The 2021 census shows visible minorities now constitute over a quarter of Canada's population. This data provides a detailed snapshot of the country's evolving ethnic, linguistic, and religious composition.
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, 8.3% of Canadians reported Indigenous identity, totaling 1.8 million First Nations, Métis, and Inuit
- First Nations people totaled 1,048,405 identity population in 2021, 2.9% of Canada
- 81.7% of recent immigrants proficient in English or French in 2021
- Sikhism practiced by 2.1% or 770,000 Canadians in 2021
Canada’s diversity is growing fast, with more immigrants and visible minorities shaping communities nationwide.
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01 · Category
Ethnic Composition30 stats
01
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
02
In 2021, South Asian population in Canada numbered 2.57 million, making up 7.1% of the total population
03
Chinese ethnic origin was reported by 1.71 million Canadians in 2021, accounting for 4.7% of the population
04
Black population in Canada reached 1.55 million in 2021, or 4.3% of total residents
05
Filipino origin identified by 957,355 people in 2021 Census, comprising 2.6% nationally
06
Arab population totaled 694,015 in 2021, representing 1.9% of Canada's population
07
Latin American origin reported by 580,235 Canadians in 2021, or 1.6%
08
Southeast Asian ethnic group numbered 375,670 in 2021, 1.0% of population
09
West Asian origin by 387,345 people, 1.1% in 2021 Census
10
Korean population was 218,140 in 2021, 0.6%
11
Japanese origin identified by 80,265 Canadians, 0.2% in 2021
12
Visible minorities constituted 26.5% of Canada's population in 2021, up from 22.3% in 2016
13
Multiple ethnic origins reported by 35.6% of Canadians in 2021
14
In Ontario, 29.3% identified as South Asian in 2021 among visible minorities
15
British Isles origins (English, Scottish, Irish) totaled 14.0 million single responses in 2021
16
French origins reported by 4.7 million as single response, 12.8% in 2021
17
German origin single response by 2.0 million, 5.5%
18
Dutch origins 864,145 single responses, 2.4% in 2021
19
Ukrainian origin 1.3 million total responses
20
Indigenous ancestry reported by 5% or 1.8 million in 2021
21
In Quebec, 74.2% White population in 2021
22
British Columbia had 27.3% visible minorities in 2021
23
Alberta's Chinese population 4.8% in 2021
24
Manitoba South Asian 4.6%
25
Saskatchewan Black population 2.0% in 2021
26
In Toronto CMA, 54.4% visible minorities in 2021
27
Vancouver CMA 48.6% visible minorities
28
Montreal CMA 34.2% visible minorities in 2021
29
Calgary CMA 41.0% visible minorities
30
Ottawa-Gatineau CMA 29.5% visible minorities in 2021
Interpretation
Ethnic 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.
02 · Category
Immigration Statistics27 stats
01
In 2021, 8.3% of Canadians reported Indigenous identity, totaling 1.8 million First Nations, Métis, and Inuit
02
Canada admitted 405,303 permanent residents in 2021, with 62% economic class
03
India was top source country with 127,795 immigrants in 2021, 32% of total
04
Philippines sent 20,486 permanent residents in 2021
05
China contributed 31,815 immigrants in 2021
06
Nigeria provided 15,170 immigrants
07
405,303 permanent residents admitted, 58% from Asia including Middle East
08
Family class reunification totaled 71,712 in 2021, 18% of admissions
09
Refugee admissions 49,270 in 2021, 12%
10
Economic immigrants 250,000+ in 2021, including Federal Economic 110,737
11
Provincial Nominee Program admitted 61,785 in 2021
12
25% of 2021 immigrants were under 20 years old
13
58.4% of recent immigrants (2016-2021) were visible minorities
14
Immigrants made up 23% of Canada's population in 2021, 8.9 million people
15
Toronto received 29% of 2021 permanent residents
16
1.3 million temporary residents in Canada as of 2021
17
International students numbered 620,000 in 2021
18
Temporary foreign workers 255,000 in 2021
19
Asylum claimants totaled 74,475 in 2021
20
2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan targets 1.3 million permanent residents over 3 years
21
In 2022, 431,645 permanent residents admitted, 100,000+ from India
22
Afghanistan saw 17,000+ resettled refugees in 2021-2022
23
Ontario hosted 43% of recent immigrants 2016-2021
24
BC share of immigrants 13% in 2021
25
Quebec admitted 52,000 immigrants in 2021 under own system
26
67% of 2021 economic immigrants had university degrees
27
Recent immigrants median age 35.5 years in 2021
Interpretation
Immigration 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.
