Migration of Indigenous people to and from First Nations reserves, 2016 to 2021
Description: Migration of Indigenous people to and from First Nations reserves, 2016 to 2021
Indigenous people may decide to move to and away from First Nations communities for a variety of reasons, such as education, employment, family, and the connection to the community and home. Note 1
From 2016 to 2021, 29,000 Indigenous people moved to a First Nations reserve and 32,400 moved away from a reserve. This difference between in- and out-migration represents a relatively small proportion of the Indigenous population living on reserve (1.2%).
| Region | Difference |
|---|---|
| Atlantic provinces | 0 |
| Quebec | -900 |
| Ontario | 0 |
| Manitoba | -100 |
| Saskatchewan | -1,300 |
| Alberta | -1,300 |
| British Columbia | +1,100 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 |
| Canada | -2,500 |
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Negative numbers indicate that more Indigenous people moved away from than to a First Nations reserve.
Positive numbers indicate that more Indigenous people moved to than away from a First Nations reserve.
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More Indigenous people aged 30 and over moved to a reserve than away from a reserve, while the opposite was true for Indigenous people under 30
| Age group in 2016 | Difference |
|---|---|
| 0 to 14 years | -1,000 |
| 15 to 29 years | -3,500 |
| 30 to 59 years | +600 |
| 60 years or over | +300 |
More Indigenous people aged 15 and over with a higher education level moved to a reserve than away from a reserve
| Highest level of education | Difference |
|---|---|
| No certificate, diploma or degree | -3,900 |
| High school diploma or equivalency certificate | +300 |
| Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree | +1,100 |
Notes:
- Figures in this infographic are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not equal the sum of their parts due to rounding.
- While this infographic includes the entire Indigenous population, most Indigenous people who live on or move to or from a reserve identify as First Nations.
- Incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements as well as persons who were living in a collective dwelling in 2016 or 2021 are excluded from this infographic.
Sources: Statistics Canada, 2016 Census long form and 2021 Census short form data linkage, and 2016 Census short form and 2021 Census long form data linkage; First Nations Information Governance Centre, 2018, National Report of the First Nations Regional Health Survey Phase 3: Volume One.
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