Indigenous population continues to grow and is much younger than the non-Indigenous population, although the pace of growth has slowed

Released: 2022-09-21

Indigenous peoples, their communities, cultures and languages have existed since time immemorial in the land now known as Canada. The term "Indigenous peoples" refers to three groups—First Nations people, Métis and Inuit—who are recognized in the Constitution Act. However, while these groups are representative of the Indigenous population as a whole, each is tremendously diverse. This diversity is reflected in over 70 Indigenous languages that were reported during the 2021 Census, over 600 First Nations who represent their people across the country, the plurality of groups representing Métis nationhood, and the four regions and 50 communities of Inuit Nunangat that Inuit call home.

Much of Canada's cultural, economic and political landscape has been shaped by the achievements of Indigenous people. Generations of Indigenous people, including leaders, Elders, healers, educators, business leaders, artists and activists, have made invaluable contributions, touching all aspects of life in Canada.

Over multiple decades, census data have revealed that the Indigenous population has grown quickly, at a pace far surpassing that of the non-Indigenous population. There are two reasons for this growth. The first, often called "natural growth," relates to higher birth rates and increasing lifespans. The second has been termed "response mobility," which refers to people who once responded to the Indigenous identity questions one way on the census questionnaire, but now respond differently. Over time, respondents who had previously not identified as Indigenous have become more likely to do so. This may be related to personal reflection, social factors or external factors such as changes to legislation or court rulings.

The Indigenous population in Canada is one of the largest among countries that share a similar colonial history. In 2021, 1.8 million Indigenous people were enumerated during the census. This was more than double the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Australia (812,728) in 2021, and the number of Maori in New Zealand (775,836) in 2018. In 2021, Indigenous people accounted for 5.0% of the total population in Canada, a larger share than in Australia (3.2%) but lower than in New Zealand (16.5%).

The colonial history of Canada has profoundly impacted Indigenous peoples, their governance, languages and cultures. However, through the efforts and resilience of Indigenous people and their communities, important steps have been taken toward reconciliation and the rebuilding of ties to the unique cultures and languages of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit. In recent years, federal initiatives have been implemented, including the Indigenous Languages Act; the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, as well as modern treaty negotiations.

The 2021 Census was particularly challenging to conduct amid the respect for isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as regional forest fires that interfered with data collection. Because of these factors, enumeration could not be completed in 63 of the 1,026 census subdivisions that are classified as First Nations reserves.

Despite the challenges posed to in-person collection, the Census of Population remains the most comprehensive source of community-level data for the Indigenous population in Canada and robust data are available for First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. Census data are used to inform policy and community work for Indigenous peoples, and are comparable across time and across multiple levels of geography. The collection and dissemination of these data would not have been possible without the participation of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit across Canada.

Over 1.8 million Indigenous people counted in the 2021 Census

Infographic 1 
Most Indigenous people live in Ontario and Western Canada, but account for larger share of overall population in territories

The 2021 Census counted 1,807,250 Indigenous people, accounting for 5.0% of the total population of Canada, up from 4.9% in 2016.

The census questionnaire asked respondents if they were First Nations, Métis or Inuit—the three Indigenous groups recognized in the Constitution Act, 1982. Those who reported being First Nations accounted for over half (58.0%) of the Indigenous population, while just over one-third (34.5%) were Métis and 3.9% were Inuit. The remaining share of the population was those who reported multiple Indigenous identities (1.6%)—for example First Nations and Métis—and those who were part of the Indigenous population not included elsewhere (1.9%).

Ontario had the largest Indigenous population of all provinces and territories in 2021, at 406,590 people, accounting for 2.9% of people in the province. British Columbia had the next largest Indigenous population, at 290,210, accounting for 5.9% of people in the province, followed by Alberta (284,470 people, or 6.8%) and Manitoba (237,190 people, or 18.1%).

In 2021, Indigenous people made up a large share of the total population in the territories, accounting for over four-fifths (85.8%) of the population of Nunavut, almost half (49.6%) in the Northwest Territories and over one-fifth (22.3%) in Yukon. Provincially, Manitoba's population had the highest share of Indigenous people (18.1%), followed by Saskatchewan (17.0%), Newfoundland and Labrador (9.3%), and Alberta (6.8%).

