English Canadians: Population, Immigration Trends & Demographics
English Canadians are Canadians who have full or partial English ancestry. People of English origin form an important group in several countries in North and South America. According to the 2021 Canadian Census, 5,322,830 Canadians reported English ancestry, accounting for 14.65% of the total population, making it Canada’s second-largest ancestry group.
In addition, 938,950 people (2.58%) identified as having British ancestry, while 455,720 individuals (1.25%) reported Welsh ancestry, reflecting the broader British heritage presence in the country. Overall, the English-Canadian population remains widespread across all provinces and territories, with particularly large concentrations in Ontario, British Columbia, and the Prairie provinces.
Projected English Population in Canada (2026): ~5.5 million
Also read about the English population in the United States
English Population by Canadian Provinces
English ancestry is widespread across all Canadian provinces and territories. Ontario has the largest English-Canadian population, with about 2.35 million people, followed by British Columbia (1.02 million) and Alberta (766,070), reflecting settlement patterns in Canada’s most populous provinces.
By percentage of total population, Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest share of English ancestry at 34.86%, followed by Nova Scotia (22.80%) and Prince Edward Island (23.96%), highlighting the strong historical English presence in Atlantic Canada.
List of Provinces by English Ancestry Population
| # | Province | English Pop. 2021 | % of Total | British Isle Pop | % of Total |
| 1 | Ontario | 2,347,690 | 16.73% | 463,000 | 3.30% |
| 2 | British Columbia | 1,019,250 | 20.73% | 191,025 | 3.89% |
| 3 | Alberta | 766,070 | 18.34% | 124,835 | 2.99% |
| 4 | Saskatchewan | 219,665 | 19.91% | 21,650 | 1.96% |
| 5 | Nova Scotia | 217,915 | 22.80% | 32,180 | 3.37% |
| 6 | Manitoba | 210,285 | 16.09% | 26,990 | 2.06% |
| 7 | Quebec | 177,710 | 2.14% | 38,655 | 0.47% |
| 8 | Newfoundlander | 175,045 | 34.86% | 18,310 | 3.65% |
| 9 | New Brunswick | 137,145 | 18.06% | 16,625 | 2.19% |
| 10 | Prince Edward Island | 36,050 | 23.96% | 3,170 | 2.11% |
| 11 | Yukon | 9,105 | 23.00% | 1,325 | 3.35% |
| 12 | Northwest Territories | 5,495 | 13.61% | 900 | 2.23% |
| 13 | Nunavut | 1,405 | 3.84% | 285 | 0.78% |
Source: Canada Census 2021
also read about the Population of England
Top Canadian metropolitan areas by English population
English Canadians are heavily concentrated in Canada’s largest metropolitan regions. The Toronto metropolitan area has the largest English-Canadian population, with 538,090 people reporting English ancestry. It is followed by Vancouver (365,150) and Calgary (245,280), reflecting migration toward major urban and economic centers.
Several mid-sized metropolitan areas—particularly in Ontario, British Columbia, and Atlantic Canada—also record a high percentage of residents with English ancestry.
Top Cities in Canada by English Population
| # | City (Metropolitan Area) | Province | Population 2021 | % of Total |
| 1 | Toronto | Ontario | 538,090 | 8.76% |
| 2 | Vancouver | B.C | 365,150 | 14.01% |
| 3 | Calgary | Alberta | 245,280 | 16.74% |
| 4 | Edmonton | Alberta | 227,410 | 16.27% |
| 5 | Ottawa – Gatineau | Ont./Que | 196,190 | 13.40% |
| 6 | Hamilton | Ontario | 180,215 | 16.14% |
| 7 | London | Ontario | 129,975 | 24.26% |
| 8 | Winnipeg | Manitoba | 124,225 | 15.15% |
| 9 | Victoria | B.C | 121,950 | 31.39% |
| 10 | Halifax | N.S | 106,180 | 23.03% |
| 11 | Montreal | Quebec | 105,115 | 2.50% |
| 12 | Kitchener – Cambridge – Waterloo | Ontario | 103,605 | 18.24% |
| 13 | St. Catharines – Niagara | Ontario | 100,325 | 23.58% |
| 14 | Oshawa | Ontario | 94,120 | 22.88% |
| 15 | St. John’s | N.L | 77,135 | 36.94% |
| 16 | Windsor | Ontario | 72,610 | 17.48% |
| 17 | Saskatoon | Sask | 60,045 | 19.28% |
| 18 | Kelowna | B.C | 58,600 | 26.82% |
| 19 | Barrie | Ontario | 54,015 | 25.70% |
| 20 | Regina | Sask | 47,200 | 19.27% |
Source: Canada Census 2021
Read about the top cities in Ontario
FAQ: English Ancestry in Canada
How many English Canadians are there?
According to the 2021 Canadian Census, 5,322,830 people in Canada reported English ancestry, accounting for 14.65% of the total population.
Which province has the most English Canadians?
Ontario has the largest English-Canadian population, with 2,347,690 residents reporting English ancestry in the 2021 Census.
Which Canadian city has the largest English population?
The Toronto metropolitan area has the highest number of English Canadians, with 538,090 people reporting English ancestry.
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