Black History Month: Celebrating heritage and diversity

February is Black History Month, a time for Canadians to honour the diversity, history and culture of Black people in Canada and to celebrate the significant contributions of Black individuals and communities from across the country.

A diverse tapestry of over 300 ethnic and cultural origins 

The first person of African heritage known to have come to what is now Canada arrived over 400 years ago. Since then, Black people and their communities have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity. In 2021, Canada's Black population reached 1.5 million, accounting for 4.3% of the total population and 16.1% of the racialized population.

Black people in Canada have diverse backgrounds and experiences—while some can trace their roots in Canada for many generations, others have immigrated in recent decades. The Black population in Canada identified with more than 300 ethnic or cultural origins in the 2021 Census.

In 2021, over 40.9% of the Black population were Canadian-born—this includes individuals with multi-generational Canadian roots as well as children of immigrants. 

Among the Black population in Canada that were born outside of the country, 55.3% were born in Africa—Nigeria (12.0%), Ethiopia (4.7%) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4.1%) were the leading places of birth. Among this same population, 35.6% were born in the Caribbean and Bermuda, primarily in Jamaica (14.9%) and Haiti (12.1%).

Canadians are not always aware of the fact that Black people were once enslaved in the territory that is now Canada or how those who fought enslavement helped to lay the foundation of a diverse and inclusive Canadian society.

February is about celebrating resilience, innovation and determination to work towards a more inclusive and diverse Canada, but given the challenges faced by many Black Canadians, examining the socioeconomic outcomes of this population is equally important.

Educational attainment and employment conditions

The 2021 Census shows the diversity in educational characteristics between, and within, racialized groups in Canada. Immigrant status and generation status are particularly relevant characteristics when understanding factors impacting racialized groups.

In 2021, about one-third (32.4%) of the Black population aged 25 to 64 years held a bachelor's degree or higher, which is comparable with the total working-age population aged 25 to 64 years (32.9%).

Educational attainment among the Canadian-born Black population aged 25 to 54 years varies significantly by the place of birth of their parents. Close to half (46.4%) of the Canadian-born children of African immigrants and over one-quarter (27.4%) of the Canadian-born children of Caribbean immigrants obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher. In contrast, a smaller proportion (15.9%) of the Black population who were third generation or more achieved the same level of education. 

Higher levels of education, particularly education completed in Canada, are typically associated with better employment conditions and higher earnings. However, despite the Canadian-born Black population aged 25 to 54 years having similar educational attainment to the Canadian-born non-racialized population, in 2021, the median income of Black individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher was $50,000, compared with $70,000 for the non-racialized population.

A growing trend in Black business ownership

Business ownership can be an important driver of economic growth by promoting innovation and job creation. In 2018, there were approximately 66,880 Black business owners in Canada, accounting for 2.1% of all business owners. 

From 2005 to 2018, the share of Black people among both incorporated and unincorporated business owners (i.e., those commonly referred to as self-employed workers) has increased for both women and men, signalling a growing trend in Black business ownership in Canada.

Despite the persistent challenges the Black population encounters (e.g., with income inequality), the Black population in Canada demonstrates resilience and a continuous upward trend in education and employment.

In 2023, Black business owners (22.3%) were the most likely to report a very optimistic future outlook over the next 12 months in comparison with all business owners (18.9%) operating in the private sector.

Overall, nearly three-quarters (72.5%) of the Black population reported having a hopeful view of the future compared with 64.1% of the total population in 2021-2022.

Over the course of the last four centuries, Black people in Canada have made and continue to make important contributions to all aspects of Canadian society. Together, we must continue to work towards a more inclusive and diverse Canada—a nation in which everyone has every opportunity to flourish.

For more information on socioeconomic characteristics of the Black population in Canada, such as educational attainment, labour market participation, income and inequality, consult the Black History Month 2024… by the numbers.