Indigenous population still growing faster than non-Indigenous population, but pace of growth has slowed

Infographic 2 
Population growth slows in 2021 among First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status, Métis and Inuit, compared with five years earlier

The Indigenous population grew by 9.4% from 2016 to 2021, almost twice the pace of growth of the non-Indigenous population over the same period (+5.3%). Population projections for First Nations people, Métis and Inuit suggest that the Indigenous population could reach between 2.5 million and 3.2 million over the next 20 years.

The faster growth of the Indigenous population is generally attributed to higher birth rates, combined with changes in the way respondents answer the census questionnaire from one census to the next. In general, respondents have become more likely to identify as Indigenous over time. The reasons people are more likely to identify as Indigenous may be related to social factors and external factors, such as changes to legislation or court rulings. Also, past findings have highlighted a connection between having both Indigenous and non-Indigenous ancestry and response mobility.

While the Indigenous population continues to grow more quickly than the non-Indigenous population, the difference in growth between the two groups (+9.4% versus +5.3%) was not as large as it was during previous iterations of the census. For example, the Indigenous population grew at over four times the pace of the non-Indigenous population from 2011 to 2016 (+18.9% versus +4.2%).

The First Nations population grew by 9.7% overall from 2016 to 2021. However, the pace of growth was much slower for First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status (+4.1%), compared with those without Registered or Treaty Indian status (+27.2%). The Métis population grew by 6.3% over the five-year period, while the Inuit population grew by 8.5%.

In 2016, Indigenous children aged 4 years and younger accounted for 8.7% of the total Indigenous population, but by 2021 this share had fallen to 7.6%. While this accounts for some of the difference in growth rates, it does not explain it entirely. This may suggest that the second reason for Indigenous population growth—response mobility—was not as prevalent in 2021 as in previous census cycles.

The growth of the Indigenous population can also be viewed over a longer period. For example, from 2006 to 2021, the Indigenous population grew by 56.8%, or nearly four times faster than the non-Indigenous population during the same period (+15.4%). The Métis population grew by 60.7%, the First Nations population grew by 54.3% and the Inuit population grew by 40.1%.

Over half of First Nations people live in Western Canada

Map 1 
In 2021, 4 in 10 First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status lived on reserve

The 2021 Census counted 1,048,405 First Nations people living in Canada, marking the first time that the First Nations population surpassed the 1 million mark in a census.

While more than half (55.5%) of all First Nations people lived in Western Canada, Ontario had the largest number of First Nations people provincially (251,030), making up nearly one-quarter (23.9%) of the First Nations population in Canada. Meanwhile, one in nine First Nations people (11.1%) lived in Quebec, and 7.6% lived in Atlantic Canada. The remaining 1.9% of First Nations people lived in the territories.

In 2021, almost three-quarters (71.8%) of First Nations people had Registered or Treaty Indian status under the Indian Act, while 28.2% did not. The share of First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status was higher in 2016 (76.2%), reflecting the fact that the First Nations population who did not have Registered or Treaty Indian status grew at a much faster pace in 2021 than the population with Registered or Treaty Indian status (+27.2% versus +4.1%).

Among status First Nations people, just over two-fifths (40.6%) lived on reserve in 2021. The term "on reserve" refers to census subdivisions legally affiliated with First Nations or Indian bands. However, while this definition applies to some First Nations that have signed a modern treaty or a self-government agreement, it does not apply to all. For example, most First Nations in the Northwest Territories and Yukon have signed modern treaties, but their administered lands are not considered on reserve.

Métis population in Canada grows at much slower pace in 2021, compared with five years earlier

Map 2 
Over one-quarter million Métis live in Ontario and Alberta

The census counted 624,220 Métis living in Canada in 2021, up 6.3% from 2016. While the growth of the Métis population outpaced that of the non-Indigenous population over the same period (+5.3%), the difference was not as great as in years past. From 2011 to 2016, the population identifying as Métis grew by almost one-third (+30.0%).

