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Demographics of Canada

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Demographics of Canada

Statistics Canada conducts a country-wide census that collects demographic data every five years on the first and sixth year of each decade. The 2021 Canadian census enumerated a total population of 36,991,981, an increase of around 5.2 percent over the 2016 figure.[5] It is estimated that Canada's population surpassed 40 million in 2023 and 41 million in 2024.[6] Between 1990 and 2008, the population increased by 5.6 million, equivalent to 20.4 percent overall growth.[7] The main driver of population growth is immigration,[8][9] with 6.2% of the country's population being made up of temporary residents as of 2023,[10] or about 2.5 million people.[11] Between 2011 and May 2016, Canada's population grew by 1.7 million people, with immigrants accounting for two-thirds of the increase.[12]

Quick Facts Canada, Population ...
Demographics of Canada
Population pyramid of Canada in 2023
Population 41,465,298[1] (2024 Q4 est.)
Growth rate 0.85% (2022 est.)
Birth rate 10.17 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate8.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy83.8 years
 • male81.52 years
 • female86.21 years (2022 est.)
Fertility rate1.26 children born/woman (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate5.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years15.99%
65 and over18.98%
Sex ratio
Total0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth1.05 male(s)/female
Under 151.06 male(s)/female
65 and over0.75 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalityCanadian
Major ethnicWhite (69.8%)[2][3]
Minor ethnicSouth Asian (7.1%)[3]
Indigenous (5%)[4]
Chinese (4.7%)[3]
Black (4.3%)[3]
Filipino (2.6%)[3]
Arab (1.9%)[3]
Latin American (1.6%)[3]
Southeast Asian (1.1%)[3]
West Asian (1%)[3]
Korean (0.6%)[3]
Japanese (0.3%)[3]
Multiracial/Other, excluding Métis (3.2%)[3]
Language
OfficialEnglish (55.97%)
French (20.61%)
SpokenMandarin (1.7%)
Cantonese (1.63%)
Punjabi (1.44%)
Spanish (1.32%)
Tagalog (1.24%)
Arabic (1.21%)
German (1.1%)
Italian (1.08%)
Others (12.7%)
Language figures are from the 2016 Canadian census and based on total number of first language speakers (mother tongue), and not total number of individuals who may speak the language as a second (L2), third (L3), or more language. See knowledge of languages for this information.
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Canada has one of the highest per-capita immigration rates in the world,[13] driven mainly by economic policy and, to a lesser extent, family reunification.[14][15] In 2021, a total of 405,330 immigrants were admitted to Canada. New immigrants to Canada settle mostly in major urban areas such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.[16] Canada also accepts large numbers of refugees,[17] accounting for over 10 percent of annual global refugee resettlements.[18][19]

History

Population

Summarize
Perspective
Thumb
Population density of Canadian provinces and territories
  >25 people/km2
  15–24.9 people/km2
  10–14.9 people/km2
  5–9.9 people/km2
  1–4.9 people/km2
  <1 people/km2
Main article: Population of Canada

The 2021 Canadian census had a total population count of 36,991,981 individuals, making up approximately 0.5% of the world's total population.[5][20] A population estimate for 2024 put the total number of people in Canada at 41,012,563.[21][22]

Provinces and territories

Main article: Population of Canada by province and territory
More information Population, Name ...
Population Name[23] Population,
2021 Census		 Growth,
2016–21		 Land area
(km2)		 Population
density
(per km2) 		 House of
Commons seats		 Senate seats
Total Proportion Total Proportion Total Proportion
1 Ontario 14,223,942 38.45% 5.8% 908,699.33 15.2 121 35.8% 24 22.86%
2 Quebec 8,501,833 22.98% 4.1% 1,356,625.27 6.5 78 23.1% 24 22.86%
3 British Columbia 5,000,879 13.52% 7.6% 922,503.01 5.4 42 12.4% 6 5.71%
4 Alberta 4,262,635 11.52% 4.8% 640,330.46 6.7 34 10.1% 6 5.71%
5 Manitoba 1,342,153 3.63% 5.8% 552,370.99 2.3 14 4.1% 6 5.71%
6 Saskatchewan 1,132,505 3.06% 3.4% 588,243.54 2.0 14 4.1% 6 5.71%
7 Nova Scotia 969,383 2.62% 5.0% 52,942.27 18.4 11 3.3% 10 9.52%
8 New Brunswick 775,610 2.09% 3.8% 71,388.81 10.9 10 3.0% 10 9.52%
9 Newfoundland and Labrador 510,550 1.38% −1.8% 370,514.08 1.4 7 2.1% 6 5.71%
10 Prince Edward Island 154,331 0.42% 8.0% 5,686.03 27.2 4 1.2% 4 3.81%
11 Northwest Territories 41,070 0.11% −1.7% 1,143,793.86 0.04 1 0.3% 1 0.95%
12 Yukon 40,232 0.11% 12.1% 474,712.68 0.08 1 0.3% 1 0.95%
13 Nunavut 36,858 0.10% 2.5% 1,877,778.53 0.02 1 0.3% 1 0.95%
Total Totals 36,991,981 100% 5.2% 8,965,588.85 4.2 338 100% 105 100%
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Population distribution

The vast majority of Canadians are positioned in a discontinuous band within approximately 300 km of the southern border with the United States; the most populated province is Ontario, followed by Quebec and British Columbia.[24][25][23]

Cities

Main article: List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population
More information Largest cities or towns in Canada2021 Census, Rank ...
 
 
Largest cities or towns in Canada
Rank Name Province Pop. Rank Name Province Pop.
1TorontoOntario2,794,35611SurreyBritish Columbia568,322
2MontrealQuebec1,762,94912Quebec CityQuebec549,459
3CalgaryAlberta1,306,78413HalifaxNova Scotia439,819
4OttawaOntario1,017,44914LavalQuebec438,366
5EdmontonAlberta1,010,89915LondonOntario422,324
6WinnipegManitoba749,60716MarkhamOntario338,503
7MississaugaOntario717,96117VaughanOntario323,103
8VancouverBritish Columbia662,24818GatineauQuebec291,041
9BramptonOntario656,48019SaskatoonSaskatchewan266,141
10HamiltonOntario569,35320KitchenerOntario256,885
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Census metropolitan areas

Main article: List of census metropolitan areas and agglomerations in Canada
More information Rank, Name ...
 
Largest metropolitan areas in Canada
Rank Name Province Pop. Rank Name Province Pop.
1TorontoOntario6,202,22511LondonOntario543,551
2MontrealQuebec4,291,73212HalifaxNova Scotia465,703
3VancouverBritish Columbia2,642,82513Niagara RegionOntario433,604
4Ottawa–GatineauOntario–Quebec1,488,30714WindsorOntario422,630
5CalgaryAlberta1,481,80615OshawaOntario415,311
6EdmontonAlberta1,418,11816VictoriaBritish Columbia397,237
7Quebec CityQuebec839,31117SaskatoonSaskatchewan317,480
8WinnipegManitoba834,67818ReginaSaskatchewan249,217
9HamiltonOntario785,18419SherbrookeQuebec227,398
10Waterloo RegionOntario575,84720KelownaBritish Columbia222,162
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Fertility rate

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Total fertility rate of Canada from 1861 to 2016

The total fertility rate is the number of children born in a specific year cohort to the total number of women who can give birth in the country.

In 1971, the birth rate for the first time dipped below replacement[28][29] and since then has not rebounded.[28]

Canada's fertility rate hit a record low of 1.4 children born per woman in 2020,[30] below the population replacement level, which stands at 2.1 births per woman. In 2020, Canada also experienced the country's lowest number of births in 15 years,[30] also seeing the largest annual drop in childbirths (−3.6%) in a quarter of a century.[30] The total birth rate is 10.17 births/1,000 population in 2022.[22]

More information Total fertility rate, Years ...
Total fertility rate Years[31]
1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870
5.72 5.63 5.54 5.44 5.35 5.26 5.17 5.07 4.98 4.89
1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880
4.83 4.77 4.75 4.72 4.7 4.68 4.65 4.63 4.6 4.53
1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1899 1890
4.56 4.52 4.49 4.45 4.42 4.38 4.35 4.31 4.27 4.24
1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900
4.2 4.19 4.17 4.15 4.13 4.11 4.1 4.08 4.06 4.04
1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910
4.02 4.03 4.03 4.03 4.03 4.04 4.04 4.04 4.04 4.05
1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920
4.05 4 3.95 3.89 3.84 3.79 3.74 3.68 3.63 3.58
1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930
3.53 3.4 3.23 3.22 3.13 3.35 3.32 3.29 3.22 3.28
1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940
3.19 3.08 2.86 2.8 2.75 2.69 2.64 2.7 2.65 2.76
1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950
2.82 2.96 3.04 3 3.01 3.37 3.59 3.44 3.45 3.45
1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 -
3.81 2.11 1.65 1.67 1.52 1.6 1.63 1.58 1.46 –
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Total fertility rates by provinces and territories

