immigration Statistics
1In 2021, 8.3% of Canadians reported Indigenous identity, totaling 1.8 million First Nations, Métis, and Inuit
Verified2Canada admitted 405,303 permanent residents in 2021, with 62% economic class
Verified3India was top source country with 127,795 immigrants in 2021, 32% of total
Verified4Philippines sent 20,486 permanent residents in 2021
Directional5China contributed 31,815 immigrants in 2021
Single source6Nigeria provided 15,170 immigrants
Verified7405,303 permanent residents admitted, 58% from Asia including Middle East
Verified8Family class reunification totaled 71,712 in 2021, 18% of admissions
Verified9Refugee admissions 49,270 in 2021, 12%
Directional10Economic immigrants 250,000+ in 2021, including Federal Economic 110,737
Single source11Provincial Nominee Program admitted 61,785 in 2021
Verified1225% of 2021 immigrants were under 20 years old
Verified1358.4% of recent immigrants (2016-2021) were visible minorities
Verified14Immigrants made up 23% of Canada's population in 2021, 8.9 million people
Directional15Toronto received 29% of 2021 permanent residents
Single source161.3 million temporary residents in Canada as of 2021
Verified17International students numbered 620,000 in 2021
Verified18Temporary foreign workers 255,000 in 2021
Verified19Asylum claimants totaled 74,475 in 2021
Directional202021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan targets 1.3 million permanent residents over 3 years
Single source21In 2022, 431,645 permanent residents admitted, 100,000+ from India
Verified22Afghanistan saw 17,000+ resettled refugees in 2021-2022
Verified23Ontario hosted 43% of recent immigrants 2016-2021
Verified24BC share of immigrants 13% in 2021
Directional25Quebec admitted 52,000 immigrants in 2021 under own system
Single source2667% of 2021 economic immigrants had university degrees
Verified27Recent immigrants median age 35.5 years in 2021
VerifiedImmigration Statistics Interpretation
While Canada is diligently growing its family tree with skilled professionals from around the world, it must also remember to nurture its ancient roots and ensure the branches aren't overcrowded in the same few cities.
Indigenous Diversity
1First Nations people totaled 1,048,405 identity population in 2021, 2.9% of Canada
Verified2Métis population 624,220 by identity in 2021 Census
Verified3Inuit numbered 70,545 in 2021, mostly Nunavut 85%
Verified4Registered First Nations 1,017,310 status Indians in 2022
Directional5Indigenous population growth 9.4% from 2016-2021, twice national rate
Single source6Manitoba has highest Indigenous share 11.9% in 2021
Verified7Saskatchewan 12.9% Indigenous population in 2021
Verified8Northwest Territories 50.8% Indigenous in 2021
Verified9Nunavut 85.3% Inuit identity population
Directional10Ontario First Nations 404,000 identity in 2021
Single source11BC Métis 88,920 in 2021
Verified12Alberta Indigenous 337,000, 7.5% in 2021
Verified13Urban Indigenous 178 metro areas, 60% off-reserve in 2021
Verified14Winnipeg CMA largest urban Indigenous 102,080 in 2021
Directional15Edmonton CMA 76,220 Indigenous
Single source16Vancouver CMA 70,000 Indigenous in 2021
Verified171,342 First Nations communities in Canada 2022
Verified18630 First Nations reserves, 11 uninhabited in 2021
Verified19Inuit Nunangat regions home to 65% of Inuit population
Directional20Median age First Nations 29.8 years vs 41.1 national in 2021
Single sourceIndigenous Diversity Interpretation
While Indigenous peoples represent just under five percent of Canada's population, their numbers are growing at twice the national rate, with a youthful demographic and deep-rooted presence that defines the cultural and geographic fabric of entire territories.
