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Ethnic Origin in Manitoba
Manitoba, the fifth-largest Canadian province by population, has a distinct racial and ethnic composition shaped by Indigenous heritage and historical European settlement. Ethnic origin refers to the ancestral or cultural origins of a person’s forebears. According to the 2021 Census, over 250 ethnic origins were reported across the province. English ancestry is the most frequently reported ethnic origin, followed by Scottish and German.
People of European origin account for about 59.7% of Manitoba’s population, making them the largest ancestral group. Manitoba stands out nationally for its significant Indigenous population, which represents 18.1% of the total population—the highest share among Canadian provinces. The major Indigenous groups include First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.
Visible minorities make up approximately 22.2% of Manitoba’s population. The largest visible minority communities in the province are Filipino, South Asian, Chinese, Black, Latin American, and Arab, reflecting Manitoba’s growing cultural diversity and ongoing immigration trends.
read about: Population of Manitoba
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021
Manitoba Population by Ethnic Origin
People of European origin make up about 59.7% of Manitoba’s population, making them the largest ancestral group in the province. The ethnic origins most frequently reported in Manitoba are English, Scottish, German, Ukrainian, and Irish, reflecting the province’s strong historical ties to European settlement.
Manitoba also has a notably high Indigenous presence, with First Nations and Métis origins ranking among the top reported ethnic backgrounds. In addition, immigration over recent decades has contributed to the growth of non-European origins such as Filipino, Indian, Chinese, and African communities.
Largest Ethnic origins in Manitoba (2021)
| # | Origin | Population | Percentage |
| 1 | English | 210,285 | 16.09% |
| 2 | Scottish | 189,645 | 14.51% |
| 3 | German | 177,360 | 13.57% |
| 4 | Ukrainian | 165,305 | 12.65% |
| 5 | Irish | 144,420 | 11.05% |
| 6 | First Nations (North American Indian) origins | 140,250 | 10.73% |
| 7 | French origins | 121,360 | 9.28% |
| 8 | Canadian | 109,195 | 8.35% |
| 9 | Filipino | 90,950 | 6.96% |
| 10 | Métis | 88,305 | 6.76% |
| 11 | Polish | 78,860 | 6.03% |
| 12 | Mennonite | 51,200 | 3.92% |
| 13 | Russian | 48,570 | 3.72% |
| 14 | Dutch | 43,390 | 3.32% |
| 15 | Indian (India) | 38,825 | 2.97% |
| 16 | Icelandic | 31,105 | 2.38% |
| 17 | Chinese | 29,550 | 2.26% |
| 18 | British Isles | 26,990 | 2.06% |
| 19 | Ojibway | 24,890 | 1.90% |
| 20 | Italian | 22,835 | 1.75% |
| 21 | Swedish | 21,160 | 1.62% |
| 22 | Belgian | 20,580 | 1.57% |
| 23 | Norwegian | 19,115 | 1.46% |
| 24 | Welsh | 17,180 | 1.31% |
| 25 | Punjabi | 13,785 | 1.05% |
| 26 | Portuguese | 13,395 | 1.02% |
| 27 | French Canadian | 12,430 | 0.95% |
| 28 | Jewish | 11,745 | 0.90% |
| 29 | Austrian | 11,440 | 0.88% |
| 30 | Spanish | 10,845 | 0.83% |
| 31 | Hungarian | 10,175 | 0.78% |
| 32 | Sikh | 9,095 | 0.70% |
| 33 | African | 8,460 | 0.65% |
| 34 | American | 8,345 | 0.64% |
| 35 | Danish | 7,700 | 0.59% |
| 36 | Mexican | 7,425 | 0.57% |
| 37 | Vietnamese | 7,285 | 0.56% |
| 38 | Manitoban | 7,160 | 0.55% |
| 39 | Oji-Cree | 5,665 | 0.43% |
| 40 | Nigerian | 5,580 | 0.43% |
| 41 | Romanian | 5,505 | 0.42% |
| 42 | Swiss | 5,250 | 0.40% |
| 43 | Pakistani | 5,030 | 0.38% |
| 44 | Yoruba | 4,890 | 0.37% |
| 45 | Hindu | 4,560 | 0.35% |
| 46 | Jamaican | 4,475 | 0.34% |
| 47 | Czech | 4,330 | 0.33% |
| 48 | Korean | 4,245 | 0.32% |
| 49 | Finnish | 4,100 | 0.31% |
| 50 | Greek | 3,790 | 0.29% |
Note: More than 200 additional ethnic origin groups were reported with populations below 3,500. Since census responses are based on self-identification, individuals may report multiple ethnic or cultural origins. As a result, percentages can add up to more than 100%.
