Asian Canadians
Total population | |
---|---|
(Asian Canadians | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Southern Ontario · Lower Mainland British Columbia · Most urban areas | |
Languages | |
Canadian English · Canadian French · Asian Languages | |
Religion | |
Christianity · Buddhism/East Asian religions · Islam · Hinduism · Sikhism · Other | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Asian Americans · British Asian · British East Asian · Asian Australians · Asian New Zealanders · Asian French · Asian people |
Asian Canadians refers to Canadians who can trace their ancestry back to the continent of Asia or Asian peoples. Canadians of Asian ancestry comprise the largest visible minority group in Canada, at 15% of the Canadian population, and is the fastest growing. Most Asian Canadians are concentrated in the urban areas of Southern Ontario, the Greater Vancouver area, Calgary, and other large Canadian cities. In Canada, the term 'Asian' is pan-continental in official data such as the national census, in contrast to its usage in other English-speaking countries such as Australia and the US.'
Asian Canadians considered visible minorities may be classified as Chinese Canadians; Filipino Canadians; South Asian Canadians (e.g, Bangladeshi Canadians); Southeast Asian (e.g. Vietnamese Canadians); Arab Canadians (e.g. Kuwaiti Canadians; West Asian (e.g. Afghan Canadians); Korean Canadians; or Japanese Canadians.[1]
History
Canada has a long history of East Asian immigration. During the 19th century, many Chinese arrived to take part in the British Columbia gold rushes and later for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Chinese who came from Guangdong Province helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Fraser Canyon. Many Japanese people arrived in the 1890s and became fishermen and merchants in British Columbia. In 1923, the federal government passed the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, which banned all Chinese immigration, and led to immigration restrictions for all East Asians. In 1947, the act was repealed.
During and after the Vietnam War and the Korean War, a large wave of Vietnamese and Korean refugees began arriving in Canada. The Canadian Parliament created the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada in 1985 to better address issues surrounding Canada-Asia relations, including trade, citizenship and immigration. When Hong Kong reverted to mainland Chinese rule, people emigrated and found new homes in Canada.
In recent decades, a large number of people have come to Canada from India and other South Asian countries. As of 2011, South Asians alone make up over 15 percent of the Greater Toronto Area's population, and are projected to make up 24 percent of the region's population by 2031.[2]
Today, Asian Canadians form a significant minority within the population, and over 5 million Asians call Canada their home. Often referred by the Canadian media as "model minorities", Asian Canadians are among the educated and socioeconomically affluent groups in Canada. Asian Canadian students, in particular those of East Asian or South Asian background, make up the majority of students at several Canadian universities.
Demographics
Based on 2011 census,[3] there are 4,659,395 Asian Canadians with the following ethnic identities.
South Asian origins: 1,567,400
Chinese origins: 1,324,750
Filipino origins: 619,310
Arab origins: 380,620
Southeast Asian origins: 312,075
West Asian origins: 206,840
Korean origins: 161,130
Japanese origins: 87,270
The Asian Canadian population by province or territory according to the 2011 Census.
Province or territory | Asian origins | % |
---|---|---|
Ontario | 2,604,595 | 20.6% |
British Columbia | 1,122,445 | 26.0% |
Alberta | 551,710 | 15.5% |
Quebec | 488,905 | 6.3% |
Manitoba | 126,600 | 10.8% |
Saskatchewan | 55,095 | 5.5% |
Nova Scotia | 31,875 | 3.5% |
New Brunswick | 14,535 | 2.0% |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 6,310 | 1.2% |
Prince Edward Island | 4,360 | 3.2% |
Yukon | 2,205 | 6.7% |
Northwest Territories | 2,165 | 5.3% |
Nunavut | 425 | 1.3% |
Canada | 5,011,225 | 15.3% |
Top 20 of Asian Canadian Demographics according to the 2011 Census and recent estimates.
Ethnic Origins | Population |
---|---|
Chinese Canadians | 1,487,580 |
Indo-Canadians | 1,355,653 |
Filipino Canadians | 662,600 |
Pakistani Canadians | 305,310 |
Lebanese Canadians | 250,000 |
Vietnamese Canadians | 220,425 |
Korean Canadians | 168,890 |
Iranian Canadians | 163,290 |
Sri Lankan Canadians | 139,415 |
Japanese Canadians | 109,740 |
Syrian Canadians | 100,000 |
Afghan Canadians | 62,815 |
Turkish Canadians | 55,430 |
Iraqi Canadians | 49,680 |
Cambodian Canadians | 34,340 |
Bangladeshi Canadians | 34,205 |
Palestinian Canadians | 31,245 |
Taiwanese Canadians | 30,330 |
Laotian Canadians | 22,090 |
Israeli Canadians | 15,000 |
Indonesian Canadians | 14,320 |
Malaysian Canadians | 12,165 |
Singaporean Canadians | 1,390 |
See also
- Demographics of Canada
- Immigration to Canada
- The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
- List of Canadians of Asian ancestry
- South Asian Canadians
- Asian Americans
- Asian Argentines
- Asian Australians
- Asian Brazilians
- Asian people
References
- ↑ "Classification of visible minority". Statistics Canada. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ↑ Gee, Marcus (July 4, 2011). "South Asian immigrants are transforming Toronto". The Globe and Mail.
- ↑ "NHS Profile, Canada, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca/. Statistics Canada. 2015-11-27. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
External links
- Asian Canadian Website
- Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
- 2001 demographics from Statistics Canada
- Information for South Asians and Indians in Canada
- Asian Canadian Wiki