The Muslim population in Canada

Release date: December 16, 2024
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Infographic: The Muslim population in Canada
Description: The Muslim population in Canada

From 2001 to 2021, the proportion of MuslimsNote 1 in the Canadian population more than doubled, rising from 2.0% to 4.9%.

Table 1 Table summary
This table displays the results of . The information is grouped by Provinces and territories (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Provinces and territories Muslim population, 2001 Muslim population, 2021 Proportion of the total population, 2021
Canada 579,640 1,775,715 4.9%
Newfoundland and Labrador 625 4,000 0.8%
Prince Edward Island 195 1,720 1.1%
Nova Scotia 3,545 14,715 1.5%
New Brunswick 1,270 9,190 1.2%
Quebec 108,620 421,710 5.1%
Ontario 352,530 942,990 6.7%
Manitoba 5,095 26,430 2.0%
Saskatchewan 2,230 25,455 2.3%
Alberta 49,045 202,535 4.8%
British Columbia 56,215 125,910 2.6%
Yukon 60 185 0.5%
Northwest Territories 175 730 1.8%
Nunavut 25 140 0.4%

In 2021, the Muslim population was relatively young, with a median age of 30, compared with a median age of 41 for the total Canadian population.

Distribution of the total Canadian population and the Muslim population, by age group, 2021 Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Distribution of the total Canadian population and the Muslim population, by age group, 2021. The information is grouped by Age groups (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Age groups Total Canadian population Muslim population
0 to 14 years 16.5% 26.3%
15 to 64 years 65.4% 67.4%
65 years and over 18.1% 6.4%
Top 10 countries of birth of Muslim population in Canada, 2021 Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Top 10 countries of birth of Muslim population in Canada, 2021 , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
  proportion
Canada 29.5%
Pakistan 12.7%
Iran 5.8%
Morocco 4.2%
Algeria 4.2%
Bangladesh 3.7%
Syria 3.5%
Afghanistan 3.4%
India 3.1%
Lebanon 2.4%

In 2021, South Asian was the largest racialized group among the Muslim population.

Muslim population in Canada Table 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Muslim population in Canada , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
  proportion
South Asian 37.6%
Arab 32.2%
West Asian 13.0%
Black 11.6%
Top 10 languages spoken most often at home by the Muslim population in Canada Table 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Top 10 languages spoken most often at home by the Muslim population in Canada , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
  Proportion of the Muslim population in Canada, by language spoken most often at home, 2021
English 47.3%
Arabic 18.1%
French 15.3%
Urdu 13.0%
Iranian Persian 4.5%
Bengali 3.4%
Dari 2.6%
Somali 1.8%
Turkish 1.5%
Gujarati 1.0%

Note: This infographic was developed in collaboration with the Office of the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2001 and 2021.

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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, 2024

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

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

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