03 · Category
Indigenous Diversity20 stats
01
First Nations people totaled 1,048,405 identity population in 2021, 2.9% of Canada
02
Métis population 624,220 by identity in 2021 Census
03
Inuit numbered 70,545 in 2021, mostly Nunavut 85%
04
Registered First Nations 1,017,310 status Indians in 2022
05
Indigenous population growth 9.4% from 2016-2021, twice national rate
06
Manitoba has highest Indigenous share 11.9% in 2021
07
Saskatchewan 12.9% Indigenous population in 2021
08
Northwest Territories 50.8% Indigenous in 2021
09
Nunavut 85.3% Inuit identity population
10
Ontario First Nations 404,000 identity in 2021
11
BC Métis 88,920 in 2021
12
Alberta Indigenous 337,000, 7.5% in 2021
13
Urban Indigenous 178 metro areas, 60% off-reserve in 2021
14
Winnipeg CMA largest urban Indigenous 102,080 in 2021
15
Edmonton CMA 76,220 Indigenous
16
Vancouver CMA 70,000 Indigenous in 2021
17
1,342 First Nations communities in Canada 2022
18
630 First Nations reserves, 11 uninhabited in 2021
19
Inuit Nunangat regions home to 65% of Inuit population
20
Median age First Nations 29.8 years vs 41.1 national in 2021
Interpretation
Indigenous 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Linguistic Diversity28 stats
01
81.7% of recent immigrants proficient in English or French in 2021
02
English as mother tongue for 52.6% of Canadians in 2021 Census
03
French mother tongue 18.9%, or 7.0 million people in 2021
04
98.9% of population could speak at least one official language in 2021
05
Bilingual English-French 17.8% or 6.5 million in 2021
06
Mandarin spoken at home by 2.2% or 780,000 in 2021
07
Punjabi mother tongue 1.8%, 628,000 speakers in 2021
08
Spanish at home 1.4%, 493,000 people in 2021
09
Arabic mother tongue 1.3%, 456,000 in 2021
10
Tagalog (Filipino) 1.2%, 431,000 speakers in 2021
11
Tamil 0.7%, 245,000 at home in 2021
12
Over 200 languages spoken in Canada, with 76 having 10,000+ speakers in 2021
13
In Quebec, 85.5% French mother tongue, 10.8% English in 2021
14
Ontario 69.4% English mother tongue, 1.8% French in 2021
15
BC 73.8% English, 1.5% French, 19.1% non-official in 2021
16
Indigenous languages spoken by 228,550 as mother tongue in 2021
17
Cree languages total 81,750 mother tongue speakers in 2021
18
Inuktitut 39,475 mother tongue in 2021, mostly Nunavut
19
Ojibway 28,130 mother tongue speakers in 2021
20
Dene 11,720 mother tongue in 2021
21
Toronto CMA had 47.0% speaking non-official language at home in 2021
22
Vancouver CMA 43.5% non-official home languages
23
Montreal 22.8% non-official languages at home in 2021
24
Calgary 35.2% non-official home languages
25
53.1% of recent immigrants had non-official mother tongue in 2021
26
French immersion enrollment 380,000 students in 2021-22
27
20.6% of Canadians can speak both official languages conversationally in 2021
28
In 2021 Census, 34.1% of population could conduct conversation in non-official language
Interpretation
Linguistic 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.
05 · Category
Religious Diversity25 stats
01
Sikhism practiced by 2.1% or 770,000 Canadians in 2021
02
Hinduism 2.3%, 828,195 adherents in 2021 Census
03
Islam 4.9%, 1.78 million Muslims in 2021
04
Buddhism 1.0%, 356,570 in 2021
05
Judaism 0.9%, 335,295 Jews in 2021 Census
06
Christianity 53.3%, 19.37 million in 2021, down from 67.3% in 2011
07
No religious affiliation 34.6%, 12.58 million in 2021
08
Catholic 29.0%, 10.52 million in 2021
09
United Church 3.3%, 1.19 million adherents
10
Anglican 3.1%, 1.14 million in 2021
11
Baptist 1.2%, 432,675 in 2021 Census
12
Pentecostal 1.5%, 558,045 in 2021
13
Eastern Orthodox 1.7%, 622,000 in 2021
14
Jehovah's Witnesses 0.2%, 78,820 in 2021
15
In Ontario, Muslims 6.7% of population in 2021
16
Quebec 74.6% Christian, 12.1% no religion in 2021
17
BC 34.3% no religion, 34.0% Christian in 2021
18
Alberta Hindus 3.6%, highest provincial share in 2021
19
Manitoba Sikhs 2.0% in 2021
20
Toronto CMA 10.4% Muslim, 9.9% Hindu in 2021
21
Vancouver 4.8% Sikh, highest concentration
22
73% of recent immigrants non-Christian in 2021
23
Indigenous spiritualities 1.1%, 399,000 in 2021
24
Jews concentrated in Ontario 66%, Quebec 15% in 2021
25
Buddhists mainly in Ontario 36%, BC 25% in 2021
Interpretation
Religious 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Canada Diversity Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canada-diversity-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Canada Diversity Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/canada-diversity-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Canada Diversity Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canada-diversity-statistics.
Sources & references
11 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level