In 2021, over four in five Métis (83.2%) lived in either Ontario or Western Canada. Ontario had the largest Métis population (134,615), followed by Alberta (127,470).

Following engagement with Métis organizations, governments and stakeholders, the 2021 Census of Population long-form questionnaire collected data on membership in a Métis organization or Settlement for the first time.

The census counted 224,655 people reporting membership in a Métis organization or Settlement, with four-fifths (79.8%) reporting being a member of one of the five signatories of the Canada-Métis Nation Accord (2017). For more information on Métis in Canada, see the Census in Brief article "Membership in a Métis organization or Settlement: Findings from the 2021 Census of Population".

The Métis Nation of Alberta had the largest membership reported among Métis organizations, at 45,350 in 2021, followed closely by the Manitoba Metis Federation, at 43,920, and then by the Métis Nation of Ontario (36,240), Métis Nation British Columbia (27,140) and Métis Nation—Saskatchewan (26,700).

Along with Métis organizations, there are eight Metis Settlements of Alberta that were established though the 1938 Métis Population Betterment Act of the Alberta Legislature. These communities, located across central and northern Alberta, are the only land base for Métis officially recognized by a provincial government. In 2021, 3,540 people reported being a member of one of the eight Metis Settlements of Alberta, with Kikino being the largest (710).

More than two-thirds of Inuit live in Inuit Nunangat, but Inuit population outside Inuit Nunangat growing quickly

Map 3 
Nunavut home to largest Inuit population in Canada, while number of Inuit living outside Inuit Nunangat on the rise

The census counted 70,545 Inuit living in Canada in 2021, up 8.5% from five years earlier.

Inuit Nunangat—the homeland of Inuit in Canada—is composed of four regions. The westernmost is the Inuvialuit region, found in the north of Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Next to it is Nunavut, Canada's third territory, which was officially established in 1999. Nunavik—the second most populated region—is located along the western and northern coastline of Quebec. Finally, Nunatsiavut is found along the north coast of Labrador.

Over two-thirds (69.0%) of Inuit lived in Inuit Nunangat in 2021, down from 72.8% in 2016, reflecting the faster growth of the Inuit population living outside Inuit Nunangat (+23.6%).

Over two in five Inuit (30,865 people) were living in Nunavut in 2021, accounting for 43.7% of the total Inuit population in Canada. A further 12,595 Inuit were living in Nunavik, 3,145 in the Inuvialuit region and 2,095 in Nunatsiavut.

Just over four-fifths (80.6%) of Inuit in Canada reported that they were enrolled under or were a beneficiary of an Inuit land claims agreement. The largest group of claimants (33,310 people) was part of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, and most (88.4%) of this group lived within the territory of Nunavut. The next largest group (15,505 people) was the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, with 79.5% of this group living in Nunavik.

Indigenous population continues to grow in large urban centres

Map 4 
Winnipeg home to largest Indigenous population in Canada

The first release from the 2021 Census revealed that nearly three in four Canadians lived in a large urban centre of at least 100,000 people, referred to as a census metropolitan area. In 2021, 801,045 Indigenous people lived in a large urban centre.

Indigenous people were more likely to live in a large city in 2021 than in 2016. Over this five-year period, the Indigenous population living in a large urban centre grew by 12.5%. Within the total Indigenous population, the share of Indigenous people living in a large urban centre rose from 43.1% to 44.3%.

In some cases, Indigenous people—particularly those who live in remote, northern settings—may live temporarily in a large urban centre to access medical care or for other reasons. However, the Census of Population counts people based on their usual place of residence. This can show differences between the overall population in an urban centre at any given time and the population on Census Day.

In 2021, Winnipeg had the largest Indigenous population at 102,080 people, followed by Edmonton (87,605) and Vancouver (63,345).

The Indigenous population grew most in Edmonton (+11,400, +15.0%), Montréal (+11,265, +32.4%) and Winnipeg (+8,750, +9.4%) from 2016 to 2021. While the Indigenous population grew in most large urban centres over the same period, it declined slightly in Toronto (-1,685, -3.6%).

