Finding others who share their social and cultural background can be a major factor for many immigrants to Canada when deciding where to settle.
Fortunately, Canada’s emphasis on diversity and culture mean that immigrants from all over the world can probably find fellow members of their community there.
The most populated communities in Canada are profiled here, along with information on notable ethnic groups, birthplace, immigration status, official languages spoken, and linguistic proficiency. The biggest cities in every province have been selected, and information from the Canadian National Census of 2021 has been gathered.
Definitions
This page cites Statistics Canada’s “list of ethnic or cultural origins 2021” (which includes detailed definitions) for ethnic origins.
Regarding immigration status, this article makes reference to:
- “Immigrants” are those who are recent arrivals in Canada who have been granted permanent residence (PR) status and/or those who have obtained Canadian citizenship through naturalization;
- “Non-immigrants,” denoting those who are citizens of Canada by virtue of their birth; and
- “Non-permanent residents” are foreign nationals who are granted temporary residency in Canada, usually through a work or study permit.
Toronto
The largest city and metropolitan area in both the province of Ontario and all of Canada is Toronto. Toronto had a population of about 2.7 million as of 2021.
Status of Immigration
The people who live in Toronto are:
- 48.2% or 1.39 million non-immigrants;
- 1.28 million newcomers (46.6%); additionally
- Non-permanent residents: 145,240 (5.35%).
Language proficiency
Toronto’s population spoke the following languages:
- English (2.6 million speakers);
- French (238,505 speakers);
- Mandarin (162,950 speakers);
- Spanish (138,770 speakers);
- Tagalog (135,600 speakers);
- Yue (Cantonese) (134,810 speakers);
- Hindi (107,170 speakers);
- Italian (84,335 speakers);
- Portuguese (80,170 speakers); and
- Tamil (77,785 speakers).
Breakdown of official languages spoken
Of Canada’s official languages, residents of Toronto spoke:
- English only (2.4 million speakers);
- English and French (236,915 speakers); and
- French only (2,555 speakers).
Ethnic and cultural breakdown
Of Toronto’s population:
- 1.13 million people were of ethnic European origin;
- 1.13 million people were of ethnic Asian origin;
- 248,260 people were of ethnic North American origin;
- 212,030 people were of “other ethnic and cultural” origin; and
- 172,560 people were of ethnic African origin.
Montréal
Montréal is the largest metropolis in the province of Quebec and the second most populous city in Canada. Additionally, it is North America’s largest francophone metropolis. 1.76 million people called Montréal home as of the 2021 census.
Status of Immigration
Montréal’s population consists of:
- 1.01 million non-immigrants (59%);
- 576,120 immigrants (33.4%); and
- 129,780 non-permanent residents (7.5%).
Knowledge of languages
Montréal’s population spoke the following languages:
- French (1.47 million speakers);
- English (1.21 million speakers);
- Spanish (177,230 speakers);
- Arabic (173,385 speakers);
- Italian (95,535 speakers);
- Haitian Creole (66,445 speakers);
- Mandarin (41,405 speakers);
- Portuguese (28,835 speakers); and
- Vietnamese (24,550 speakers).
Breakdown of official languages spoken
Of Canada’s official languages, residents of Montréal spoke:
- English and French (1.01 million speakers);
- French only (473,490 speakers);
- English only (207,690 speakers); and
- Neither English nor French (41,975 speakers).
Ethnic or cultural breakdown
Of Montréal’s population:
- 684,765 people were of ethnic European origin;
- 419,860 people were of ethnic North American origin;
- 307,525 people were of ethnic Asian origin;
- 230,025 people were of ethnic African origin; and
- 136,480 people were of “other ethnic and cultural” origin.
Calgary
The largest city in Alberta and one of the fastest-growing in the country is Calgary. Calgary was named the most livable city in Canada and tied with Zurich, Switzerland, for third place among all cities in 2022. Calgary had 1.3 million residents in 2021.
Immigrant Status
Calgary’s population consists of:
- 834,100 non-immigrants (64.6%);
- 430,640 immigrants (33.3%); and
- 27,030 non-permanent residents (2.1%).
Knowledge of languages
Calgary’s population spoke the following languages:
- English (1.25 million speakers);
- French (86,135 speakers);
- Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (66,720 speakers);
- Punjabi (61,025 speakers);
- Spanish (54,235 speakers);
- Mandarin (45,330 speakers);
- Hindi (42,160 speakers);
- Yue (Cantonese) (42,090 speakers);
- Arabic (33,325 speakers); and
- Urdu (29,980 speakers).
Breakdown of official languages spoken
Of Canada’s official languages, residents of Calgary spoke:
- English only (1.17 million speakers);
- English and French (85,360 speakers); and
- French only (825 speakers).
