South Asian immigration to Canada

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Release date: May 29, 2024
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Infographic: South Asian immigration to Canada
Description: South Asian immigration to Canada

The South Asian population nearly quadrupled over the 25-year period from 1996 to 2021


Size of the South Asian population, by immigrant status, Canada, 1996 to 2021
Table summary
This table displays the results of Size of the South Asian population Non-immigrants, Immigrants, Non-permanent residents and Total, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Non-immigrants Immigrants Non-permanent residents Total
number
1996 191,085 462,745 15,235 669,060
2001 264,760 632,215 18,475 915,450
2006 370,120 866,565 24,420 1,261,100
2011 484,135 1,047,505 35,760 1,567,400
2016 601,155 1,249,940 73,540 1,924,635
2021 753,895 1,524,310 293,195 2,571,400

Nearly 4 in 10 South Asian immigrants who landed before 1980 were born outside South Asia


Country of birth of selected South Asian immigrant populations, by period of immigration, Canada, 2021Note 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Country of birth of selected South Asian immigrant populations India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Outside South Asia, calculated using proportion units of measure (appearing as column headers).
India Pakistan Sri Lanka Bangladesh Nepal Outside South Asia
proportion
Before 1980 50.3 7.8 2.1 0.7 0.0 39.1
1980 to 1990 51.7 6.4 11.7 1.9 0.0 28.2
1991 to 2000 46.4 16.1 19.2 5.2 0.2 12.9
2001 to 2005 51.9 23.5 9.5 5.2 0.7 9.3
2006 to 2010 56.5 16.3 9.2 6.3 1.6 9.6
2011 to 2015 60.7 16.5 5.0 5.1 3.2 8.5
2016 to 2021 74.6 10.6 2.5 4.0 1.4 6.9

In 2021, the majority of first-generationNote 2 South Asians were born in India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka


Top 10 source countries of first-generation South Asian immigrants and non-permanent residents, Canada, 2021
Table summary
This table displays the results of Top 10 source countries of first-generation South Asian immigrants and non-permanent residents Number and Proportion (appearing as column headers).
Number Proportion
India 1,134,305 62.4
Pakistan 232,050 12.8
Sri Lanka 138,330 7.6
Bangladesh 76,880 4.2
Guyana 26,520 1.5
Nepal 19,655 1.1
United Kingdom 19,130 1.1
Fiji 17,370 1.0
United States 16,155 0.9
Tanzania 15,590 0.9

Slightly more than half of all South Asian immigrants were admitted as economic immigrants, except for those born in Sri Lanka


Admission category of selected South Asian immigrantsNote 3, by country of birth, Canada, 2021
Table summary
This table displays the results of Admission category of selected South Asian immigrants Economic immigrants, Family reunification, Refugees and Other, calculated using proportion units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Economic immigrants Family reunification Refugees Other
proportion
All South Asian immigrants 53.7 36.4 9.0 0.9
Nepal 61.6 13.4 24.1 1.0
Bangladesh 61.3 25.9 11.5 1.3
India 56.7 41.2 1.7 0.4
Pakistan 56.1 29.2 13.3 1.3
Sri Lanka 21.5 33.4 42.1 3.0

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1996, 2001, 2016, 2021 and, National Household Survey, 2011.

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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, 2024

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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