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Indians in Canada 2024
Indian Canadians are Canadians who have full or partial ancestry from India. People of Indian ancestry form an important group in several countries in North and South America. They are the largest group among Asians in Canada and also the largest group among the South Asian population. They form around 80% of the South Asian population in Canada.
Indian Canadians account for about 5.1% of the total population of Canada. According to the Canadian Census 2021, there were 1,858,755 (1.85 million) people of Indian descent in Canada. British Columbia is the province with the highest percentage of the Indian population in Canada and the Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan by Indian population.
In 2021, Canada welcomed a record-breaking 405,000 immigrants, with almost one-third of them hailing from India. Furthermore, nearly 450,000 international students chose Canada as their destination, with Indians accounting for nearly 50% of this figure. Additionally, over 10,000 Indians relocated to Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and a staggering 130,000 obtained work permits through the International Mobility Program.
While Canada remains a popular destination for many Indians, particularly from Punjab, recent reports indicate that some are opting to return to India due to the high cost of living and inflation. According to a BBC News article, economic challenges have led a portion of the Indian population in Canada to reconsider their long-term stay and explore reverse migration options.
also read about the Indian population in the US
Top Canadian Province by Indian Population
Ontario, with 1,052,035 people of Indian ancestry, has the largest population of Indian Canadians in Canada followed by British Columbia (388,925) and Alberta (210,430).
Percentage-wise, British Columbia (7.91%) has the highest percentage of Indians followed by Ontario (7.50%) and Alberta (5.04%).
List of Canadian Provinces by Indian Population
# | Province | Population | % of Total |
1 | Alberta | 210,430 | 5.04% |
2 | British Columbia | 388,925 | 7.91% |
3 | Manitoba | 56,555 | 4.33% |
4 | New Brunswick | 6,855 | 0.90% |
5 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 3,540 | 0.71% |
6 | Northwest Territories | 605 | 1.50% |
7 | Nova Scotia | 17,555 | 1.84% |
8 | Nunavut | 135 | 0.37% |
9 | Ontario | 1,052,035 | 7.50% |
10 | Prince Edward Island | 2,865 | 1.90% |
11 | Quebec | 90,235 | 1.09% |
12 | Saskatchewan | 28,055 | 2.54% |
13 | Yukon | 905 | 2.29% |
Canada | 1,858,755 | 5.12% |
Source: Canada Census 2021
read about race and Ethnicity in Canada
Top Canadian metropolitan areas by Indian population
Toronto Metro area with 812,830 people of Indian ancestry, has the largest population of Indians in Canada. It’s followed by Vancouver (300,195) and Calgary (105,690).
Top Canadian Cities by Indian Population (Census 2021)
# | City (Metropolitan Area) | Province | Indian Population | Percentage |
1 | Toronto | Ontario | 812,830 | 13.23% |
2 | Vancouver | British Columbia | 300,195 | 11.51% |
3 | Calgary | Alberta | 105,690 | 7.21% |
4 | Edmonton | Alberta | 90,660 | 6.49% |
5 | Montreal | Quebec | 82,530 | 1.96% |
6 | Winnipeg | Manitoba | 50,535 | 6.16% |
7 | Ottawa – Gatineau | Ontario./Quebec | 43,930 | 3.00% |
8 | Abbotsford – Mission | British Columbia | 42,860 | 22.31% |
9 | Kitchener – Cambridge – Waterloo | Ontario | 40,110 | 7.06% |
10 | Hamilton | Ontario | 34,225 | 4.43% |
11 | Oshawa | Ontario | 24,260 | 5.90% |
12 | London | Ontario | 20,000 | 3.73% |
13 | Halifax | Nova Scotia | 13,515 | 2.93% |
14 | Windsor | Ontario | 13,310 | 3.20% |
15 | Regina | Saskatchewan | 13,035 | 5.32% |
16 | Victoria | British Columbia | 11,395 | 2.93% |
17 | Saskatoon | Saskatchewan | 10,395 | 3.34% |
18 | St. Catharines – Niagara | Ontario | 9,555 | 2.25% |
19 | Guelph | Ontario | 7,780 | 4.76% |
20 | Kelowna | British Columbia | 6,305 | 2.89% |
Source: Canada Census 2021
read about Top Cities in Quebec