Asian Canadians
Total population | |
---|---|
6,095,235 17.7% of the total Canadian population (2016 Census) | |
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 · Judaism · Hinduism · Sikhism · Other | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Asian Americans · British Asian · British East Asian · Asian Australians · Asian New Zealanders · Asian French · Asian people |
Asian Canadians are Canadians who can trace their ancestry back to the continent of Asia or Asian people. The term refers to a group of people that includes diverse populations, who have their Progenitor from East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia. Canadians with Asian ancestry comprise the largest and fastest growing visible minority group in Canada, with roughly 17.7% of the Canadian population. Most Asian Canadians are concentrated in the urban areas of Southern Ontario, the Greater Vancouver area, Calgary, and other large Canadian cities.
Asian Canadians considered visible minorities may be classified as East Asian Canadian (e.g. Taiwanese Canadians, Chinese Canadians, Korean Canadians, Japanese Canadians; South Asian Canadians (e.g. Sri Lankan Canadians, Bangladeshi Canadians, Indian Canadians, Pakistani Canadians, Tibetan Canadians); Southeast Asian Canadian (e.g. Vietnamese Canadians, Filipino Canadians) or West Asian Canadians (e.g. Lebanese Canadians, Iraqi Canadians).[1]
History
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 In 1947, the act was repealed.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, a large wave of Vietnamese 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 2016, South Asians make up over 16 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
The Asian Canadian population by province or territory according to the 2016 Census.[3]
Province or territory | Asian origins | % |
---|---|---|
3,100,455 | 23.4% | |
1,312,445 | 28.8% | |
756,335 | 19.0% | |
563,150 | 7.1% | |
178,650 | 14.4% | |
99,125 | 9.3% | |
42,495 | 4.7% | |
19,410 | 2.7% | |
10,090 | 2.0% | |
6,485 | 4.6% | |
3,125 | 7.6% | |
2,855 | 8.1% | |
615 | 1.7% | |
6,095,235 | 17.7% |
Asian Canadian Demographics according to the 2016 census.[4]
Ethnic Origins | Population |
---|---|
Chinese Canadians | 1,769,195 |
Indian-Canadians | 1,374,715 |
Filipino Canadians | 851,410 |
Vietnamese Canadians | 240,615 |
Lebanese Canadians | 219,555 |
Pakistani Canadians | 215,560 |
Iranian Canadians | 210,405 |
Korean Canadians | 198,210 |
Sri Lankan Canadians | 152,595 |
Japanese Canadians | 121,485 |
Afghan Canadians | 83,995 |
Syrian Canadians | 77,045 |
Iraqi Canadians | 70,920 |
Turkish Canadians | 63,995 |
Bangladeshi Canadians | 45,940 |
Palestinian Canadians | 44,820 |
Cambodian Canadians | 38,495 |
Taiwanese Canadians | 36,515 |
Israeli Canadians | 28,735 |
Laotian Canadians | 24,575 |
Indonesian Canadians | 21,395 |
Malaysian Canadians | 16,920 |
Assyrian Canadians | 13,830 |
Tibetan Canadians | 8,040 |
Singaporean Canadians | 2,845 |
See also
References
- ↑ "Classification of visible minority". Statistics Canada. June 15, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- ↑ Gee, Marcus (July 4, 2011). "South Asian immigrants are transforming Toronto". The Globe and Mail.
- ↑ "Data Tables, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca/. Statistics Canada. 2018-02-14. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ↑ "Data Tables, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca/. Statistics Canada. 2018-02-14. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asian diaspora in Canada. |