Ethnic and cultural breakdown
Of Calgary’s population:
- 665,085 people were of ethnic European origin;
- 403,980 people were of ethnic Asian origin;
- 207,060 people were of ethnic North American origin;
- 78,555 people were of “other ethnic and cultural” origin; and
- 74,410 people were of ethnic African origin.
Winnipeg
The province of Manitoba’s capital and largest city is Winnipeg. The city is a rapidly expanding urban area in the prairie region of Canada. Winnipeg had 749,607 residents as of 2021.
Status of Immigration
The population of Winnipeg is made up of:
- 68.6% or 505,525 non-immigrants;
- 27,3% of immigrants, or 201,045; and
- 30,095 (4.1%) non-permanent inhabitants.
Language proficiency
The following languages were spoken by people in Winnipeg:
- English (723,085 speakers);
- French (72,665 speakers);
- Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (64,325 speakers);
- Punjabi (39,215 speakers);
- Spanish (15,660 speakers);
- Mandarin (15,160 speakers);
- German (12,425 speakers);
- Arabic (9,335 speakers);
- Russian (8,645 speakers); and
- Ukranian (8,620 speakers).
Breakdown of official languages spoken
Of Canada’s official languages, residents of Winnipeg spoke:
- English only (656,965 speakers);
- English and French (71,700 speakers); and
- French only (1,225 speakers).
Ethnic and cultural breakdown
Of Winnipeg’s population:
- 401,865 people were of ethnic European origin;
- 193,135 people were of ethnic Asian origin;
- 156,025 people were of ethnic North American origin;
- 54,455 people were of “other ethnic and cultural” origin; and
- 37,290 people were of ethnic African origin.
Vancouver
The largest city in British Columbia is Vancouver, which is also one of the three largest metropolitan areas in Canada along with Toronto and Montreal. There were 662,248 people living in Vancouver as of the 2021 census.
Status of Immigration
The population of Vancouver is made up of:
- 333,190 non-immigrants (51.2%);
- 274,360 immigrants (42.2%); and
- 42,830 non-permanent residents (6.6%).
Knowledge of languages
Toronto’s population spoke the following languages:
- English (612,215 speakers);
- Yue (Cantonese) (96,960 speakers);
- Mandarin (74,960 speakers);
- French (60,990 speakers);
- Spanish (36,500 speakers);
- Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (30,430 speakers);
- Punjabi (19,130 speakers);
- Hindi (15,025 speakers);
- Vietnamese (14,905 speakers); and
- Japanese (12,075 speakers).
Breakdown of official languages spoken
Of Canada’s official languages, residents of Toronto spoke:
- English only (555,235 speakers);
- English and French (61,055 speakers); and
- French only (345 speakers).
Ethnic and cultural breakdown
Of Vancouver’s population:
- 324,955 people were of ethnic Asian origin;
- 283,675 people were of ethnic European origin;
- 63,690 people were of ethnic North American origin;
- 36,390 people were of “other ethnic and cultural” origin; and
- 25,055 people were of ethnic Latin, Central, and South American origin.
Halifax
The largest city and provincial capital of Nova Scotia is Halifax. The port city, one of the oldest in the nation, is part of an Atlantic Canadian metropolitan area that is expanding quickly. There were 439,819 residents in the city in 2021.
Immigrant Status
Halifax’s population consists of:
- 367,730 non-immigrants (84.5%);
- 50,590 immigrants (11.6%); and
- 16,970 non-permanent residents (3.9%).
Knowledge of languages
Halifax’s population spoke the following languages:
- English (432,240 speakers);
- French (53,690 speakers);
- Arabic (10,560 speakers);
- Hindi (7,965 speakers);
- Mandarin (7,410 speakers);
- Spanish (5,970 speakers);
- Punjabi (4,965 speakers);
- Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (3,835 speakers);
- German (2,995 speakers);
- Korean (2,365 speakers);
Breakdown of official languages spoken
Of Canada’s official languages, residents of Halifax spoke:
- English only (380,210 speakers);
- English and French (53,460 speakers); and
- French only (295 speakers).
Ethnic and cultural breakdown
Of Halifax’s population:
- 283,895 people were of ethnic European origin;
- 121,260 people were of ethnic North American origin;
- 49.855 people were of ethnic Asian origin;
- 36,875 people were of “other ethnic and cultural” origin; and
- 13,355 people were of ethnic African origin.
The biggest city in the province of Saskatchewan is Saskatoon. The province is well-known for Regina, its (much smaller) provincial equivalent. Saskatoon’s population was 266,141 in 2021.
Immigrant Status
Saskatoon’s population consists of:
- 202,400 non-immigrants (77.6%);
- 53,210 immigrants (20.4%); and
- 5,340 non-permanent residents (2%).