2023[32]
Province/Territory TFR
 Nunavut2.48
 Saskatchewan1.63
 Manitoba1.52
 Alberta1.41
 Northwest Territories1.39
 Quebec1.38
 Canada1.26
 New Brunswick1.24
 Ontario1.22
 Prince Edward Island1.16
 Newfoundland and Labrador1.08
 Nova Scotia1.05
 Yukon1.01
 British Columbia1.00

Mother's mean age at first birth

Canada is among late-childbearing countries, with the average age of mothers at the first birth being 31.3 years in 2020.[9]

More information Average age of childbirth at first birth, Year ...
Average age of childbirth at first birth[29] Year
1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
25.2 25.1 24.9 24.7 24.6 24.5 24.3 24.2 24.2 24.1 24.1
1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966
24 23.9 23.8 23.7 23.7 23.6 23.6 23.6 23.6 23.5 23.5
1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
23.6 23.6 23.7 23.7 23.9 24 24.1 24.3 24.3 24.4 24.5
1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
24.7 24.8 24.9 25 25.1 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.7 25.8
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
25.8 25.9 25.9 26.1 26.3 26.2 26.3 26.5 26.7 26.8 27
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
27.1 27.3 27.5 27.8 27.9 28 28 28.1 28.1 28.2 28.4
2011
28.5
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Historical population

More information Year, Pop. ...
Historical population (since Confederation)
YearPop.±%
18713,689,257—    
18814,324,810+17.2%
18914,833,239+11.8%
19015,371,315+11.1%
19117,206,643+34.2%
19218,787,949+21.9%
193110,374,196+18.1%
194111,506,655+10.9%
195114,009,429+21.8%
195616,080,791+14.8%
196118,238,247+13.4%
197121,568,311+18.3%
197622,992,604+6.6%
198124,343,181+5.9%
198625,309,331+4.0%
199127,296,859+7.9%
199628,846,761+5.7%
200130,007,094+4.0%
200631,612,897+5.4%
201133,476,688+5.9%
201635,151,728+5.0%
202136,991,981+5.2%
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Population projection

Thumb
Map of Canadian provinces and territories by population growth rate (2016–2021).
  < 4.0%
   4.0%–7.0%
   7.0%–10.0%
  > 10.0%
  population decline

According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/World Bank, the population in Canada increased from 1990 to 2008 with 5.6 million and 20.4% growth in population, compared to 21.7% growth in the United States and 31.2% growth in Mexico. According to the OECD/World Bank population statistics, for the same period the world population growth was 27%, a total of 1,423 million people.[33] However, over the same period, the population of France grew by 8.0%. And from 1991 to 2011, the population of the UK increased by 10.0%.

The current population growth rate for Canada in 2022 was 0.75%.[22]

More information Year, Pop. ...
Population projections – High-growth scenario (Statistics Canada)
YearPop.±%
202139,110,000—    
203144,430,000+13.6%
204149,900,000+12.3%
205156,070,000+12.4%
206163,000,000+12.4%
[34]
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More information Year, Pop. ...
Canada population
projection, 2010 est.
(US Census Bureau)
YearPop.±%
202036,387,000—    
203038,565,000+6.0%
204040,070,000+3.9%
205041,136,000+2.7%
[35]
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More information Year, Pop. ...
Immigration projections
projection, 2020 est.
YearPop.±%
2020341,000—    
2021401,000[36][37]+17.6%
2022411,000[36][37]+2.5%
2023421,000[36][37]+2.4%
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Life expectancy

Life expectancy in Canada has consistently risen since the country's formation.

Thumb
Life expectancy in Canada since 1831
Thumb
Life expectancy in Canada since 1960 by gender
Life expectancy Year[38]
1831 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 1911
39.0 40.3 41.0 41.6 42.6 44.7 45.2 48.6 52.5
1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
57.0 57.0 56.9 58.8 59.2 57.2 58.6 58.4 57.9
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
58.9 60.3 61.4 62.3 62.7 62.4 62.7 61.3 63.3 63.7
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
64.0 63.7 64.6 64.6 65.3 66.3 66.5 66.7 67.3 67.6
1950 1950–55 1955–60 1960–65 1965–70 1970–75 1975–80 1980–85 1985–90
68.2 69.1 70.3 71.3 72.2 73.0 74.3 75.9 76.8
1990–95 1995–2000 2000–2005 2005–2010 2010–2015 2015–2020
77.8 78.6 79.7 80.8 81.8 83.7

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2016)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births. Country comparison to the world: 180th
male: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
Thumb
Population pyramid of Canada over time from 1950 to 2020

Age characteristics

Main article: Aging in Canada

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 10.V.2016) (To ensure confidentiality, the values, including totals are randomly rounded either up or down to a multiple of '5' or '10.' As a result, when these data are summed or grouped, the total value may not match the individual values since totals and sub-totals are independently rounded. Similarly, percentages, which are calculated on rounded data, may not necessarily add up to 100%.):[39]

Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 17 264 200 17 887 530 35 151 730 100
0–4 973 030 925 760 1 898 790 5.40
5–9 1 034 685 983 445 2 018 130 5.74
10–14 985 200 937 445 1 922 645 5.47
15–19 1 039 215 986 940 2 026 160 5.76
20–24 1 144 495 1 098 200 2 242 695 6.38
25–29 1 144 475 1 141 515 2 285 990 6.50
30–34 1 148 290 1 181 105 2 329 400 6.63
35–39 1 118 635 1 169 730 2 288 365 6.51
40–44 1 104 445 1 150 690 2 255 135 6.42
45–49 1 157 755 1 202 205 2 359 965 6.71
50–54 1 318 755 1 359 320 2 678 070 7.62
55–59 1 285 190 1 335 050 2 620 240 7.45
60–64 1 114 880 1 175 630 2 290 510 6.52
65–69 953 070 1 019 405 1 972 475 5.61
70–74 677 975 742 900 1 420 875 4.04
75–79 469 550 552 305 1 021 850 2.91
80–84 325 760 423 885 749 645 2.13
85–89 185 535 296 985 482 525 1.37
90–94 68 675 154 835 223 505 0.64
95–99 13 245 43 280 56 525 0.16
100+ 1 340 6 895 8 230 0.02
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 2 992 915 2 846 650 5 839 565 16.61
15–64 11 576 135 11 800 390 23 376 525 66.50
65+ 2 695 150 3 240 490 5 935 640 16.89

Age structure[22]

0–14 years: 15.99% (male 3,094,008/female 2,931,953)
15–24 years: 11.14% (male 2,167,013/female 2,032,064)
25–54 years: 39.81% (male 7,527,554/female 7,478,737)
55–64 years: 14.08% (male 2,624,474/female 2,682,858)
65 years and over: 18.98% (male 3,274,298/female 3,881,126) (2020 est.)

Median age

total: 41.8 years. Country comparison to the world: 40th
male: 40.6 years
female: 42.9 years (2020 est.)
Median age in 2011
total: 40.6 years
male: 39.6 years
female: 41.5 years (2011)
Median age by province and territory in 2011[40]
  1. Newfoundland and Labrador: 44.0
  2. Nova Scotia: 43.7
  3. New Brunswick: 43.7
  4. Prince Edward Island: 42.8
  5. Quebec: 41.9
  6. British Columbia: 41.9
  7. Ontario: 40.4
  8. Yukon: 39.1
  9. Manitoba: 38.4
  10. Saskatchewan: 38.2
  11. Alberta: 36.5
  12. Northwest Territories: 32.3
  13. Nunavut: 24.1

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0–14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15–24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

25–54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

55–64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est).

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 47.3
youth dependency ratio: 23.5
elderly dependency ratio: 23.8
potential support ratio: 4.2 (2015 est.)

Vital statistics

Summarize
Perspective

Note: This table uses the sticky table format to make scrolling easier. If you prefer, you can disable it.

