Canada at a Glance, 2023
Immigration and ethnocultural

Table of contents

Chart 3

Data table for Chart 3 
Data table for chart 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 3. The information is grouped by Census year (appearing as row headers), Immigrant population and Projections, calculated using number, percentage, minus and plus units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Census year Immigrant population Projections
number percentage minus plus
1871 594,207 16.1 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1881 602,984 13.9 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1891 643,871 13.3 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1901 699,500 13.0 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1911 1,586,961 22.0 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1921 1,955,736 22.3 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1931 2,307,525 22.2 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1941 2,018,847 17.5 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1951 2,059,911 14.7 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1961 2,844,263 15.6 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1971 3,295,530 15.3 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1981 3,843,335 16.0 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1986 3,908,150 15.6 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1991 4,342,890 16.1 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
1996 4,971,070 17.4 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
2001 5,448,480 18.4 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
2006 6,186,950 19.8 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
2011 6,775,770 20.6 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
2016 7,540,830 21.9 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
2021 8,361,505 23.0 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
2026 10,712,000 26.0 344,000 95,000
2031 12,408,000 28.4 949,000 348,000
2036 13,891,000 30.3 1,509,000 892,000
2041 15,155,000 31.8 1,973,000 1,723,000
... not applicable.
Note: The symbol "//" represents a break in the historical series between 1981 and 1986.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1871 to 2006, 2016, 2021 and National Household Survey, 2011, Population projections on immigration and diversity for Canada and its regions, 2016 to 2041. The presented data are based on the reference scenario.

Did you know?

  • In 2021, more than 8.3 million people or almost one in four people (23.0%) are or have ever been a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada. This is the highest proportion on record since Confederation, topping the previous record of 22.3% in 1921.

Chart 4

Data table for Chart 4 
Data table for chart 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 4. The information is grouped by
Census year (appearing as row headers), Region of birth, Europe , United States, Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America, Africa, Asia (including the Middle East) and Oceania and others, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Census year		 Region of birth
Europe  United States Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America Africa Asia (including the Middle East) Oceania and others
percent
1871 88.4 10.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7
1971 79.7 9.4 3.2 1.4 5.0 1.3
1981 66.7 7.8 7.3 2.6 14.1 1.5
1986 62.6 7.2 8.7 2.9 17.5 1.1
1991 54.4 5.7 10.4 3.8 24.6 1.1
1996 46.9 4.9 11.1 4.6 31.4 1.0
2001 42.0 4.4 11.0 5.2 36.5 1.0
2006 36.8 4.0 11.3 6.1 40.8 1.0
2011 31.4 3.9 11.7 7.3 44.9 0.8
2016 27.7 3.4 11.6 8.5 48.1 0.8
2021 22.5 3.9 11.5 9.9 51.4 0.8
Notes: The symbol "//" represents a break in the historical series between 1871 and 1971, and also 1981 and 1986.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1871 to 2006, 2016, 2021 and National Household Survey, 2011.

Did you know?

  • In the past, the majority of immigrants in Canada came from Europe. In 2021, the majority of immigrants were born in Asia (including the Middle East) and an increasing share were coming from Africa.

Chart 5

Data table for Chart 5 
Data table for chart 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 5. The information is grouped by Place of birth (appearing as row headers), Recent immigrants , calculated using number and percentage units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Place of birth Recent immigrants
number percentage
India 246,995 18.6
Philippines 151,490 11.4
China 118,030 8.9
Syria 63,135 4.8
Nigeria 40,360 3.0
United States 39,875 3.0
Pakistan 36,260 2.7
France 27,170 2.0
Iran 25,655 1.9
United Kingdom 22,750 1.7
Notes: "Recent immigrants" refers to immigrants who first obtained their landed immigrant or permanent resident status in Canada in the five years prior to a given census. In the 2021 Census, the period is January 1, 2016 to May 11, 2021.
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021.

Did you know?

  • In 2021, India is the country of birth of close to one in five recent immigrants (18.6%).

Chart 6

Data table for Chart 6 
Data table for chart 6
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 6. The information is grouped by Racialized group (appearing as row headers), 2021, calculated using Number units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Racialized groupData table for chart 6 Note 1 2021
Number
South Asian 2,571,400
Chinese 1,715,775
Black 1,547,870
Filipino 957,355
Arab 694,020
Latin American 580,235
Southeast Asian 390,335
West Asian 360,495
Korean 218,140
Japanese 98,890
Racialized group, n.i.e.Data table for chart 6 Note 2 172,885
Multiple racialized groups 331,805
Note 1

In this document, the concept of "racialized group" is based and derived directly from the concept of "visible minority" in the census. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour." It consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.