About “Canadian” as an ethnic origin:
Since 1996, Canadian has been included as a response option for ethnic origin in census questionnaires. This category is most commonly reported by individuals of long-established European ancestry (both Anglophone and Francophone) who no longer identify with a specific ancestral origin due to generational distance.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021
Visible minorities in Manitoba
Manitoba’s population has become increasingly diverse over the past few decades, largely due to higher levels of immigration. According to the 2021 Census, 22.2% of Manitoba’s population identifies as belonging to a visible minority group.
Among visible minorities in Manitoba, Filipinos form the largest group, followed by South Asians, Black, and Chinese communities. Smaller but steadily growing populations include Latin American, Southeast Asian, Arab, and Korean groups. This shift highlights Manitoba’s evolving demographic profile beyond its traditional European and Indigenous roots.
Visible Minority Population in Manitoba (2021)
| # | Visible minority Group | Population | Percent |
| 1 | Filipino | 94,320 | 7.22% |
| 2 | South Asian | 71,215 | 5.45% |
| 3 | Black | 46,485 | 3.56% |
| 4 | Chinese | 25,395 | 1.94% |
| 5 | Latin American | 12,835 | 0.98% |
| 6 | Southeast Asian | 11,375 | 0.87% |
| 7 | Arab | 7,815 | 0.60% |
| 8 | Korean | 4,320 | 0.33% |
| 9 | West Asian | 3,445 | 0.26% |
| 10 | Japanese | 1,860 | 0.14% |
| 11 | Visible minority, n.i.e. 8 | 3,215 | 0.25% |
| 12 | Multiple visible minorities | 8,455 | 0.65% |
| Total | 290735 | 22.24% |
Note: Visible minority data is based on self-identification. Individuals may report more than one visible minority group, which is reflected in the “multiple visible minorities” category.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021
Indigenous population in Manitoba
Manitoba has one of the largest Indigenous populations in Canada. According to the 2021 Census, approximately 18.1% of Manitoba’s population identifies as Indigenous, significantly higher than the national average.
Among Indigenous communities in Manitoba, First Nations people form the largest group, accounting for just over 10% of the provincial population, followed by the Métis population at 7.3%. A smaller number of residents reported Inuit ancestry or other Indigenous identities. This strong Indigenous presence plays a central role in shaping Manitoba’s cultural, social, and demographic landscape.
Indigenous Population in Manitoba (2021)
| Aboriginal | Population | Percent |
| First Nations (North American Indian) | 134,890 | 10.31% |
| Métis | 96,725 | 7.3% |
| Inuit | 725 | |
| Others | 4840 | 0,49% |
| Total Aboriginal population | 234,895 | 18.1% |
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
Key Highlights – Manitoba Population
Manitoba has a population with over 250 reported ethnic origins, reflecting rich cultural diversity.
People of European origin form the largest group (59.7%), with English, Scottish, German, Ukrainian, and Irish being the top reported ancestries.
The province has a significant Indigenous population, making up 18.1% of the total population, one of the highest shares among Canadian provinces.
Visible minorities account for 22.2% of the population, with Filipino, South Asian, Black, and Chinese communities as the largest groups.
Immigration trends over recent decades have contributed to the growth of non-European and visible minority communities.
Manitoba’s demographic profile showcases a blend of Indigenous heritage, European settlement, and recent immigration, making it culturally and ethnically diverse.
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