[41][42][43][44] Average population (on July 1) Live births Deaths Natural change Birth rate (per 1,000) Death rate (per 1,000) Natural change (per 1,000) Crude Migration change (per 1,000) Total fertility rate[a][28][22]
1900 5,500,000 150,000 89,00061,000 27.216.211.0
1901 5,600,000 175,00079,00096,000 31.214.117.10.8
1902 5,760,000 180,000 77,000 103,000 31.313.417.99.94.8
1903 5,930,000 186,00078,000108,000 31.313.218.110.6
1904 6,100,000 192,00082,000110,000 31.413.517.910.0
1905 6,280,000 195,00082,000113,000 31.013.018.010.7
1906 6,460,000 193,00085,000108,000 29.913.216.711.2
1907 6,650,000 196,00085,000111,000 29.512.816.711.94.74
1908 6,850,000 208,00086,000122,000 30.312.617.711.5
1909 7,040,000 213,00090,000123,000 30.212.817.49.6
1910 7,250,000 220,00095,000125,000 30.413.117.311.7
1911 7,460,000 225,000100,000125,000 30.113.416.711.54.7
1912 7,610,000 238,00099,000139,000 31.313.019.30.44.62
1913 7,760,000 246,000102,000144,000 31.713.119.6-0.3
1914 7,910,000 252,000100,000152,000 31.912.619.3-0.3
1915 8,060,000 257,000101,000156,000 31.912.519.4-0.8
1916 8,220,000 252,000107,000145,000 30.713.017.71.8
1917 8,380,000 244,000106,000138,000 29.112.716.42.74.26
1918 8,450,000 243,000134,000109,000 28.815.912.9-4.6
1919 8,710,000 241,000119,000122,000 27.713.714.015.9
1920 8,880,000 259,000118,000141,000 29.213.315.93.2
1921 9,060,000 265,000105,000160,000 29.311.617.72.23.98
1922 9,230,000 261,000107,000154,000 28.311.616.71.73.86
1923 9,400,000 251,000111,000140,000 26.711.814.93.2
1924 9,560,000 255,000104,000151,000 26.710.915.80.9
1925 9,730,000 254,000104,000150,000 26.110.715.42.1
1926 9,890,000 244,000113,000131,000 24.711.413.32.9
1927 10,040,000 244,000110,000134,000 24.311.013.31.63.32
1928 10,190,000 246,000114,000132,000 24.111.212.91.8
1929 10,350,000 243,000118,000125,000 23.511.412.13.43.22
1930 10,498,000 251,000113,000138,000 23.910.813.11.03.28
1931 10,630,000 247,000108,000139,000 23.210.213.0−0.63.2
1932 10,794,000 243,000108,000135,000 22.510.012.52.73.08
1933 10,919,000 229,000106,000123,000 21.09.711.30.12.86
1934 11,029,000 228,296105,277123,019 20.79.511.2-1.22.8
1935 11,135,000 228,396109,724118,672 20.59.910.6-1.12.76
1936 11,242,000 227,980111,111116,869 20.39.910.4-0.92.70
1937 11,339,000 227,878118,019109,859 20.110.49.7-1.12.65
1938 11,448,000 237,091110,647126,444 20.79.711.0-1.52.70
1939 11,565,000 237,991112,729125,262 20.69.710.9-0.82.65
1940 11,682,000 252,577114,717137,860 21.69.811.8-1.82.77
1941 11,810,000 263,993118,797145,196 22.410.112.3-1.52.83
1942 11,962,000 281,569117,110164,459 23.59.813.7-1.02.96
1943 12,125,000 292,943122,640170,303 24.210.114.1-0.73.04
1944 12,291,000 283,967120,393163,574 24.09.814.2-0.73.01
1945 12,441,000 300,570117,319183,251 24.39.514.8-2.73.02
1946 12,316,000 331,471115,358216,113 26.99.417.5-27.63.37
1947 12,576,000 359,943118,157241,786 28.69.419.21.53.60
1948 12,852,000 348,226119,866228,360 27.19.317.83.73.44
1949 13,475,000 367,092124,567242,525 27.29.218.028.23.46
1950 13,737,000 372,009124,220247,789 27.19.018.01.13.46
1951 14,050,000 381,092125,823255,269 27.19.018.24.13.50
1952 14,496,000 403,559126,385277,174 27.88.719.111.73.64
1953 14,886,000 417,884127,791290,093 28.18.619.56.73.72
1954 15,330,000 436,198124,855311,343 28.58.120.38.73.83
1955 15,736,000 442,937128,476314,461 28.18.220.05.83.83
1956 16,123,000 450,739131,961318,778 28.08.219.84.23.86
1957 16,677,000 469,093136,579332,514 28.18.219.913.33.93
1958 17,120,000 470,118135,201334,917 27.57.919.66.33.88
1959 17,522,000 479,275 139,913339,362 27.48.019.43.53.94
1960 17,909,000 478,551139,693338,858 26.77.818.92.73.895
1961 18,271,000 475,700140,985334,715 26.07.718.31.53.840
1962 18,614,000 469,693143,699325,994 25.27.717.50.93.767
1963 18,964,000 465,767147,367318,400 24.67.816.81.73.694
1964 19,325,000 452,915145,850307,065 23.47.515.92.83.449
1965 19,678,000 418,595148,939269,656 21.37.613.74.23.192
1966 20,048,000 387,710149,863237,847 19.37.511.96.62.749
1967 20,412,000 370,894150,283220,611 18.27.410.87.02.528
1968 20,729,000 364,310153,196211,114 17.67.410.25.12.386
1969 21,028,000 369,647154,477215,170 17.67.310.24.02.334
1970 21,324,000 371,988155,961216,027 17.47.310.13.82.258
1971 21,962,032 362,187157,272204,915 16.57.29.319.82.141
1972 22,218,463 347,319162,413184,906 15.67.38.33.21.98
1973 22,491,777 343,373164,039179,334 15.37.38.04.21.89
1974 22,807,969 350,650166,794183,856 15.47.38.15.81.837
1975 23,143,275 359,323167,176192,147 15.57.28.36.21.824
1976 23,449,808 359,987167,009192,978 15.47.18.24.91.796
1977 23,725,843 361,400167,498193,902 15.27.18.23.41.782
1978 23,963,203 358,852168,179190,673 15.0 7.08.01.91.768
1979 24,201,544 366,064168,183197,881 15.16.98.21.61.754
1980 24,515,667 370,709171,473199,236 15.17.08.14.71.74
1981 24,819,915 371,346171,029200,317 15.06.98.14.21.7
1982 25,116,942 373,082174,413198,669 14.96.97.93.91.69
1983 25,366,451 373,689174,484199,205 14.76.97.91.91.68
1984 25,607,053 377,031175,727201,304 14.76.97.91.51.65
1985 25,842,116 375,727181,323194,404 14.57.07.51.61.67
1986 26,100,278 372,913184,224188,689 14.37.17.22.71.675
1987 26,446,601 369,742184,953184,789 14.07.07.06.11.68
1988 26,791,747 376,795190,011186,784 14.17.17.05.91.68
1989 27,276,781 392,661190,965201,696 14.47.07.410.41.77
1990 27,691,138 405,486191,973213,513 14.66.97.77.31.83
1991 28,037,420 403,816195,569208,247 14.47.07.45.01.72
1992 28,371,264 399,109196,535202,574 14.16.97.14.71.71
1993 28,684,764 389,037204,912184,125 13.57.16.44.51.68
1994 29,000,663 386,243207,077179,166 13.37.16.14.81.69
1995 29,302,311 378,685210,733167,952 12.97.25.74.61.67
1996 29,610,218 366,833212,880153,953 12.47.25.25.21.63
1997 29,905,948 349,543215,669133,874 11.77.24.45.51.57
1998 30,155,173 342,966218,091124,875 11.47.24.14.21.56
1999 30,401,286 337,821219,530118,291 11.17.23.94.21.54
2000 30,685,730 328,596218,062110,534 10.77.13.65.71.51
2001 31,020,902 334,615219,538115,077 10.87.13.77.11.54
2002 31,360,079 329,894223,603106,291 10.57.13.47.41.51
2003 31,644,028 336,352226,169110,183 10.67.13.45.61.54
2004 31,940,655 339,012226,584112,428 10.67.13.55.81.55
2005 32,243,753 345,365230,132115,233 10.67.13.55.91.57
2006 32,571,174 357,921228,079129,842 10.97.03.96.21.61
2007 32,888,886 370,369235,217135,152 11.27.24.05.71.66
2008 33,247,298 381,860238,617143,243 11.47.24.26.61.69
2009 33,630,069 384,651238,418146,233 11.37.14.27.21.68
2010 34,005,905 379,191240,075139,116 11.17.14.07.11.64
2011 34,339,221 379,244243,511135,733 11.07.13.95.91.62
2012 34,713,395 383,101246,596136,505 11.07.13.97.01.62
2013 35,080,992 381,054252,338128,716 10.87.23.67.01.60
2014 35,434,066 384,577258,821125,756 10.87.33.56.51.61
2015 35,704,498 382,979264,333118,646 10.77.43.34.11.60
2016 36,110,803 384,023267,213116,810 10.67.43.28.11.59
2017 36,545,075 377,627278,29899,329 10.37.62.79.21.54
2018 37,072,620 374,617285,67588,942 10.17.72.412.01.50
2019 37,618,495 372,978285,27087,708 9.97.62.312.41.47
2020 38,028,638 360,552307,20553,347 9.48.11.39.41.41
2021 38,239,864 369,721311,94257,779 9.58.01.54.21.44
2022 38,939,056 351,679326,48325,196 9.08.40.617.61.33
2023 40,097,761 351,878337,70814,170 8.88.40.429.01.26
2024 41,288,599 365,567345,82918,757 8.98.40.528.41.26(est.)