Return to note 1 referrer

Note 2

The abbreviation "n.i.e." refers to "not included elsewhere."

Return to note 2 referrer

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021.

Did you know?

  • In 2021, three racialized groups alone accounted for more than 16.1% of Canada's total population. These groups are South Asians (2.6 million; 7.1%), Chinese (1.7 million; 4.7%) and Blacks (1.5 million; 4.3%), each with a population of more than one million.

Chart 7

Data table for Chart 7 
Data table for chart 7
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 7. The information is grouped by Racialized group (appearing as row headers), Percentage (appearing as column headers).
Racialized groupData table for chart 7 Note 1 Percentage
Japanese 59.2
Black 40.9
Southeast Asian 34.0
South Asian 28.7
Chinese 28.4
Arab 27.6
Filipino 24.7
Latin American 21.0
Korean 19.8
West Asian 19.1
Racialized group, n.i.e.Data table for chart 7 Note 2 39.8
Multiple racialized groups 55.7
Note 1

In this document, the concept of "racialized group" is based and derived directly from the concept of "visible minority" in the census. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour." It consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.

Return to note 1 referrer

Note 2

The abbreviation "n.i.e." refers to "not included elsewhere."

Return to note 2 referrer

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021.

Did you know?

  • In 2021, 3 in 10 racialized persons were Canadian-born. The proportion varied by racialized groups.

Chart 8

Data table for Chart 8 
Data table for chart 8
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 8. The information is grouped by Ethnic or cultural origin (appearing as row headers), Single responses and Multiple responses, calculated using millions units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Ethnic or cultural origin Single responses Multiple responses
millions
Canadian 4.2 1.5
English 1.1 4.2
Irish 0.6 3.8
Scottish 0.6 3.8
French, not otherwise specified 1.5 2.5
German 0.5 2.4
Chinese 1.4 0.3
First Nations (North American Indian) 0.7 0.9
Italian 0.7 0.9
Indian (India) 1.0 0.4
Ukrainian 0.3 1.0
Dutch 0.3 0.7
Polish 0.2 0.7
Québécois 0.7 0.3
British Isles, not otherwise specified 0.4 0.5
Filipino 0.7 0.2
French Canadian 0.6 0.3
Caucasian (White), not otherwise specified 0.4 0.2
Métis 0.1 0.4
European, not otherwise specified 0.4 0.1
Notes: Ethnic or cultural origins refer to the ethnic or cultural origins of the person's ancestors. Ancestors may have Indigenous origins, or origins that refer to different countries, or other origins that may not refer to different countries. First Nations (North American Indian) includes Status Indians and non-Status Indians, First Nations origins, and North American Indigenous origins not otherwise specified.
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021.

Chart 9

Data table for Chart 9 
Data table for chart 9
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 9. The information is grouped by Religious affiliation (appearing as row headers), Census year, 2001, 2011 and 2021, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Religious affiliation Census year
2001 2011 2021
percent
Christian 77.1 67.3 53.3
No religion and secular perspectives 16.5 23.9 34.6
Other religions 6.4 8.8 12.1
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2001 and 2021, and National Household Survey, 2011.

Did you know?

  • In 2021, just over half of the Canadian population (53.3%) reported a Christian religion; however, this proportion is down from 77.1% in 2001.
  • Meanwhile, the proportion of the population who reported having no religious affiliation has more than doubled in 20 years, rising from 16.5% in 2001 to 34.6% in 2021.

Chart 10

Data table for Chart 10 
Data table for chart 11
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 11. The information is grouped by Religious affiliation (appearing as row headers), Census year, 2001, 2011 and 2021, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Religious affiliation Census year
2001 2011 2021
percent
Muslim 2.0 3.2 4.9
Jewish 1.1 1.0 0.9
Buddhist 1.0 1.1 1.0
Hindu 1.0 1.5 2.3
Sikh 0.9 1.4 2.1
Traditional (North American Indigenous) spirituality 0.1 0.2 0.2
Other religions and spiritual traditions 0.2 0.4 0.6
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2001 and 2021, and National Household Survey, 2011.


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Catalogue no. 12-581-X

Frequency: Annual

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A word from the Chief Statistician
Population
Immigration and ethnocultural diversity
Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous languages
Accessibility and Persons with disabilities
2SLGBTQ+ population
Women and girls
Health
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Criminality
Digital society
40 million Canadians: A milestone moment
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