Ethnocultural diversity in Canadian cities

Ethnocultural and religious diversity is an important part of what makes Canada’s population unique. Every person in Canada contributes to shaping the diverse landscape of the country.

The 2021 Census of Population provided data for more than 450 ethnic and cultural origins, 200 places of birth, 100 religions and 450 languages in Canada. 

October 31 is World Cities Day. In every Canadian city, there are people of diverse ethnic and cultural origins, with different religious affiliations, and with different languages spoken. In honour of World Cities Day, let’s take a look at some of the ethnocultural and religious diversity within the populations of cities in Canada. 

Toronto, Ontario, was Canada’s most populated city, with a total population of 2.76 million people in 2021. The city of Toronto is often referred to as the most multicultural city in the world.

Toronto’s total racialized population was 1.54 million people, accounting for 55.7% of the city’s total population. The racialized population in the city of Toronto accounted for more than one-quarter of Ontario’s total racialized population (4.82 million people).

In 2021, some of the most common religious affiliations reported by Toronto’s population living in private households were Christian (46.2%), Muslim (9.6%), Hindu (6.2%) and Jewish (3.6%). Among various Christian denominations, Catholic was reported by nearly one-quarter (24.2%) of the population.

Canada’s second-most populated city in 2021 was Montréal, Quebec, at 1.72 million people. Montréal’s total racialized population was 0.67 million people, accounting for 38.8% of the city’s total population. The racialized population in the city of Montréal accounted for half of Quebec’s total visible minority population (1.34 million people).

Just under half (49.5%) of Montréal’s population living in private households were Christian. Among various Christian denominations, Catholic was reported by more than one-third (35.0%) of the population. Other common religious affiliations reported include Muslim (12.7%), Jewish (2.1%) and Hindu (1.8%).

When comparing capital cities across all 10 provinces, Toronto (55.7%), Ontario, Edmonton (42.8%), Alberta, and Winnipeg (34.4%), Manitoba, had the largest proportions of racialized populations. By comparison, the capital cities with the smallest share of racialized populations were Québec (9.4%), Quebec, St. John’s (10.1%), Newfoundland and Labrador, and Fredericton, New Brunswick (14.0%).

The population of Canadian cities is made up of people who come from all over the world. Overall, the three most common places of birth, other than Canada, are India (1.2 million people), China (830,980) and the Philippines (757,410).

Using 2021 census data, the Municipal Diversity Dashboard makes it easy to check out the latest data for several diversity indicators, such as ethnic or cultural origin, place of birth for immigrants, knowledge of official languages, and highest level of education by visible minority status.

To explore more data on any city in Canada, from large urban municipalities to smaller, rural or agricultural areas, check out Statistics Canada’s Centre for Municipal and Local Data.