Current vital statistics

[45]

Period Live births Deaths Natural increase
January–December 2023 352,196 339,700 +14,300
January–December 2024 365,567 345,829 +18,757
Difference Increase +11,020 (+3.8%) Negative increase +6,563 (+1.8%) Increase +4,457

Note: all numbers in this table are provisional. While data for at least two years ago may be final, newer data for recent days are subject to change in the future. For example, as of September 25 2024, The numbers are final up to December 2021, updated from January 2022 to March 2024 and preliminary from April 2024.

Employment

Unemployment, youth ages 15–24

total: 20.2%
male: 20.9%
female: 19.4% (2020 est.)

Ethnicity and visible minorities

Summarize
Perspective
Main article: Ethnic origins of people in Canada

Canadians as ethnic group by province

All citizens of Canada are classified as "Canadians" as defined by Canada's nationality laws. "Canadian" as an ethnic group has since 1996 been added to census questionnaires for possible ancestral origin or descent. "Canadian" was included as an example on the English questionnaire and "Canadien" as an example on the French questionnaire.[46] The majority of respondents to this selection are from the eastern part of the country that was first settled. Respondents generally are visibly European (Anglophones and Francophones) and no longer self-identify directly with their ethnic ancestral origins. This response is attributed to a multitude of reasons such as generational distance from ancestral lineage, intermarriage with variety of ethnic groups, and loss of ancestral language.[47][48]

Province / TerritoryPercent Canadians Total Canadians
Alberta22.7% 902,310
British Columbia19.0% 866,530
Manitoba18.2% 232,660
New Brunswick57.8% 415,810
Newfoundland and Labrador43.4% 271,345
Nova Scotia42.6% 387,360
Ontario23.5% 3,109,770
Prince Edward Island45.0% 60,000
Quebec60.1% 4,474,115
Saskatchewan25.0% 274,580
Canada total32.3%11,136,134

Ethnic origin

Main article: Ethnic origins of people in Canada
Thumb
Canada visible minority, aboriginal and White (assumed for 1981 to 2016) population as a percentage of the total population over time
Thumb
Visible minorities over time including projections
Thumb
Visible minorities as a population pyramid in total in 2016

According to the 2021 Canadian census, over 450 "ethnic or cultural origins" were self-reported by Canadians.[49] The major panethnic groups chosen were; European (52.5%), North American (22.9%), Asian (19.3%), North American Indigenous (6.1%), African (3.8%), Latin, Central and South American (2.5%), Caribbean (2.1%), Oceanian (0.3%), and Other (6%).[49][50] Statistics Canada reports that 35.5% of the population reported multiple ethnic origins, thus the overall total is greater than 100%.[49][b]

The country's ten largest self-reported specific ethnic or cultural origins in 2021 were Canadian[c] (accounting for 15.6 percent of the population), followed by English (14.7 percent), Irish (12.1 percent), Scottish (12.1 percent), French (11.0 percent), German (8.1 percent), Indian (5.1 percent),[d] Chinese (4.7 percent), Italian (4.3 percent), and Ukrainian (3.5 percent).[53]

Of the 36.3 million people enumerated in 2021 approximately 24.5 million reported being "White", representing 67.4 percent of the population.[54][3] The Indigenous population representing 5 percent or 1.8 million individuals, grew by 9.4 percent compared to the non-Indigenous population, which grew by 5.3 percent from 2016 to 2021.[55] One out of every four Canadians or 26.5 percent of the population belonged to a non-White and non-Indigenous visible minority,[3][e] the largest of which in 2021 were South Asian (2.6 million people; 7.1 percent), Chinese (1.7 million; 4.7 percent) and Black (1.5 million; 4.3 percent).[54]

As data is completely self-reported, and reporting individuals may have varying definitions of "Ethnic origin" (or may not know their ethnic origin), these figures should not be considered an exact record of the relative prevalence of different ethno-cultural ancestries but rather how Canadians self-identify.

Data from this section from Statistics Canada, 2021.[57]

Ethnic origin[58]  % Population
Canadian[c] 15.6% 5,677,205
English 14.7% 5,322,830
Irish 12.1% 4,413,120
Scottish 12.1% 4,392,200
French 11.0% 3,985,945
German 8.1% 2,955,695
Indian[d] 5.1% 1,855,415
Chinese 4.7% 1,713,870
Italian 4.3% 1,546,390
Ukrainian 3.5% 1,258,635
Dutch 2.7% 988,585
Polish 2.7% 982,820
Québécois 2.7% 981,635
British Isles, n.o.s. 2.6% 981,635
Filipino 2.5% 925,490
French Canadian 2.5% 906,315
Caucasian (White), n.o.s. 1.9% 691,260
First Nations, n.o.s. 1.7% 632,340
Métis 1.5% 560,335
European, n.o.s. 1.5% 551,910

The most common ethnic origins per province are as follows in 2006[59] (total responses; only percentages 10% or higher shown; ordered by percentage of "Canadian"):

  • Quebec (7,723,525): Canadian (59.1%), French (29.1%)
  • New Brunswick (735,835): Canadian (50.3%), French (27.2%), English (25.9%), Irish (21.6%), Scottish (19.9%)
  • Newfoundland and Labrador (507,265): Canadian (49.0%), English (43.4%), Irish (21.8%)
  • Nova Scotia (906,170): Canadian (39.1%), Scottish (31.2%), English (30.8%), Irish (22.3%), French (17.0%), German (10.8%)
  • Prince Edward Island (137,375): Scottish (39.3%), Canadian (36.8%), English (31.1%), Irish (30.4%), French (21.1%)
  • Ontario (12,651,795): Canadian (23.3%), English (23.1%), Scottish (16.4%), Irish (16.4%), French (10.8%)
  • Alberta (3,567,980): English (24.9%), Canadian (21.8%), German (19.2%), Scottish (18.8%), Irish (15.8%), French (11.1%)
  • Manitoba (1,174,345): English (21.8%), German (18.6%), Canadian (18.5%), Scottish (18.0%), Ukrainian (14.9%), Irish (13.2%), French (12.6%), North American Indian (10.6%)
  • Saskatchewan (1,008,760): German (28.6%), English (24.9%), Scottish (18.9%), Canadian (18.8%), Irish (15.5%), Ukrainian (13.5%), French (12.2%), North American Indian (12.1%)
  • British Columbia (4,324,455): English (27.7%), Scottish (19.3%), Canadian (19.1%), German (13.1%), Chinese (10.7%)
  • Yukon (33,320): English (28.5%), Scottish (25.0%), Irish (22.0%), North American Indian (21.8%), Canadian (21.8%), German (15.6%), French (13.1%)
  • Northwest Territories (40,800): North American Indian (37.0%), Scottish (13.9%), English (13.7%), Canadian (12.8%), Irish (11.9%), Inuit (11.7%)
  • Nunavut (31,700): Inuit (85.4%)

Italics indicates either that this response is dominant within this province, or that this province has the highest ratio (percentage) of this response among provinces.