Linguistic Diversity
181.7% of recent immigrants proficient in English or French in 2021
Verified2English as mother tongue for 52.6% of Canadians in 2021 Census
Verified3French mother tongue 18.9%, or 7.0 million people in 2021
Verified498.9% of population could speak at least one official language in 2021
Directional5Bilingual English-French 17.8% or 6.5 million in 2021
Single source6Mandarin spoken at home by 2.2% or 780,000 in 2021
Verified7Punjabi mother tongue 1.8%, 628,000 speakers in 2021
Verified8Spanish at home 1.4%, 493,000 people in 2021
Verified9Arabic mother tongue 1.3%, 456,000 in 2021
Directional10Tagalog (Filipino) 1.2%, 431,000 speakers in 2021
Single source11Tamil 0.7%, 245,000 at home in 2021
Verified12Over 200 languages spoken in Canada, with 76 having 10,000+ speakers in 2021
Verified13In Quebec, 85.5% French mother tongue, 10.8% English in 2021
Verified14Ontario 69.4% English mother tongue, 1.8% French in 2021
Directional15BC 73.8% English, 1.5% French, 19.1% non-official in 2021
Single source16Indigenous languages spoken by 228,550 as mother tongue in 2021
Verified17Cree languages total 81,750 mother tongue speakers in 2021
Verified18Inuktitut 39,475 mother tongue in 2021, mostly Nunavut
Verified19Ojibway 28,130 mother tongue speakers in 2021
Directional20Dene 11,720 mother tongue in 2021
Single source21Toronto CMA had 47.0% speaking non-official language at home in 2021
Verified22Vancouver CMA 43.5% non-official home languages
Verified23Montreal 22.8% non-official languages at home in 2021
Verified24Calgary 35.2% non-official home languages
Directional2553.1% of recent immigrants had non-official mother tongue in 2021
Single source26French immersion enrollment 380,000 students in 2021-22
Verified2720.6% of Canadians can speak both official languages conversationally in 2021
Verified28In 2021 Census, 34.1% of population could conduct conversation in non-official language
VerifiedLinguistic Diversity Interpretation
Canada remains firmly planted in its two official languages, but as these numbers prove, it has enthusiastically cultivated a stunning multilingual garden that often outshows the lawn it was planted on.
Religious Diversity
1Sikhism practiced by 2.1% or 770,000 Canadians in 2021
Verified2Hinduism 2.3%, 828,195 adherents in 2021 Census
Verified3Islam 4.9%, 1.78 million Muslims in 2021
Verified4Buddhism 1.0%, 356,570 in 2021
Directional5Judaism 0.9%, 335,295 Jews in 2021 Census
Single source6Christianity 53.3%, 19.37 million in 2021, down from 67.3% in 2011
Verified7No religious affiliation 34.6%, 12.58 million in 2021
Verified8Catholic 29.0%, 10.52 million in 2021
Verified9United Church 3.3%, 1.19 million adherents
Directional10Anglican 3.1%, 1.14 million in 2021
Single source11Baptist 1.2%, 432,675 in 2021 Census
Verified12Pentecostal 1.5%, 558,045 in 2021
Verified13Eastern Orthodox 1.7%, 622,000 in 2021
Verified14Jehovah's Witnesses 0.2%, 78,820 in 2021
Directional15In Ontario, Muslims 6.7% of population in 2021
Single source16Quebec 74.6% Christian, 12.1% no religion in 2021
Verified17BC 34.3% no religion, 34.0% Christian in 2021
Verified18Alberta Hindus 3.6%, highest provincial share in 2021
Verified19Manitoba Sikhs 2.0% in 2021
Directional20Toronto CMA 10.4% Muslim, 9.9% Hindu in 2021
Single source21Vancouver 4.8% Sikh, highest concentration
Verified2273% of recent immigrants non-Christian in 2021
Verified23Indigenous spiritualities 1.1%, 399,000 in 2021
Verified24Jews concentrated in Ontario 66%, Quebec 15% in 2021
Directional25Buddhists mainly in Ontario 36%, BC 25% in 2021
Single sourceReligious Diversity Interpretation
Canada's religious landscape is no longer a monochrome Sunday sermon but a vibrant, complex mosaic where cathedrals share the skyline with temples and mosques, and the fastest-growing congregation is the one having a quiet coffee instead.
Sources & References
- Reference 1STATCANwww12.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 2STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 3STATCANstatcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 4CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 5OPENopen.canada.caVisit source
- Reference 6CICcic.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 7IRCCircc.canada.caVisit source
- Reference 8UNHCRunhcr.orgVisit source
- Reference 9QUEBECquebec.caVisit source
- Reference 10SAC-ISCsac-isc.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 11FNP-PPNfnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.caVisit source