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Ethnic Origin in Ontario
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, has a highly diverse racial and ethnic composition. Ethnic origin refers to the ancestral or cultural origins of a person’s ancestors, as reported in the census. According to the 2021 Census, residents of Ontario reported over 250 distinct ethnic origins, highlighting the province’s multicultural character.
The most frequently reported ethnic origins in Ontario are English, followed by Irish and Scottish. People of European origin account for about 62.8% of Ontario’s population, making them the largest pan-ethnic group in the province.
Indigenous peoples represent approximately 2.9% of Ontario’s population, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. At the same time, visible minority groups make up around 34.3% of the population, reflecting Ontario’s role as Canada’s primary destination for immigrants. The largest visible minority communities include South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, and Arab populations.
also read: Population of Ontario
Ontario Population by Ethnic Origin
People of European origin make up approximately 62.8% of Ontario’s population, forming the largest pan-ethnic group in the province. According to the 2021 Census, the most frequently reported ethnic origins in Ontario were English, Irish, Scottish, Canadian, and German.
Due to sustained immigration over recent decades, Asian ethnic origins have also grown significantly. Chinese and Indian (from India) origins now rank among the top ten ethnic origins reported in Ontario, alongside long-established European ancestries.
The table below presents the largest self-reported ethnic origin groups in Ontario, based on Census 2021 data. Percentages may exceed 100% because respondents are permitted to report multiple ethnic origins.
Top Ethnic Origins in Ontario
| # | Origin | Responses (2021) | % of Total |
| 1 | English | 2,347,690 | 16.73% |
| 2 | Irish | 1,999,985 | 14.25% |
| 3 | Scottish | 1,937,010 | 13.80% |
| 4 | Canadian | 1,621,660 | 11.56% |
| 5 | German | 1,058,075 | 7.54% |
| 6 | French origins | 1,043,040 | 7.43% |
| 7 | Italian | 905,105 | 6.45% |
| 8 | Chinese | 821,840 | 5.86% |
| 9 | Indian (India) | 764,430 | 5.45% |
| 10 | Dutch | 478,860 | 3.41% |
| 11 | British Isles | 463,000 | 3.30% |
| 12 | Polish | 461,090 | 3.29% |
| 13 | Filipino | 355,680 | 2.53% |
| 14 | Ukrainian | 342,255 | 2.44% |
| 15 | First Nations (North American Indian) | 332,555 | 2.37% |
| 16 | Portuguese | 300,600 | 2.14% |
| 17 | Pakistani | 212,655 | 1.52% |
| 18 | Jamaican | 201,945 | 1.44% |
| 19 | French Canadian | 199,845 | 1.42% |
| 20 | Welsh | 188,980 | 1.35% |
| 21 | Russian | 187,460 | 1.34% |
| 22 | Jewish | 155,180 | 1.11% |
| 23 | African | 149,270 | 1.06% |
| 24 | Hungarian | 149,040 | 1.06% |
| 25 | Spanish | 143,840 | 1.03% |
| 26 | Greek | 143,065 | 1.02% |
| 27 | Métis | 131,780 | 0.94% |
| 28 | American | 129,745 | 0.92% |
| 29 | Vietnamese | 122,730 | 0.87% |
| 30 | Punjabi | 119,085 | 0.85% |
| 31 | Arab | 110,250 | 0.79% |
| 32 | Iranian | 109,410 | 0.78% |
| 33 | Hindu | 106,970 | 0.76% |
| 34 | Sri Lankan | 105,765 | 0.75% |
| 35 | Korean | 100,020 | 0.71% |
| 36 | Tamil | 86,585 | 0.62% |
| 37 | Romanian | 86,435 | 0.62% |
| 38 | Guyanese | 85,450 | 0.61% |
| 39 | Lebanese | 80,345 | 0.57% |
| 40 | Croatian | 79,235 | 0.56% |
| 41 | Sikh | 77,800 | 0.55% |
| 42 | Finnish | 76,275 | 0.54% |
| 43 | Swedish | 68,260 | 0.49% |
| 44 | Serbian | 64,415 | 0.46% |
| 45 | Ontarian | 64,245 | 0.46% |
| 46 | Austrian | 63,920 | 0.46% |
| 47 | Norwegian | 62,840 | 0.45% |
| 48 | Afghan | 61,255 | 0.44% |
| 49 | Trinidadian/Tobagonian | 59,110 | 0.42% |
| 50 | Belgian | 56,860 | 0.41% |
and 200+ population groups less than 50K
The sum of ethnic or cultural origins exceeds Ontario’s total population because individuals may report more than one ethnic or cultural origin in the census.
Since 1996, “Canadian” has been included as a possible ethnic origin on census questionnaires. This response is most commonly reported by individuals of European descent who no longer identify with earlier ancestral origins due to generational distance.
Visible Minorities in Ontario
Ontario has the largest provincial visible minority population in Canada, reflecting decades of sustained immigration. According to the 2021 Census, 34.3% of Ontario’s population belongs to a visible minority (racialized) group.
The largest visible minority communities in Ontario are South Asian, Chinese, and Black, followed by Filipino, Arab, and Latin American populations. Together, these groups account for the majority of the province’s racialized population.
The table below shows the visible minority population in Ontario, based on Census 2021 data.
| # | Visible minority | Numbers | Percentage |
| 1 | South Asian | 1,515,295 | 10.8% |
| 2 | Chinese | 820,245 | 5.8% |
| 3 | Black | 768,740 | 5.5% |
| 4 | Filipino | 363,650 | 2.6% |
| 5 | Arab | 284,215 | 2% |
| 6 | Latin American | 249,190 | 1.8% |
| 7 | West Asian | 212,185 | 1.5% |
| 8 | Southeast Asian | 167,845 | 1.2% |
| 9 | Korean | 99,425 | 0.7% |
| 10 | Japanese | 31,420 | 0.2% |
| 11 | Visible minority Others | 124,120 | 0.9% |
| 12 | Multiple visible minorities | 181,025 | 1.3% |
| Total | 4,817,360 | 34.3% |
Indigenous population in Ontario
According to the 2021 Census, approximately 2.9% of Ontario’s population identifies as Indigenous, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.
First Nations peoples form the largest Indigenous group in Ontario, followed by the Métis population. The Inuit population represents a much smaller share, as Inuit communities are primarily concentrated in northern regions of Canada.
| Indigenous group | Population (2021) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| First Nations (North American Indian) | 251,030 | 1.8% |
| Métis | 134,615 | 1.0% |
| Inuit | 4,310 | 0.03% |
| Other / North American Indigenous | 16,630 | 0.1% |
| Total Indigenous population | 406,585 | 2.9% |
Important Definitions (Census Canada)
Ethnic origin refers to the ethnic or cultural origins of a person’s ancestors. Individuals may report multiple ethnic origins, which is why percentages can exceed 100% in census tables.
Visible minority is defined under Canada’s Employment Equity Act as persons, other than Indigenous peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour. Major visible minority groups include South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean, and Japanese.
Indigenous peoples include First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. Indigenous identity is reported separately in the census and is not included within visible minority classifications.
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