Visible minority population

Main article: Visible minority
Visible and non-visible minority populations by group, 1981–1996
Group 1981 census
[60][61][62]: 64 		 1986 census
[61][62]: 66 [63]: 6 		 1991 census
[61][64]: 11 [63]: 6 		 1996 census[65][66]
Total  % Total  % Total  % Total  %
Visible minority1,131,8254.7%1,577,7106.3%2,525,4809.4%3,197,48011.2%
South Asian223,2350.9%300,5451.2%505,5151.9%670,5902.4%
Chinese (East Asian)299,9151.2%390,5901.6%626,4352.3%860,1503%
Black239,4551%355,3851.4%504,2901.9%573,8602%
Filipino75,4850.3%102,3600.4%169,1500.6%234,1950.8%
Latin American50,2300.2%60,9750.2%134,5350.5%176,9700.6%
Arab/West Asian112,4350.5%149,6650.6%289,7551.1%244,6650.9%
Southeast Asian
(except Filipino)		53,9100.2%86,9450.3%132,4150.5%172,7650.6%
Korean (East Asian)22,5700.1%29,2050.1%45,5350.2%64,8350.2%
Japanese (East Asian)46,0600.2%52,8800.2%63,8600.2%68,1350.2%
Multiple visible minorities40,5000.2%48,5450.2%61,5750.2%
Visible minority, n.i.e.5,4400%69,7450.2%
Other8,5300%8,6600%
Not a visible minority22,951,67095.3%23,444,30093.7%24,468,56090.6%25,330,64588.8%
Indigenous
(see breakdown below)		491,4652%711,7252.8%1,016,3403.8%799,0052.8%
Non-Indigenous &
Non-Visible Minority
(European/White)[67]		22,460,20593.3%22,732,57590.9%23,452,22086.9%24,531,64086%
Total population in
private households		24,083,495100%25,022,010100%26,994,040100%28,528,125100%

Note: Indigenous population decline between 1991 and 1996 censuses attributed to change in criteria in census count; "the 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples used a more restrictive definition of Aboriginal".[68]

Visible and non-visible minority populations by group, 2001–2021
Group 2001 census[69] 2006 census[70] 2011 survey[71] 2016 census[72] 2021 census[73][3][49]
Total  % Total  % Total  % Total  % Total  %
Visible minority3,983,84513.4%5,068,09516.2%6,264,75019.1%7,674,58022.3%9,639,20526.5%
South Asian917,0753.1%1,262,8654%1,567,4004.8%1,924,6355.6%2,571,4007.1%
Chinese (East Asian)1,029,3953.5%1,216,5653.9%1,324,7504%1,577,0604.6%1,715,7704.7%
Black662,2152.2%783,7952.5%945,6652.9%1,198,5403.5%1,574,8704.3%
Filipino308,5751%410,6951.3%619,3101.9%780,1252.3%957,3552.6%
Arab194,6850.7%265,5500.9%380,6201.2%523,2351.5%694,0151.9%
Latin American216,9800.7%304,2451%381,2801.2%447,3251.3%580,2351.6%
Southeast Asian
(except Filipino)		198,8800.7%239,9350.8%312,0750.9%313,2600.9%390,3401.1%
West Asian109,2850.4%156,7000.5%206,8400.6%264,3050.8%360,4951%
Korean (East Asian)100,6600.3%141,8900.5%161,1300.5%188,7100.5%218,1400.6%
Japanese (East Asian)73,3150.2%81,3000.3%87,2700.3%92,9200.3%98,8900.3%
Multiple visible minorities73,8750.2%133,1200.4%171,9350.5%232,3750.7%331,8050.9%
Visible minority, n.i.e.98,9150.3%71,4200.2%106,4750.3%132,0900.4%172,8850.5%
Not a visible minority25,655,18586.6%26,172,93583.8%26,587,57580.9%26,785,48077.7%26,689,27573.5%
Indigenous
(see breakdown below)		976,3053.3%1,172,7853.8%1,400,6854.3%1,673,7854.9%1,807,2505%
Non-Indigenous &
Non-Visible Minority
(European/White)[67]		24,678,88083.3%25,000,15080%25,186,89076.7%25,111,69572.9%24,882,02568.5%
Total population in
private households		29,639,030100%31,241,030100%32,852,320100%34,460,065100%36,328,480100%

Indigenous population

Indigenous population in Canada, 1996–2021 censuses
Group 1996[65] 2001[69] 2006[70] 2011[71] 2016[74] 2021[4]
 %Total %Total %Total %Total %Total %Total
Total Indigenous 2.8% 799,005 3.3% 976,305 3.8% 1,172,785 4.3% 1,400,685 4.9% 1,673,780 5% 1,807,250
First Nations 1.8% 529,040 2.1% 608,850 2.2% 698,025 2.6% 851,560 2.8% 977,230 2.9% 1,048,405
Métis 0.7% 204,115 1.0% 292,305 1.2% 389,780 1.4% 451,795 1.7% 587,545 1.7% 624,220
Inuit 0.14% 40,220 0.16% 50,485 0.2% 59,445 0.2% 65,025 0.2% 70,540

Note: Other Indigenous and mixed Indigenous groups are not listed as their own, but they are all accounted for in total Indigenous

Future projections

Statistics Canada projects that visible minorities will make up between 38.2% and 43.0% of the total Canadian population by 2041,[75][76] compared with 26.5% in 2021.[77][3] Among the working-age population (15 to 64 years), meanwhile, visible minorities are projected to represent between 42.1% and 47.3% of Canada's total population,[75][76] compared to 28.5% in 2021.[77][3]

Pan−ethnic Origin Projections (2031−2041)
2031[76][78] 2036[76][78] 2041[76][78]
Population % Population % Population %
European[67]
 26,085,000 59.79% 25,749,000 56.25% 25,296,000 53.07%
South Asian
 4,283,000 9.82% 5,010,000 10.94% 5,658,000 11.87%
East Asian
 3,120,000 7.15% 3,445,000 7.53% 3,740,000 7.85%
Chinese
 2,591,000 5.94% 2,850,000 6.23% 3,082,000 6.47%
Korean
 381,000 0.87% 433,000 0.95% 484,000 1.02%
Japanese
 148,000 0.34% 162,000 0.35% 174,000 0.37%
African
 2,381,000 5.46% 2,762,000 6.03% 3,134,000 6.57%
Indigenous
 2,484,000 5.69% 2,673,000 5.84% 2,848,000 5.97%
First Nations
 1,430,000 3.28% 1,535,000 3.35% 1,633,000 3.43%
Metis
 911,000 2.09% 986,000 2.15% 1,054,000 2.21%
Inuit
 84,000 0.19% 90,000 0.2% 96,000 0.2%
Other
Indigenous
 59,000 0.14% 62,000 0.14% 65,000 0.14%
Southeast Asian
 2,009,000 4.6% 2,324,000 5.08% 2,640,000 5.54%
Filipino
 1,524,000 3.49% 1,789,000 3.91% 2,059,000 4.32%
Other
Southeast Asian
 485,000 1.11% 535,000 1.17% 581,000 1.22%
Middle Eastern
 1,801,000 4.13% 2,141,000 4.68% 2,475,000 5.19%
Arab
 1,182,000 2.71% 1,403,000 3.06% 1,625,000 3.41%
West Asian
 619,000 1.42% 738,000 1.61% 850,000 1.78%
Latin American
 821,000 1.88% 931,000 2.03% 1,036,000 2.17%
Other
 644,000 1.48% 742,000 1.62% 841,000 1.76%
Projected
Canadian
Population
 43,629,000 100% 45,776,000 100% 47,668,000 100%

Languages

Summarize
Perspective
Main article: Languages of Canada

Knowledge of language

More information Top ten spoken languages in Canada 2021 census ...
Top ten spoken languages in Canada
2021 census[f]
Language Percent
English
 
 87.06%
French
 
 29.08%
Chinese[g]
 
 4.21%
Hindustani[h]
 
 3.24%
Spanish
 
 3.22%
Punjabi
 
 2.59%
Arabic
 
 2.31%
Tagalog
 
 2.03%
Italian
 
 1.51%
German
 
 1.15%
Close

The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses, and first appeared on the 1991 Canadian census.[i] The following figures are from the 1991 Canadian census, 2001 Canadian census, 2011 Canadian census, and the 2021 Canadian census.

