Highlights

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• Canadians of West Asian origin make up one of the largest non-European ethnic groups in Canada. In 2001, just over 200,000 people of West Asian origin lived in Canada.

• Almost three quarters of Canadians of West Asian origin were born outside the country. As well, the majority of West Asian immigrants living in Canada are relatively recent arrivals.

• The Canadian population of West Asian origin is concentrated primarily in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. In addition, most live in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver.

• The West Asian population in Canada is relatively young. In 2001, 41% of those who reported West Asian origin were under the age of 25, compared with 33% of the overall population. In contrast, Canadians of West Asian origin are about half as likely as those in the overall population to be over the age of 65.

• Almost all Canadians of West Asian origin can carry on a conversation in at least one official language. At the same time, though, the majority of Canadians of West Asian origin speak a language other than English or French at home.

• Canadians of West Asian origin are somewhat more likely than other adults to be married. On the other hand, people of West Asian origin are considerably less likely than other Canadians to live in a common-law relationship. They are also slightly less likely than the rest of the population to be lone parents.

• Canadians of West Asian origin are less likely than other adults to live alone. This is especially true for seniors of West Asian origin, just 18% of whom lived alone in 2001, compared with 29% of all seniors in Canada.

• Canadian adults of West Asian origin are almost twice as likely as the rest of the population to have a university degree.

• In 2001, 56% of adults of West Asian origin were employed. That year, 11.8% of labour force participants of West Asian origin were unemployed.

• The incomes of Canadians of West Asian origin are about $6,000 less on average than the figure for all Canadians.

• In 2000, 37% of people of West Asian origin were considered to live in a low-income situation.
  

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