In 2021, 420,885 First Nations people lived in a large urban centre, accounting for 40.1% of the total First Nations population. This figure was higher for First Nations people without Registered or Treaty Indian status (59.4%) than it was for status First Nations people (32.6%).

More than half (55.4%) of Métis lived in a large urban centre in 2021. Winnipeg had the largest Métis population in Canada, followed by Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. Combined, these four urban centres accounted for almost one-quarter (24.1%) of the total Métis population in Canada.

In 2021, 15.3% of Inuit lived in a large urban centre, up from 13.0% in 2016. There were three urban centres that had an Inuit population of more than 1,000 people: Ottawa–Gatineau (1,730), Edmonton (1,290) and Montréal (1,130).

Infographic 3 
While Indigenous people remain younger than non-Indigenous population, young Indigenous children (0 to 4 years) account for smaller share of population than in the past

Infographic 4 
First Nations people are younger on average than non-Indigenous population, while one in six First Nations people are now 65 years and older

Infographic 5 
Age structure of Métis population more closely resembles non-Indigenous population than other Indigenous groups

Infographic 6 
Inuit among youngest populations in Canada, with one-third aged 14 years and younger

Nearly two-thirds of Indigenous people are working age

Continuing a trend observed in previous censuses, the 2021 Census showed that the Indigenous population is younger than the non-Indigenous population. The average age of Indigenous people was 33.6 years in 2021, compared with 41.8 years for the non-Indigenous population.

Inuit were the youngest of the three groups, with an average age of 28.9 years, followed by First Nations people (32.5 years) and Métis (35.9 years).

There were 459,215 Indigenous children aged 14 years and younger in 2021, accounting for one-quarter (25.4%) of the total Indigenous population. By comparison, 16.0% of the non-Indigenous population was 14 years of age and younger.

Just under two-thirds (65.1%) of Indigenous people were working age (15 to 64 years) in 2021. The 2021 Census release from April 27, 2022 on Canada's shifting demographic profile reported that the share of the working-age population near retirement was higher than at any point in the history of Canada. However, this was not the case among Indigenous people.

While the shares of Indigenous people and the non-Indigenous population aged 15 to 64 years were similar (65.1% versus 65.4%) in 2021, the share who were close to retirement age—55 to 64 years—was lower for the Indigenous population than for the non-Indigenous population. Just over one in six working-age Indigenous people (17.2%) were "close to retirement" age, compared with 22.0% for the non-Indigenous population. With a larger share of the non-Indigenous population nearing retirement age, future census data may see the Indigenous population accounting for a larger share of the labour force.

Despite the relative youth of Indigenous people, the share of Indigenous people aged 65 years and older continues to grow—as with the total population. From 2016 to 2021, the share of Indigenous people aged 65 years and older rose from 7.3% to 9.5%.

Indigenous children more likely to live with grandparents in their home

Past iterations of the census have noted the diverse family characteristics of Indigenous peoples, with many living in multigenerational homes, alongside parents, grandparents and other relatives. Among the 459,210 Indigenous children aged 14 years of age and younger, a higher proportion lived with at least one grandparent in their home, compared with non-Indigenous children. For First Nations, Métis and Inuit families, grandparents often play an important role in raising children and passing down values, traditions and cultural knowledge to younger generations.

In 2021, 14.2% of Indigenous children lived with at least one grandparent, compared with 8.9% of non-Indigenous children. Among all Indigenous children who lived with their grandparents, most (78.0%) lived in a multi-generational home, where at least one parent and at least one grandparent were present. The remaining 22.0% lived in a skip-generation family with at least one grandparent, but no parents present. This reflected previous findings from the 2021 Census on the living arrangements of people in Canada.

The majority (56.0%) of Indigenous children lived in a two-parent household in 2021.

More than one-third (35.8%) of Indigenous children lived in a lone-parent household. Most (79.5%) lived with their mother, while the remainder lived with their father.