More information Language, Pop. ...
Knowledge of Languages in Canada
Language 2021[80] 2011[81] 2001[79][82] 1991[83]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
English 31,628,570 87.06% 28,360,235[84] 85.63% 25,246,220[85] 85.18% 22,505,415 83.37%
French 10,563,235 29.08% 9,960,585[84] 30.07% 9,178,100[85] 30.97% 8,508,960 31.52%
Chinese[g] 1,528,860 4.21% 1,297,505 3.92% 1,028,445 3.47% 557,305 2.06%
Hindustani[h] 1,176,295 3.24% 576,165 1.74% 366,740 1.24% 163,930 0.61%
Spanish 1,171,450 3.22% 873,395 2.64% 610,580 2.06% 402,430 1.49%
Punjabi 942,170 2.59% 545,730 1.65% 338,720 1.14% 167,925 0.62%
Arabic 838,045 2.31% 470,965 1.42% 290,280 0.98% 164,380 0.61%
Tagalog 737,565 2.03% 491,075 1.48% 244,690 0.83% 136,975 0.51%
Italian 547,655 1.51% 595,600 1.8% 680,970 2.3% 701,910 2.6%
German 419,195 1.15% 525,480 1.59% 635,520 2.14% 684,955 2.54%
Portuguese 336,865 0.93% 266,950 0.81% 264,990 0.89% 254,465 0.94%
Persian[j] 330,725 0.91% 196,110 0.59% 111,700 0.38% 49,380 0.18%
Russian 309,235 0.85% 230,755 0.7% 157,455 0.53% 84,050 0.31%
Tamil 237,890 0.65% 179,465 0.54% 111,580 0.38% 37,330 0.14%
Vietnamese 232,800 0.64% 192,070 0.58% 165,645 0.56% 113,115 0.42%
Gujarati 209,410 0.58% 118,950 0.36% 80,835 0.27% 54,210 0.2%
Polish 204,460 0.56% 217,735 0.66% 249,695 0.84% 239,575 0.89%
Korean 203,885 0.56% 149,035 0.45% 91,610 0.31% 40,230 0.15%
Serbo-Croatian[k] 155,775 0.43% 154,700 0.47% 153,085 0.52% 100,541 0.37%
Greek 145,060 0.4% 150,620 0.45% 158,800 0.54% 161,320 0.6%
Haitian Creole 134,895 0.37% 128,555 0.39% 76,140 0.26% 49,970 0.19%
Ukrainian 131,655 0.36% 144,260 0.44% 200,520 0.68% 249,535 0.92%
Bengali 120,605 0.33% 69,490 0.21% 34,650 0.12% N/A <0.1%
Romanian 116,520 0.32% 97,180 0.29% 60,520 0.2% 30,520 0.11%
Dutch 107,985 0.3% 135,085 0.41% 157,875 0.53% 173,290 0.64%
Cree[l] 105,850 0.29% 96,690 0.29% 97,200 0.33% 93,825 0.35%
Japanese 98,070 0.27% 74,690 0.23% 65,030 0.22% 45,370 0.17%
Hebrew 83,205 0.23% 70,695 0.21% 63,675 0.21% 52,450 0.19%
Turkish 78,500 0.22% 44,080 0.13% 32,520 0.11% N/A <0.1%
Malayalam 77,910 0.21% 22,125 0.07% 9,185 0.03% N/A <0.1%
Hungarian 64,625 0.18% 73,695 0.22% 89,230 0.3% 97,410 0.36%
Ilocano 61,680 0.17% 21,880 0.07% N/A <0.03% N/A <0.1%
Somali 59,005 0.16% 37,115 0.11% N/A <0.03% N/A <0.1%
Swahili 57,295 0.16% 31,690 0.1% 25,300 0.09% N/A <0.1%
Telugu 54,685 0.15% 12,645 0.04% N/A <0.03% N/A <0.1%
Close
  1. [N 1]
    n.o.s. – not otherwise specified
  2. [N 2]
    n.i.e. – not included elsewhere

Mother tongue

More information Languages in Canada (Mother Tongue) 2016 Census ...
Languages in Canada (Mother Tongue)
2016 Census
Language Percent
English
 
 55.97%
Non-official
 
 21.06%
French
 
 20.61%
English and French
 
 0.48%
Close
More information First language, Pop. ...
Languages of Canada
First language 2016 2011 2006
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Notes
Single language responses33,947,61097.64%32,481,63598.07%30,848,27098.74%
Official languages26,627,54576.59%25,913,95578.24%24,700,42579.06%
English19,460,85555.97%18,858,98056.94%17,882,77557.24%
French7,166,70020.61%7,054,97521.3%6,817,65021.82%
Non-official languages7,321,07021.06%6,567,68019.83%6,147,84019.68%
Combined Chinese Responses1,227,6803.53%n/an/an/an/aCombined responses of Mandarin, Cantonese, Chinese n.o.s. and Min Nan
Mandarin (Standard Chinese)592,0351.7%248,7050.75%170,9500.55%
Cantonese565,2751.63%372,4601.12%361,4501.16%
Punjabi501,6801.44%430,7051.3%367,5051.18%
Spanish458,8501.32%410,6701.24%345,3451.11%
Tagalog (Filipino)431,3851.24%327,4450.99%235,6150.75%
Arabic419,8951.21%327,8700.99%261,6400.84%
German384,0401.1%409,2001.24%450,5701.44%
Italian375,6451.08%407,4851.23%455,0401.46%
Hindustani321,4650.92%263,3450.8%224,0450.72%Combined responses of Hindi and Urdu
Portuguese221,5350.64%211,3350.64%219,2750.7%
Persian (Farsi)214,2000.62%170,0450.51%134,0800.43%
Urdu210,8200.61%172,8000.52%145,8050.47%
Dravidian languages189,4050.54%n/an/an/an/aCombined responses of Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada.
Russian188,2550.54%164,3300.5%133,5800.43%
Polish181,7050.52%191,6450.58%211,1750.68%
Vietnamese156,4300.45%144,8800.44%141,6250.45%
Korean153,4250.44%137,9250.42%125,5700.4%
Tamil140,7200.4%131,2650.4%115,8800.37%Most of the Canadian Tamils live in Toronto.
Hindi110,6450.32%90,5450.27%78,2400.25%
Gujarati108,7750.31%91,4500.28%81,4650.26%
Greek106,5200.31%108,9250.33%117,2850.38%
Ukrainian102,4850.29%111,5400.34%134,5000.43%
Dutch99,0150.28%110,4900.33%128,9000.41%
Romanian96,6600.28%90,3000.27%78,4950.25%
Bengali73,1250.21%59,3700.18%45,6850.15%
Creoles72,1300.21%61,7250.19%53,5150.17%
Cree, n.o.s.[nb 1]64,0450.18%77,9000.24%78,8550.25%In the 2006 Census, this language was referred to simply as 'Cree'.
Hungarian61,2350.18%67,9200.21%73,3350.23%The majority of Hungarian speakers in Canada live in Ontario. A community of Hungarian speakers is found within a part of Windsor, Ontario.
Berber languages (Kabyle)n/an/a57,8550.17%25,5780.08%
Serbian57,3450.16%56,4200.17%51,6650.17%
Croatian48,2000.14%49,7300.15%55,3300.18%
Japanese43,6400.13%39,9850.12%40,2000.13%
Chinese, n.o.s.[nb 1]38,5750.11%425,2101.28%456,7051.46%
Somali36,7600.11%31,3800.09%27,3200.09%
Inuktitut35,2150.1%33,5000.1%32,0150.1%In the 2006 Census, this language was referred to as 'Inuktitut, n.i.e.'.[nb 2]
Armenian33,4550.1%29,7950.09%30,1300.1%
Turkish32,8150.09%29,6400.09%24,7450.08%
Min Nan (Chaochow, Teochow, Fukien, Taiwanese)31,7950.09%n/an/an/an/a
Malayalam28,5700.08%16,0800.05%11,9250.04%
Albanian26,8950.08%23,8200.07%n/an/a
Ilocano26,3450.08%17,9150.05%13,4500.04%
Amharic22,4650.06%18,0200.05%14,5550.05%
Czech22,2950.06%23,5850.07%24,4500.08%
Khmer (Cambodian)20,1300.06%19,4400.06%19,1050.06%
Bulgarian20,0200.06%19,0500.06%16,7900.05%
Hebrew19,5300.06%18,4500.06%17,6350.06%
Niger–Congo languages, n.i.e.[nb 1]19,1400.06%14,0750.04%n/an/a
Nepali18,2750.05%8,4800.03%n/an/a
Ojibway17,8850.05%17,6250.05%24,1900.08%
Slovak17,5850.05%17,5800.05%18,8200.06%
Pashto16,9100.05%12,4650.04%9,0250.03%
Macedonian16,7700.05%17,2450.05%18,4350.06%
Tigrigna16,6500.05%10,2200.03%7,1050.02%
Sinhala16,3350.05%14,1850.04%10,1800.03%
Bisayan languagesn/an/a16,2400.05%11,2400.04%
Telugu15,6550.05%9,3150.03%6,6250.02%
Finnish15,2950.04%17,4150.05%21,0300.07%
Yiddish13,5550.04%15,2050.05%16,2950.05%
Akan (Twi)13,4600.04%12,6800.04%12,7800.04%
Swahili13,3750.04%10,0900.03%7,9350.03%
Wu (Shanghainese)12,9200.04%n/an/an/an/a
Oji-Cree12,8550.04%9,8350.03%11,6900.04%
Lao12,6700.04%12,9700.04%13,9400.04%
Danish12,6300.04%14,1450.04%18,7350.06%
Malay12,2750.04%10,9100.03%9,4900.03%
Bosnian12,2100.04%11,6850.04%12,7900.04%
Sindhi11,8600.03%11,3300.03%10,3550.03%
Kurdish11,7050.03%9,8050.03%7,6600.02%
Hakka10,9100.03%5,1150.02%n/an/a
Dene10,7000.03%11,2150.03%9,7450.03%
Afrikaans10,2600.03%8,7700.03%n/an/a
Montagnais (Innu)10,2300.03%10,7850.03%10,9750.04%In the 2006 Census, this language was referred to as 'Montagnais-Naskapi'.
Slovenian9,7850.03%10,7750.03%13,1350.04%
Taiwanesen/an/a9,6350.03%9,6200.03%
Serbo-Croatian9,5550.03%10,1550.03%12,5100.04%
African languages, n.i.e.[nb 2]n/an/a9,1250.03%n/an/a
Thai9,2550.03%7,9350.02%n/an/a
Marathi8,2950.02%5,8300.02%n/an/a
Bantu languages, n.i.e.[nb 2]n/an/a7,1500.02%n/an/a
Lithuanian7,0750.02%7,2450.02%8,3350.03%
Swedish6,8400.02%7,3500.02%8,2200.03%
Mi'kmaq6,6900.02%7,6350.02%7,3650.02%
Tibetan6,1650.02%n/an/an/an/a
Atikamekw6,1500.02%5,8200.02%5,2500.02%
Canadian Gaelicn/an/a6,0150.02%6,0150.02%
Fukien (Fuzhou dialect)n/an/a5,9250.02%n/an/a
Rundi (Kirundi)5,8450.02%3,9750.01%n/an/a
Maltese5,5650.02%6,2200.02%6,4050.02%
Estonian5,4450.02%6,3850.02%8,2400.03%
Latvian5,4550.02%6,2000.02%7,0000.02%
Kinyarwanda (Rwanda)5,2500.02%3,8950.01%n/an/a
Indo-Iranian languages, n.i.e.[nb 2]5,1800.01%5,2550.02%n/an/a
Oromo4,9600.01%11,1400.03%n/an/a
Norwegian4,6150.01%5,8000.02%7,2250.02%
Tibetan languagesn/an/a4,6400.01%n/an/a
Sino-Tibetan languages, n.i.e.[nb 2]n/an/a4,3600.01%n/an/a
Sign languages, n.i.e.[nb 2]4,1250.01%3,8150.01%n/an/a
Vlaams (Flemish)3,8950.01%4,6900.01%5,6600.02%
Lingala3,8100.01%3,0850.01%n/an/a
Burmese3,5850.01%2,9850.01%n/an/a
Stoney3,0250.01%3,0500.01%n/an/a
Shanghainesen/an/a2,9200.01%n/an/a
Blackfoot2,815<0.01%n/an/a3,0850.01%
Slavic languages, n.i.e.[nb 2]2,4200.01%3,6300.01%n/an/a
Semitic languages, n.i.e.[nb 2]2,1550.01%16,9700.05%n/an/a
Frisian2,095<0.01%n/an/a2,8900.01%
Dogrib (Tlicho)1,645<0.01%n/an/a2,0200.01%
Tibeto-Burman languages, n.i.e.[nb 2]1,405<0.01%n/an/an/an/a
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux)1,265<0.01%n/an/a5,5850.02%
Algonquin1,260<0.01%n/an/a1,9200.01%
Scottish Gaelic1,095<0.01%n/an/an/an/a
Welsh1,075<0.01%n/an/an/an/a
Carrier1,030<0.01%n/an/a1,560<0.01%
Inuinnaqtun (Inuvialuktun)1,020<0.01%n/an/a365<0.01%
Mohawk985<0.01%n/an/a290<0.01%
South Slavey950<0.01%n/an/a1,6050.01%
Gitxsan (Gitksan)880<0.01%n/an/a1,180<0.01%
North Slave (Hare)765<0.01%n/an/a1,065<0.01%
Chilcotin655<0.01%n/an/a1,070<0.01%
Celtic languages, n.i.e.[nb 2]530<0.01%n/an/an/an/a
Chipewyann/an/an/an/a525<0.01%
Michif465<0.01%n/an/an/an/a
Shuswap (Secwepemctsin)445<0.01%n/an/a935<0.01%
Nisga'a400<0.01%n/an/a680<0.01%
Malecite300<0.01%n/an/a535<0.01%
Kutchin-Gwich’in (Loucheux)260<0.01%n/an/a360<0.01%
Tlingit95<0.01%n/an/a80<0.01%
Other languagesn/an/a77,8900.2%172,6500.55%
Multiple language responses818,6402.35%639,5401.9%392,7601.26%
English and French165,3350.48%144,6850.4%98,6300.32%
English and a non-official language533,2601.53%396,3301.2%240,0050.77%
French and a non-official language86,1450.25%74,4300.2%43,3350.14%
English, French, and a non-official language33,9000.1%24,0950.07%10,7900.03%
Total[86][87][88]34,767,250100%33,121,175100%31,241,030100%
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  1. [N 1]
    n.o.s. – not otherwise specified
  2. [N 2]
    n.i.e. – not included elsewhere

