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Ethnic Origin in Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island, the tenth-largest Canadian province by population, has a racially and ethnically diverse population. Ethnic origin refers to the ethnic or cultural origins of a respondent’s ancestors, and about 250 different ethnic origins were reported across Canada in the 2021 Census. In Prince Edward Island, the most commonly reported ethnic origins are Scottish, Irish, and English.
People of European origin make up about 88.2% of Prince Edward Island’s population, making it the dominant ethnic background in the province. The Indigenous population accounts for approximately 2.3%, with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit being the main Indigenous groups.
Visible minorities represent a growing share of the population. As of the 2021 Census, nearly 9.5% of Prince Edward Island’s residents belong to a visible minority group. The largest visible minority communities include South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, and Arab populations.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021
also read: Population of Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island Population by Ethnic Origin
People of European origin make up the overwhelming majority of Prince Edward Island’s population, accounting for about 93.3% as per the 2021 Census. The ethnic origins most frequently reported in the province are Scottish, Irish, English, and French, reflecting Prince Edward Island’s strong historical ties to the British Isles and early European settlement.
Scottish ancestry is the most commonly reported ethnic origin, followed by Irish and English. A significant share of residents also identify their ancestry as Canadian, a response that has been included in census questionnaires since 1996. This category is often selected by respondents of long-established European descent who no longer strongly associate with a specific ancestral origin due to generational distance.
Indigenous ethnic origins such as First Nations and Mi’kmaq are also represented, along with a growing number of non-European origins including Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Arab, African, and Vietnamese, highlighting the province’s increasing ethnic diversity.
Top Ethnic Origins in Prince Edward Island (2021 Census)
| # | Origin | Pop. 2021 | Percentage |
| 1 | Scottish | 51,235 | 34.05% |
| 2 | Irish | 41,845 | 27.81% |
| 3 | English | 36,050 | 23.96% |
| 4 | Canadian | 22,820 | 15.16% |
| 5 | French origins | 21,370 | 14.20% |
| 6 | Acadian | 8,265 | 5.49% |
| 7 | German | 7,175 | 4.77% |
| 8 | Dutch | 4,465 | 2.97% |
| 9 | First Nations (North American Indian) | 3,755 | 2.50% |
| 10 | British Isles | 3,170 | 2.11% |
| 11 | Prince Edward Islander | 3,150 | 2.09% |
| 12 | Chinese | 3,050 | 2.03% |
| 13 | Welsh | 2,495 | 1.66% |
| 14 | Indian (India) | 2,280 | 1.52% |
| 15 | Italian | 1,655 | 1.10% |
| 16 | Filipino | 1,600 | 1.06% |
| 17 | Mi’kmaq origins | 1,570 | 1.04% |
| 18 | American | 1,085 | 0.72% |
| 19 | Polish | 1,060 | 0.70% |
| 20 | Ukrainian | 1,050 | 0.70% |
| 21 | French Canadian | 970 | 0.64% |
| 22 | Métis | 920 | 0.61% |
| 23 | Vietnamese | 730 | 0.49% |
| 24 | Lebanese | 715 | 0.48% |
| 25 | Danish | 690 | 0.46% |
| 26 | Norwegian | 620 | 0.41% |
| 27 | Spanish | 560 | 0.37% |
| 28 | Russian | 545 | 0.36% |
| 29 | Swiss | 500 | 0.33% |
| 30 | Arab | 485 | 0.32% |
| 31 | African | 480 | 0.32% |
| 32 | Portuguese | 425 | 0.28% |
| 33 | Hungarian | 425 | 0.28% |
| 34 | Punjabi | 420 | 0.28% |
| 35 | Swedish | 420 | 0.28% |
| 36 | Syrian | 390 | 0.26% |
| 37 | Newfoundlander | 375 | 0.25% |
| 38 | Belgian | 340 | 0.23% |
| 39 | Jamaican | 300 | 0.20% |
| 40 | Hindu | 285 | 0.19% |
| 41 | Jewish | 255 | 0.17% |
| 42 | Mexican | 255 | 0.17% |
| 43 | Nova Scotian | 255 | 0.17% |
| 44 | Inuit origins | 255 | 0.17% |
| 45 | Inuit | 255 | 0.17% |
| 46 | Japanese | 250 | 0.17% |
| 47 | Sikh | 225 | 0.15% |
| 48 | Greek | 220 | 0.15% |
| 49 | Iranian | 205 | 0.14% |
| 50 | Black | 200 | 0.13% |
“Canadian” and “Prince Edward Islander” are self-reported ethnic responses introduced to allow individuals to identify ancestral descent rather than nationality. Respondents selecting these categories are generally of European background (Anglophone or Francophone) and may no longer identify with specific ancestral origins due to long-term generational settlement.
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
also read: religion in Prince Edward Island
Visible minorities in Prince Edward Island
According to the 2021 Census, approximately 9.5% of Prince Edward Island’s population belongs to a visible minority group, reflecting the province’s steadily increasing cultural diversity in recent years. While Prince Edward Island remains predominantly European in origin, immigration and interprovincial migration have contributed to the growth of several visible minority communities.
South Asians (2.49%) and Chinese (2.22%) form the largest visible minority groups in the province, followed by Black (African) residents, Filipinos, and Arabs. Smaller but growing communities include Southeast Asian, Latin American, West Asian, Japanese, and Korean populations.
Visible Minority Groups in Prince Edward Island (2021)
| # | Group | Population | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Asian | 3,740 | 2.49% |
| 2 | Chinese | 3,340 | 2.22% |
| 3 | Black | 1,815 | 1.21% |
| 4 | Filipino | 1,760 | 1.17% |
| 5 | Arab | 1,130 | 0.75% |
| 6 | Southeast Asian | 1,040 | 0.69% |
| 7 | Latin American | 590 | 0.39% |
| 8 | West Asian | 290 | 0.19% |
| 9 | Japanese | 185 | 0.12% |
| 10 | Korean | 115 | 0.08% |
| 11 | Others | 125 | 0.08% |
| 12 | Multiple visible minorities | 175 | 0.12% |
| – | Total | 14,305 | 9.51% |
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021
Indigenous Population in Prince Edward Island
According to the 2021 Census, approximately 2.3% of Prince Edward Island’s population identifies as Indigenous, reflecting the province’s longstanding Mi’kmaq presence and smaller Métis and Inuit communities. Indigenous peoples in Prince Edward Island include First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, with First Nations forming the majority of the Indigenous population.
The Indigenous population remains an important part of the island’s cultural heritage, contributing to its history, traditions, and community life, particularly through Mi’kmaq ancestry and First Nations identity.
Indigenous Population of Prince Edward Island (2021)
| Aboriginal Group | Population | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| First Nations | 2,165 | 1.44% |
| Métis | 845 | 0.56% |
| Inuit | 180 | 0.10% |
| Others | 195 | 0.10% |
| Total Indigenous population | 3,385 | 2.25% |
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021
Key Highlights
Prince Edward Island has a predominantly European-origin population, with Scottish, Irish, and English being the most commonly reported ethnic ancestries.
Nearly 9.5% of PEI’s population belongs to visible minority groups, led by South Asian, Chinese, Black, and Filipino communities.
The Indigenous population accounts for about 2.3% of the total population, primarily consisting of First Nations (Mi’kmaq), along with Métis and Inuit peoples.
PEI’s demographic profile reflects a blend of historic European settlement and recent immigration-driven diversity, especially in Charlottetown and surrounding areas.
Ongoing population growth and international migration are gradually increasing the province’s ethnic and cultural diversity.
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