Portrait of youth in Canada: Indigenous peoples

Release date: December 1, 2021
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Infographic: Portrait of youth in Canada: Indigenous peoples
Description: Portrait of youth in Canada: Indigenous peoples

Indigenous youth make up more than one-sixth of the total Indigenous population

The relative youth of Indigenous people is a key reason why the Indigenous population in Canada is expected to grow quickly over the coming decades. By 2041, it is projected that it could reach between 2.5 and 3.2 million people.


Share of the population aged 15 to 24 years, by Indigenous identity, 2016
Table summary
This table displays the results of Share of the population aged 15 to 24 years Percent (appearing as column headers).
Percent
Total Indigenous population 17%
First Nations people 17%
Métis 16%
Inuit 18%
Non-Indigenous population 12%
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2016.

Half of Indigenous youth report that speaking an Indigenous language is important or very important

  • First Nations people: 56%
  • Métis: 38%
  • Inuit: 83%

Proportion who can speak an Indigenous language well enough to conduct a conversation

  • Indigenous youth: 13%
  • Indigenous people aged 25 and older: 17%

Most Indigenous youth report making an effort to find out more about their history, traditions and culture, and the majority report that they feel good about their own Indigenous identity
Table summary
This table displays the results of Most Indigenous youth report making an effort to find out more about their history. The information is grouped by Indigenous identity (appearing as row headers), Cultural indicator (appearing as column headers).
Indigenous identity Cultural indicator
Felt good about their own Indigenous identity Effort made to find out more about Indigenous group’s history, traditions and culture
First Nations people 91% 71%
Métis 92% 65%
Inuit 97% 74%
Source: Statistics Canada, Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2017.

Sources: Anderson, Thomas. 2021. “Indigenous Youth in Canada.” Portrait of Youth in Canada: Data Report. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 42280001; Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2016, and Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2017.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2021

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

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