Overview of Canadian citizenship in 2021

Release date: October 26, 2022
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Infographic: Overview of Canadian citizenship in 2021
Description: Overview of Canadian citizenship in 2021

In Canada, approximately 9 in 10 people are Canadian citizens, either by birth or by naturalization

Canadian citizenship is associated with certain rights and responsibilities, such as voting, holding a Canadian passport, and serving on a jury.


Population of Canada by type of Canadian citizenship, 2021
Table summary
This table displays the results of Population of Canada by type of Canadian citizenship. The information is grouped by Type of Canadian Citizenship (appearing as row headers), Distribution (%) of the population (appearing as column headers).
Type of Canadian Citizenship Distribution (%) of the population
Canadian citizen by birth 74.4
Canadian citizen by naturalization 16.8
Not a Canadian citizen 8.8

Canadian citizens by descent— those born abroad to parents who are Canadian citizens—represent a relatively small population.

Number of Canadian citizens by descent in 2021: 322,530

The United States and United Kingdom are the top countries of birth of Canadian citizens by descent.

More than 6 million immigrants reported having Canadian citizenship by naturalization, representing 80.7% of all immigrants admitted to Canada at least three years before the 2021 Census

Immigrants who have been living in Canada longer are more likely to be Canadian citizens.


Naturalization rate of immigrants in Canada, by period of immigration, 2021
Table summary
This table displays the results of Naturalization rate of immigrants in Canada. The information is grouped by Period of immigration (appearing as row headers), Naturalization rate (%) (appearing as column headers).
Period of immigration Naturalization rate (%)
Before 1980 94.2
1980 to 1990 94.5
1991 to 2000 94.2
2001 to 2005 89.0
2006 to 2010 78.6
2011 to 2015 57.5
2016 to 2017 16.9

80.7% of eligible immigrants have Canadian citizenship

Since 1977, Canada has recognized multiple citizenships

In 2021, more than 3.7 million Canadian citizens reported having more than one citizenship. The proportion was higher among Canadian citizens by naturalization (44.7%) than Canadian citizens by birth (3.7%).


Most frequently reported multiple citizenships
Table summary
This table displays the results of Most frequently reported multiple citizenships. The information is grouped by Type of citizenship (appearing as row headers), Most frequently reported multiple citizenships (appearing as column headers).
Canadian citizens by birth Canadian citizens by naturalization
Canada and the United States Canada and the United Kingdom
Canada and the United Kingdom Canada and Pakistan

Note: Naturalization is the process by which immigrants acquire Canadian citizenship. To be eligible, landed immigrants (permanent residents) generally must meet certain criteria, such as a residency requirement and demonstrating knowledge of Canada and of English or French.

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021.

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2022

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

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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