Knowledge of languages
Saskatoon’s population spoke the following languages:
- English (257,180 speakers);
- French (16,990 speakers);
- Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (12,050 speakers);
- Mandarin (6,295 speakers);
- Urdu (5,800 speakers);
- Hindi (5,520 speakers);
- Punjabi (5,220 speakers);
- Spanish (4,555 speakers);
- Arabic (3,820 speakers); and
- Ukranian (3,415 speakers).
Breakdown of official languages spoken
Of Canada’s official languages, residents of Saskatoon spoke:
- English only (241,760 speakers);
- English and French (17,005 speakers); and
- French only (110 speakers).
Ethnic and cultural breakdown
Of Saskatoon’s population:
- 165,925 people were of ethnic European origin;
- 55,855 people were of ethnic North American origin;
- 50,630 people were of ethnic Asian origin;
- 12,245 people were of “other ethnic and cultural” origin; and
- 8,645 people were of ethnic African origin.
The John’s
One of the biggest cities in Atlantic Canada and the largest in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is St. John’s. The population of St. John’s was 110,525 as of 2021.
Immigrant Status
St. John’s population consists of:
- 96,025 non-immigrants (89.2%);
- 7,510 immigrants (7%); and
- 4,125 non-permanent residents (3.8%).
Knowledge of languages
St. John’s population spoke the following languages:
- English (107,060 speakers);
- French (9,940 speakers);
- Arabic (1,745 speakers);
- Spanish (1,235 speakers);
- Hindi (1,070 speakers);
- Mandarin (905 speakers);
- Bengali (770 speakers);
- Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (635 speakers);
- Punjabi (590 speakers); and
- German (575 speakers).
Breakdown of official languages spoken
Of Canada’s official languages, residents of Saskatoon spoke:
- English only (97,575 speakers);
- English and French (9,910 speakers); and
- French only (50 speakers).
Ethnic and cultural breakdown
Of St. John’s population:
- 70,105 people were of ethnic European origin;
- 31,090 people were of ethnic North American origin;
- 7,460 people were of ethnic Asian origin;
- 7,140 people were of “other ethnic and cultural” origin; and
- 2,900 people were of ethnic African origin.
The capital and largest city of New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province in Canada, is Moncton. In addition to Moncton, two additional cities of similar size in New Brunswick include Fredericton, the provincial capital, and Saint John. Moncton had 79,470 residents as of 2021.
Immigrant Status
Moncton’s population consists of:
- 65,225 non-immigrants (84.3%);
- 8,460 immigrants (10.9%); and
- 3,690 non-permanent residents (4.8%).
Knowledge of languages
Moncton’s population spoke the following languages:
- English (74,865 speakers);
- French (35,940 speakers);
- Arabic (1,390 speakers);
- Spanish (1,370 speakers);
- Hindi (1,190 speakers);
- Punjabi (840 speakers);
- Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (815 speakers);
- Mandarin (605 speakers);
- Korean (565 speakers);
- Portuguese (390 speakers);
Breakdown of official languages spoken
Of Canada’s official languages, residents of Moncton spoke:
- English only (41,630 speakers);
- English and French (34,135 speakers); and
- French only (2,010 speakers).
Ethnic and cultural breakdown
Of Moncton’s population:
- 41,545 people were of ethnic European origin;
- 31,455 people were of ethnic North American origin;
- 6,165 people were of “other ethnic and cultural” origin;
- 6,080 people were of ethnic Asian origin; and
- 4,115 people were of ethnic African origin.
Charlottetown
The largest and capital city of Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Charlottetown. Located in the center of Prince Edward Island, the city is home to more than half of the province’s population. Charlottetown had 38,809 residents as of 2021.
Immigrant Status
Charlottetown’s population consists of:
- 29,090 non-immigrants (77.4%);
- 5,250 immigrants (14.0%); and
- 3,260 non-permanent residents (8.7%).
Knowledge of languages
Charlottetown’s population spoke the following languages:
- English (37,080 speakers);
- French (4,970 speakers);
- Mandarin (1,750 speakers);
- Hindi (1,060 speakers);
- Arabic (915 speakers);
- Punjabi (860 speakers);
- Vietnamese (565 speakers);
- Spanish (555 speakers);
- Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (410 speakers);
- Malayalam (390 speakers);
Breakdown of official languages spoken
Of Canada’s official languages, residents of Charlottetown spoke:
- English only (32,370 speakers)
- English and French (4,940 speakers); and
- French only (35 speakers).
Ethnic and cultural breakdown
Of Charlottetown’s population:
- 23,530 people were of ethnic European origin;
- 8,040 people were of ethnic North American origin;
- 6,650 people were of ethnic Asian origin;
- 2,380 people were of “other ethnic and cultural” origin; and
- 880 people were of ethnic African origin.
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