Work

More information Language, % of total population (2016) ...
Language used most often at work
Language % of total population (2016)[89] % of total population (2006)[90]
English 76.49% 76.36%
French 19.17% 20.22%
Non-official 1.38% 1.49%
English and French 2.07% 1.37%
English and non-official 0.77% 0.47%
Other[m] 0.12% 0.09%
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Home

More information Language, % of total population (2016) ...
Language used most often at home
Language % of total population (2016)[91] % of total population (2006)[92]
English 63.75% 65.89%
French 19.97% 21.15%
Non-official 11.5% 11.11%
English and non-official 3.7% 1.3%
English and French 0.46% 0.3%
Other[n] 0.63% 0.24%
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Immigration

Summarize
Perspective
Main articles: Immigration to Canada and Canada immigration statistics

According to the 2021 Canadian census, immigrants in Canada number 8.3 million persons and make up approximately 23 percent of Canada's total population.[77] This represents the eighth-largest immigrant population in the world, while the proportion represents one of the highest ratios for industrialized Western countries.[93]

Immigrants from specific countries are divided into several ethnic groups. For example, there are both Punjabis and Muhajirs from Pakistan, both Turks and Kurds from Turkey and both Sinhalese and Tamil from Sri Lanka. Immigrants from Iran are divided into Mazandaranians, Azeris, Persians, Kurds, Gilaks and Lurs.[94]

Since confederation in 1867 through to the contemporary era, decadal and demi-decadal census reports have detailed immigration statistics. During this period, the highest annual immigration rate in Canada occurred in 1913, when 400,900 new immigrants accounted for 5.3 percent of the total population,[95][96] while the greatest number of foreign-born individuals admitted to Canada in single year occurred in 2021, with 405,330 new immigrants accounting for 1.1 percent of the total population.

Statistics Canada projects that immigrants will represent between 29.1% and 34.0% of Canada's population in 2041, compared with 23.0% in 2021,[97] while the Canadian population with at least one foreign born parent (first and second generation persons) could rise to between 49.8% and 54.3%, up from 44.0% in 2021.[3][75][76]

More information Year, Immigrant percentage ...
Canada Immigration Statistics[98][99]: 239 [100]: 108 [101]
Year Immigrant percentage Immigrant population Total responses Total population
1871 16.1% 594,207 — 3,689,257
1881 13.9% 602,984 — 4,324,810
1891 13.3% 643,871 — 4,833,239
1901 13% 699,500 — 5,371,315
1911 22% 1,586,961 — 7,206,643
1921 22.3% 1,955,736 — 8,787,949
1931 22.2% 2,307,525 — 10,374,196
1941 17.5% 2,018,847 — 11,506,655
1951 14.7% 2,059,911 — 14,009,429
1961 15.6% 2,844,263 — 18,238,247
1971 15.3% 3,295,535 21,568,310 21,568,311
1981 16% 3,843,335 24,083,495 24,343,181
1986 15.6% 3,908,150 25,022,005 25,309,331
1991 16.1% 4,342,890 26,994,045 27,296,859
1996 17.4% 4,971,070 28,528,125 28,846,761
2001 18.4% 5,448,480 29,639,030 30,007,094
2006 19.8% 6,186,950 31,241,030 31,612,897
2011 20.6% 6,775,765 32,852,325 33,476,688
2016 21.9% 7,540,830 34,460,060 35,151,728
2021 23% 8,361,505 36,328,475 36,991,981
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Migration data

