Indigenous-owned businesses in Canada, 2018

Release date: June 21, 2023
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Infographic: Indigenous-owned businesses in Canada, 2018
Description: Indigenous-owned businesses in Canada, 2018

In 2018, there were an estimated 17,363 Indigenous-owned businesses in Canada, accounting for 1.3% of all private businessesNote 1 in the country.


Distribution of Indigenous-owned businesses, by Indigenous identity of the owner(s)
Table summary
This table displays the results of Distribution of Indigenous-owned businesses. The information is grouped by Indigenous identity (appearing as row headers), Percent (appearing as column headers).
Indigenous identity Percent
First Nations 45.7%
Métis 47.1%
Inuk (Inuit) 1.9%
Other Indigenous ownershipNote 2 5.3%

Distribution of Indigenous-owned businesses, by age of primary owner
Table summary
This table displays the results of Distribution of Indigenous-owned businesses. The information is grouped by Age of primary owner (appearing as row headers), Percent (appearing as column headers).
Age of primary owner Percent
Younger than 35 13.5%
35 to 44 years 21.9%
45 to 54 years 25.7%
55 to 64 years 24.8%
65 years or older 14.1%

Distribution of Indigenous-owned businesses, by sex of owner(s)
Table summary
This table displays the results of Distribution of Indigenous-owned businesses. The information is grouped by Sex of owner(s) (appearing as row headers), Percent (appearing as column headers).
Sex of owner(s) Percent
Men-owned 71.8%
Women-owned 24.7%
Equally owned 3.5%

24.7% of Indigenous-owned businesses were owned by women


Distribution of Indigenous-owned businesses, by province or region
Table summary
This table displays the results of Distribution of Indigenous-owned businesses. The information is grouped by Province or region (appearing as row headers), Percent (appearing as column headers).
Province or region Percent
Alberta 22.7%
Ontario 20.3%
British Columbia 18.2%
Quebec 15.4%
Atlantic 7.9%
Manitoba 7.0%
Saskatchewan 6.6%
Territories 1.9%

Alberta (22.7%) had the highest number of Indigenous-owned businesses, followed by Ontario (20.3%) and British Columbia (18.2%).


From 2005 to 2018, the share of women-owned businesses among Indigenous-owned businesses increased
Table summary
This table displays the results of From 2005 to 2018 Men-owned and Women-owned (appearing as column headers).
Men-owned Women-owned
2005 74.8% 22.1%
2010 73.4% 23.2%
2015 72.6% 23.8%
2018 71.8% 24.7%

Sources: Statistics Canada, table 33-10-0631-01 - Private enterprises by sex and Indigenous identity of ownership, province or region and enterprise size, table 33-10-0632-01 - Private enterprises by sex and Indigenous identity of ownership, age group of primary owner and enterprise size.

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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, 2023

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

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

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