New data on the changing demographics of racialized people in Canada

Data from the 2001 and 2021 censuses of population have been used to examine population growth and changing demographics of racialized people.

On August 23, 2023, a study conducted by Statistics Canada published new data for 11 subgroups of the racialized population, their generational composition and changes in their share of people with a mixed racialized-White identity.

Overall growth of the racialized population

From 2001 to 2021, the racialized population in Canada increased from 3.85 million to 8.87 million people (excluding non-permanent residents). This was a 130% increase, compared with a 1% increase for the White population.

The largest increases were observed for the Arab (254%), West Asian (214%) and Filipino (207%) groups.

The increases for the Japanese, Chinese, Southeast Asian, Korean and Black groups were lower than the increase estimated for the racialized population as a whole. Nevertheless, the increases of these subgroups were high and ranged from 42% (Japanese) to 125% (Black).

Immigration is the primary driver of population growth

The arrival of new immigrants was the primary driver of growth of the racialized population from 2001 to 2021, accounting for about two-thirds of the increase.

The role immigration played in population growth was even stronger for groups with shorter histories in Canada. However, this pattern of growth gradually changed as the first waves of immigrants from non-European countries became rooted in the Canadian populace.

From 2001 to 2021, second-generation immigrants had the fastest rate of population growth. This growth was attributable to first-generation Canadians having children in Canada.

About one-third of the growth of the racialized population was from increases in the second generation (i.e., the post-migration fertility rate of the first generation. Consequently, people born in Canada have steadily become the generational composition of the racialized population.

Population growth is fast for racialized people of all ages

In most groups, population growth was particularly fast for the working-age (25 to 64 years) and senior (65 years and older) populations, despite some variation. However, these age-specific rates of growth varied by generational status. Among the first generation, the senior population grew 286%, compared with 67% for children (younger than 15 years), 56% for youth (15 to 24 years) and 117% for working-age adults.

The large increase in the population of immigrant seniors was a result of increased immigration levels since the 1990s. Many immigrants who arrived in the 1990s entered senior ages in the late 2010s.

In the second generation, the senior population changed little, but the working-age population grew five times in size. The increase of the working-age population was due to the children of immigrants who were born in Canada in the 1980s and 1990s coming of age.

Rising share of people with a mixed racialized-White background

From 2001 to 2021, the share of people with a racialized and White family background increased for most groups, and this increase occurred mostly in the third generation or more. For instance, in the third generation or more, the share increased from 39% in 2001 to 48% in 2021 for the Black group and from 54% to 63% for the Chinese group. The South Asian group had a lower share and a smaller increase, rising from 43% to 44%.

In the second generation, the share of people with a mixed racialized-White background increased slightly from 5.4% to 5.6% for the South Asian group, from 9.0% to 10.3% for the Chinese group and from 13.2% to 14.9% for the Black group.

Racialized populations take root in Canada

The racialized population has become progressively rooted in Canada, contributing to diversification. The history of large-scale migration from non-European countries to Canada is relatively short, but a growing number of racialized people are now Canadian born.

In 2021, about 34% of children were from a racialized group (an increase from 17% in 2001), most of whom were Canadian born. With these trends, it is important to further examine the implication of rising diversity in the labour market and broader society.

The results of this study provide insights on how the composition and characteristics of racialized people have been evolving. This is the first step towards gaining knowledge about the affecting factors and implications of economic inequality experienced by different racialized groups in different generations.  

To read the full study, see Changing demographics of racialized people in Canada.