More information Year, Immigration ...
Canada Net migration, 1952–1971
YearImmigrationEmigrationNet Migration
1952164,49860,559106,939
1953168,86857,975110,893
1954154,22757,15097,077
1955109,94661,89348,053
1956164,85768,75396,104
1957282,16474,383207,781
1958124,85161,68163,170
1959106,92869,18937,739
1960104,11175,59628,515
196171,68972,305−616
196274,58676,740−2,154
196393,15183,5639,588
1964112,60692,43020,176
1965146,758105,30741,451
1966194,74391,489103,254
1967222,876108,462114,414
1968183,974100,03683,938
1969161,53190,08971,495
1970147,71380,96166,752
1971121,16270,09751,065
Close
More information Year, Immigration ...
Canada Net migration, 1972–2019
YearImmigrationEmigrationNet migrationNet non-permanent migrationTotal net migration
1972122,00626,17595,8312,97598,806
1973184,20040,714143,4867,928151,414
1974218,46542,020176,4451,977178,422
1975187,88134,280153,6017,931161,532
1976146,42928,292118,137−2,969115,168
1977117,91429,10688,808−1,98286,826
197886,31331,69254,621−2,97051,651
1979112,03624,49287,5447,93095,474
1980143,49817,623125,87514,869140,744
1981128,79424,604104,19030,281134,471
1982121,33131,05490,277−3,72786,550
198389,37731,80357,5744,36961,943
198488,59929,06459,535−34959,186
198584,33926,86457,47410,98168,455
198697,34330,23267,11146,537113,648
1987152,03128,865123,16640,899164,065
1988161,53424,534137,000108,917245,917
1989191,51626,706164,81067,356232,166
1990216,42425,011191,413−10,951180,462
1991232,77643,396189,380−54,661134,719
1992254,85648,721206,135−31,933174,202
1993256,75450,657206,097−63,292142,805
1994224,39555,682168,713−16,500152,213
1995212,87551,252151,623169151,792
1996226,06149,841176,220−9,667166,553
1997216,03462,803153,231791154,022
1998174,18457,842116,342921117,263
1999189,97154,387135,58422,431158,015
2000227,42957,109170,33028,433198,763
2001250,63859,391191,24747,286238,533
2002229,04945,682183,36729,133212,500
2003221,34949,876171,47322,943194,416
2004235,85955,085180,77414,225194,999
2005262,24652,436209,8103,159212,969
2006251,64947,890203,75912,741216,500
2007236,76351,455185,30843,958229,266
2008247,26252,678194,58471,669266,253
2009252,21841,131211,08755,977267,064
2010280,73942,187238,55231,927270,479
2011248,73550,932197,80342,802240,605
2012257,82550,426207,39946,207253,606
2013259,04626,608232,43852,984285,422
2014260,30854,956205,35216,970222,322
2015271,86756,566215,301−9,330205,971
2016296,38556,772239,61388,722328,335
2017286,53743,832242,705138,034380,739
2018321,05437,915283,139154,917438,056
2019341,17435,791305,383189,781495,164
Close
More information Year, Immigration ...
Canada Net migration 2020–present
YearImmigrationEmigrationNet MigrationNon-permanent Resident InflowNon-permanent Resident OutflowNet Non-permanent ResidentTotal Net Migration
2020184,59419,235165,359––−96,06669,293
2021406,04639,161366,885––77,052443,937
2022437,61247,991389,621960,266408,722551,544941,165
2023471,87148,709423,1621,289,173468,407820,7661,243,928
2024483,59150,170433,4211,036,471745,306291,165724,586
Close

[102]

Religion

Summarize
Perspective
See also: Religion in Canada
Religion in Canada
  1. Christianity (53.3%)
  2. No Religion (34.6%)
  3. Islam (4.9%)
  4. Hinduism (2.3%)
  5. Sikhism (2.1%)
  6. Buddhism (1%)
  7. Judaism (0.9%)
  8. Others (0.8%)

In 2021, 53.3% of Canadians were Christians,[103] down from 67.3% in 2011.[104] 29.9% were Catholic while 11.4% were Protestant (all other listed denominations excluding Christian Orthodox, Latter Day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses). 7.6% were Christian not otherwise specified, 2.1% were "other Christian and Christian-related traditions", 1.7% were Christian Orthodox, 0.4% were Jehovah's Witnesses and 0.2% were Latter Day Saints adherents.

34.6% of Canadians were non-religious or secular, up from 23.9% in 2011. Of the non-Christian religions listed, 4.9% of Canadians were Muslim (3.2% in 2011), 2.3% were Hindu (1.5% in 2011), 2.1% were Sikh (1.4% in 2011), 1.0% were Buddhist (1.1% in 2011), 0.9% were Jewish (1.0% in 2011), 0.2% were believers of traditional (North American Indigenous) spirituality (same as 2011), and 0.6% were believers of other religions and spiritual traditions (0.4% in 2011).

More information Religion status of the Canadian Population in 2021, Religion ...
Religion status of the Canadian Population in 2021[103]
Religion Total Percent
Christian19,373,32553.3%
   Roman Catholic10,880,36029.9%
   Christian n.o.s.2,760,7607.6%
   United Church1,214,1853.3%
   Anglican1,134,3153.1%
   Christian Orthodox623,0101.7%
   Baptist436,9401.2%
   Pentecostal and other Charismatic399,0251.1%
   Lutheran328,0450.9%
   Presbyterian301,4000.8%
   Anabaptist144,1450.4%
   Jehovah's Witness137,2550.4%
   Methodist and Wesleyan (Holiness)100,6550.3%
   Latter Day Saints87,7250.2%
   Reformed79,8700.2%
   Other Christian and Christian-related traditions745,6502.1%
Muslim1,775,7154.9%
Hindu828,1952.3%
Sikh771,7902.1%
Buddhist356,9751.0%
Jewish335,2950.9%
Traditional (North American Indigenous) Spirituality80,6850.2%
Other religions and spiritual traditions229,0150.6%
No religion and secular perspectives12,577,47534.6%
Close
Thumb
A map of Canada by province and territory showing the distribution of the population by religious affiliation in 2021

See also

Notes

    1. In fertility rates, 2.1 and above is a stable population and has been marked blue, 2 and below leads to an aging population and the result is that the population decreases.
    2. The 2021 census on ethnic or cultural origins, Statistics Canada states: "Given the fluid nature of this concept and the changes made to this question, 2021 Census data on ethnic or cultural origins are not comparable to data from previous censuses and should not be used to measure the growth or decline of the various groups associated with these origins".[49]
    3. All citizens of Canada are classified as "Canadians" as defined by Canada's nationality laws. "Canadian" as an ethnic group has since 1996 been added to census questionnaires for possible ancestral origin or descent. "Canadian" was included as an example on the English questionnaire and "Canadien" as an example on the French questionnaire.[46] "The majority of respondents to this selection are from the eastern part of the country that was first settled. Respondents generally are visibly European (Anglophones and Francophones) and no longer self-identify with their ethnic ancestral origins. This response is attributed to a multitude of reasons such as generational distance from ancestral lineage."[47][48][51][52]
    4. Statistic includes all persons with ethnic or cultural origin responses with ancestry to the nation of India, including "Anglo-Indian" (3,340), "Bengali" (26,675), "Goan" (9,700), "Gujarati" (36,970), "Indian" (1,347,715), "Jatt" (22,785), "Kashmiri" (6,165), "Maharashtrian" (4,125), "Malayali" (12,490), "Punjabi" (279,950), "Tamil" (102,170), and "Telugu" (6,670)".[53]
    5. Indigenous peoples are not considered a visible minority in Statistics Canada calculations. Visible minorities are defined by Statistics Canada as "persons, other than aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-White in colour".[56]
    6. The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses. The following figures are from the 2021 Canadian Census.
    7. 2021 census: Combined responses of the Chinese languages, including Mandarin (987,300), Cantonese (724,925), Min Nan, Hakka, Wu (Shanghainese), Min Dong, Chinese, n.o.s.,[nb 1] and Chinese languages, n.i.e.[nb 2]
    8. 2021 census: Combined responses of Hindi (761,425) and Urdu (414,870) as they form mutually intelligible registers of the Hindustani language.
    9. The 1991 Census was the first to ask Canadians whether they could conduct a conversation in a language other than English or French[79]: 50 
    10. 2021 census: Combined responses of Iranian Persian (222,160), Dari, and Persian (Farsi), n.o.s.,[nb 1] as they form mutually intelligible registers of the Persian language, and as they were all categorized under "Persian" in previous censuses.
    11. Including Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and Serbo-Croatian, n.i.e.[nb 2]
    12. 2021 census: Total number of speakers of the Cree-Innu languages, previously categorized under "Cree" in past censuses.
    13. French and non-official language OR
      English, French and non-official language
    14. French and non-official language OR
      English, French and non-official language

    References

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