In 2020, the Government of Canada instituted the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. This legislation sought to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth in foster care and to improve child and family services. Of children in private households in 2021, Indigenous children were more likely to be in foster care than non-Indigenous children (3.2% versus 0.2%).

Altogether, Indigenous children accounted for over half (53.8%) of all children in foster care, while nationally, Indigenous children accounted for 7.7% of all children 14 years of age and younger. In 2021, the share of Indigenous children in foster care was essentially unchanged from five years earlier.

Share of Indigenous people living in dwellings that were crowded and dwellings in need of major repairs down since 2016, but remains higher than that of non-Indigenous population

Because of a number of barriers faced by Indigenous communities, inadequate housing conditions are a significant issue among Indigenous people in Canada. Indigenous people are more likely to live in remote or northern communities, where high costs and limited access to building materials and supplies contribute to the challenges of building or maintaining homes. In addition, for on-reserve First Nations communities, accessing financing to buy, build or renovate housing can be difficult because of the application of the Indian Act, which does not permit the use of property on reserves as collateral in a lending agreement.

Almost one in six Indigenous people (16.4%) lived in a dwelling that was in need of major repairs in 2021, a rate almost three times higher than for the non-Indigenous population (5.7%). Métis were the least likely among Indigenous people to live in a dwelling that was in need of major repairs (10.0%), followed by First Nations people (19.7%) and Inuit (26.2%).

Over one-third of First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status (37.4%) living on reserve occupied a dwelling in need of major repairs in 2021, compared with 12.7% of those living off reserve. A similar pattern was apparent among Inuit, with those living in Inuit Nunangat almost three times more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs than Inuit living outside Inuit Nunangat (32.7% versus 11.5%).

Despite overall higher shares of Indigenous people living in a dwelling that needed major repairs, the share of Indigenous people living in such a dwelling fell 2.7 percentage points from 2016 to 2021. The share declined for First Nations people (-3.9 percentage points) and Métis (-1.2 percentage points); however, the share for Inuit in 2021 was roughly the same as it had been five years prior. The gap between the share of Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people living in a dwelling in need of major repairs also decreased from 13.0 percentage points in 2016 to 10.7 percentage points in 2021.

In 2021, 17.1% of Indigenous people lived in crowded housing—housing considered not suitable for the number of people who lived there according to the National Occupancy Standard. By comparison, 9.4% of the non-Indigenous population lived in crowded housing. Inuit were the most likely to live in crowded housing in 2021 (40.1%), followed by First Nations people (21.4%) and Métis (7.9%).

First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status living on reserve were almost twice as likely to live in crowded housing, compared with those who lived off reserve (35.7% versus 18.4%). The share of Inuit living in crowed housing was mainly driven by those living in Inuit Nunangat, who were more than four times as likely to live in crowded housing as Inuit living outside Inuit Nunangat (52.9% versus 11.4%).

While Indigenous people were more likely to live in crowded housing compared with the non-Indigenous population, the gap between the two groups narrowed from 9.5 percentage points in 2016 to 7.8 percentage points in 2021.

For more information on the housing conditions of Indigenous people in Canada, see the Census in Brief article "Housing conditions among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit in Canada from the 2021 Census."

Indigenous people much more likely to live in low-income household than non-Indigenous population

The 2021 Census marked the first time that low-income data were made available for all geographic regions in Canada, including reserves and northern areas. Of the 1.8 million Indigenous people living in Canada in 2021, 18.8% lived in a low-income household, as defined using the low-income measure, after tax, compared with 10.7% of the non-Indigenous population.

The share of Indigenous people living in a low-income household was much lower in 2021 than in 2016 (18.8% versus 28.1%). As the results from the census release on income have shown, this downward trend in low income has been observed across Canada and was largely driven by government transfers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic saw governments across Canada implementing restrictions on businesses, schools, universities and colleges to slow the spread of COVID-19, resulting in precarious work situations for millions of Canadians. To alleviate financial hardships related to the pandemic, the federal government created a number of relief programs, such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, and the Canada Emergency Student Benefit.

Among the three Indigenous groups, the low-income rate was highest among First Nations people (22.7%). It was particularly high among status First Nations people living on reserve, almost one in three (31.4%) of whom lived in a low-income household.

One in six Inuit (16.6%) and one in eight Métis (12.8%) lived in a low-income household. The share of Inuit living in a low-income household was similar for those living in Inuit Nunangat (16.5%) and those living outside Inuit Nunangat (16.8%). However, these figures do not take into account the relative costs of goods and housing in Inuit Nunangat, which are significantly higher than the national average.

Nearly one-quarter (24.6%) of Indigenous children aged 14 years and younger lived in a low-income household in 2021, more than double the rate among non-Indigenous children (11.1%).

Fewer Indigenous people report an Indigenous language as their mother tongue, while more are learning an Indigenous language as a second language

Over 70 Indigenous languages were reported in the 2021 Census, with 237,420 Indigenous people reporting that they could speak an Indigenous language well enough to conduct a conversation.

In 2019, the Indigenous Languages Act was signed into law to "support and promote the use of Indigenous languages." Following this legislative step, the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages was established with a mandate to support the efforts of Indigenous peoples to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages.

While the work to revitalize Indigenous languages reflects their importance to Indigenous peoples, it also reflects the reality that many languages, which had at one time flourished, have become endangered. A number of Indigenous languages had fewer than 1,000 speakers. For example, Wolastoqewi (Malecite) the traditional language of many First Nations people in Atlantic Canada was spoken by 795 Indigenous people in 2021. Similarly, Gwich'in, in the Athabaskan language family, was spoken by 275 Indigenous people.

There are also Indigenous languages with smaller numbers of speakers that are "isolates", meaning that they cannot be categorized into a larger family of languages. These include Michif (1,845 speakers), which is the language of the Métis Nation, and Haida (220 speakers) and Ktunaxa (Kutenai) (210 speakers), both of which are spoken by First Nations people in British Columbia.

The most commonly spoken Indigenous languages among Indigenous people were Cree languages, with 86,480 speakers. While the most commonly reported version of Cree was "Cree" with no other specification (60,160 speakers), Cree languages can be further broken down into a number of different dialects, such as Nehiyawewin (Plains Cree) (11,730 speakers), Nihithawiwin (Woods Cree) (5,015 speakers), Iyiyiw-Ayimiwin (Northern East Cree) (4,785 speakers), Nehinawewin (Swampy Cree) (4,580 speakers), Inu Ayimun (Southern East Cree) (890 speakers) and Ililimowin (Moose Cree) (400 speakers).

Among First Nations people, the most common Indigenous languages spoken were Cree languages (80,175 speakers), Ojibway languages (24,255 speakers) and Oji-Cree (15,110 speakers).

The most common Indigenous languages among Métis were Cree languages (4,650 speakers), Michif (1,485 speakers) and Dene (1,035 speakers).

Collectively, the Indigenous languages spoken by Inuit are known as Inuktut. Inuktitut was the second largest Indigenous language in Canada, spoken by 39,620 Inuit. Other Inuktut dialects spoken by Inuit include Inuinnaqtun (735 speakers) and Inuvialuktun (330 speakers).

From 2016 to 2021, the number of Indigenous people who reported that they could speak an Indigenous language well enough to conduct a conversation declined by 4.3%. This was largely driven by declines in the number of Indigenous people with an Indigenous mother tongue—that is, the first language learned in childhood that was still understood—as this share fell by 8.1% over the period. However, the number of Indigenous people who could speak an Indigenous language but did not have an Indigenous mother tongue grew by 7.0% over the same period. This change reflects a growing share of Indigenous people who are learning an Indigenous language as a second language.

The majority (72.3%) of Indigenous people who could speak an Indigenous language reported that they had an Indigenous language as their mother tongue. This was a slightly lower share than in 2016, when just over three-quarters (75.3%) of Indigenous people who could speak an Indigenous language also had an Indigenous mother tongue.

Looking ahead

In the coming months, additional releases from the 2021 Census will reveal more details about First Nations people, Métis and Inuit in Canada, including information on education and labour force characteristics.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).