 Population distribution of Middle Eastern Canadians by census division, 2021 census | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,690,015[1] 4.7% of the total Canadian population (2021) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Southern Ontario,Southern Quebec,Southwestern BC,Central Alberta | |
| Languages | |
| Canadian English · Canadian French · Arabic · Persian · Armenian · Turkish · Hebrew Other Middle Eastern languages | |
| Religion | |
| |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Middle Eastern Americans · Arab Canadians · West Asian Canadians · Asian Canadians |
Middle Eastern Canadians areCanadians who were either born in or can trace theirancestry to theMiddle East (MENA region), which includes bothWest Asia andNorth Africa.
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1,036,175 | — |
| 2016 | 1,364,560 | +31.7% |
| 2021 | 1,690,015 | +23.9% |
| ||
Individuals from the Middle East first arrived in Canada in 1882, when a group ofSyrian-Lebanese[5] immigrants settled in Montreal.[6] These early Arab immigrants were mostly Christian and arrived primarily from theLevant (modern-day Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan).[7][8][9]
In 1901, approximately 2,000 immigrants from Greater Syria, encompassing modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine, settled in Canada.[10]
During World War I, Middle Eastern Canadians ofTurkish origin were placed in "enemy alien" internment camps.[11]
The Middle Eastern Canadian population grew rapidly during the latter half of the 20th century; the 1979Iranian Revolution resulted in a spike of immigration to Canada from the West Asian country.[12]
TheSyrian refugee crisis during the 2010s fueled further growth to the already existing Syrian population; increased immigration from the West Asian country resulted in Syria becoming the third highest source country ofimmigration to Canada adding 35,000 Syrians becoming permanent residents in 2016.[13]
| Ethnic/National Origins | Origins Region | 2021[1] | 2016[3] | 2011[4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | ||
| Arab,n.o.s. | West Asia | 263,710 | 15.6% | 111,405 | 8.16% | 94,640 | 9.13% |
| Lebanese | West Asia | 210,605 | 12.46% | 219,555 | 16.09% | 190,275 | 18.36% |
| Iranian | West Asia | 200,465 | 11.86% | 210,405 | 15.42% | 163,290 | 15.76% |
| Egyptian | North Africa | 105,245 | 6.23% | 99,140 | 7.27% | 73,250 | 7.07% |
| Moroccan | North Africa | 99,980 | 5.92% | 103,945 | 7.62% | 71,910 | 6.94% |
| Syrian | West Asia | 98,250 | 5.81% | 77,045 | 5.65% | 40,840 | 3.94% |
| Persian | West Asia | 80,340 | 4.75% | — | — | — | — |
| Turkish | West Asia | 76,745 | 4.54% | 63,955 | 4.69% | 55,430 | 5.35% |
| Algerian | North Africa | 73,770 | 4.37% | 67,335 | 4.93% | 49,110 | 4.74% |
| Armenian | West Asia | 68,850 | 4.07% | 63,810 | 4.68% | 55,740 | 5.38% |
| Iraqi | West Asia | 59,300 | 3.51% | 70,920 | 5.2% | 49,680 | 4.79% |
| Palestinian | West Asia | 45,905 | 2.72% | 44,820 | 3.28% | 31,245 | 3.02% |
| Berber | North Africa | 41,700 | 2.47% | 37,065 | 2.72% | 25,885 | 2.5% |
| Israeli | West Asia | 35,345 | 2.09% | 28,735 | 2.11% | 15,010 | 1.45% |
| Tunisian | North Africa | 30,465 | 1.8% | 25,650 | 1.88% | 15,125 | 1.46% |
| Kurdish | West Asia | 23,130 | 1.37% | 16,315 | 1.2% | 11,685 | 1.13% |
| Coptic | North Africa | 22,570 | 1.34% | 3,535 | 0.26% | 3,570 | 0.34% |
| Kabyle | North Africa | 20,565 | 1.22% | — | — | — | — |
| Assyrian | West Asia | 19,685 | 1.16% | 13,830 | 1.01% | 10,810 | 1.04% |
| Sudanese | North Africa | 17,485 | 1.03% | 19,965 | 1.46% | 16,595 | 1.6% |
| North African,n.o.s. | North Africa | 16,315 | 0.97% | — | — | — | — |
| Jordanian | West Asia | 13,225 | 0.78% | 14,250 | 1.04% | 9,425 | 0.91% |
| Chaldean | West Asia | 12,115 | 0.72% | — | — | — | — |
| Azerbaijani | West Asia | 9,915 | 0.59% | 6,425 | 0.47% | 4,580 | 0.44% |
| Yemeni | West Asia | 8,115 | 0.48% | 6,645 | 0.49% | 3,945 | 0.38% |
| Libyan | North Africa | 7,945 | 0.47% | 7,740 | 0.57% | 5,515 | 0.53% |
| West Asian origins,n.i.e. | West Asia | 7,645 | 0.45% | 25,280 | 1.85% | 16,540 | 1.6% |
| Georgian | West Asia | 5,850 | 0.35% | 4,775 | 0.35% | 3,155 | 0.3% |
| Cypriot | West Asia | 4,830 | 0.29% | 5,655 | 0.41% | 4,815 | 0.46% |
| Saudi Arabian | West Asia | 3,935 | 0.23% | 6,810 | 0.5% | 7,955 | 0.77% |
| Kuwaiti | West Asia | 2,375 | 0.14% | 2,240 | 0.16% | 2,240 | 0.22% |
| Circassian | West Asia | 1,390 | 0.08% | — | — | — | — |
| Yazidi | West Asia | 1,140 | 0.07% | — | — | — | — |
| Omani | West Asia | 660 | 0.04% | — | — | — | — |
| North African origins,n.i.e. | North Africa | 450 | 0.03% | 6,115 | 0.45% | 2,875 | 0.28% |
| Maure | North Africa | — | — | 1,195 | 0.09% | 1,040 | 0.1% |
| West Asian origins | West Asia | 1,253,525 | 74.17% | 992,875 | 72.76% | 771,300 | 74.44% |
| North African origins | North Africa | 436,490 | 25.83% | 371,685 | 27.24% | 264,875 | 25.56% |
| Middle Eastern Canadian Population | Total | 1,690,015 | 100% | 1,364,560 | 100% | 1,036,175 | 100% |
The vast majority of Middle Eastern Canadians speak West Asian and North African languages as a mother tongue or second language. The top five Middle Eastern languages spoken in Canada includeArabic,Persian,Hebrew,Turkish, andArmenian.
| Language | 2021[14][15] | 2016[16] | 2011[17][18] | 2006[19] | 2001[20] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Arabic | 838,045 | 55.97% | 629,055 | 55.62% | 470,965 | 54.94% | 365,085 | 53.77% | 290,280 | 53.93% |
| Persian | 326,285 | 21.79% | 252,320 | 22.31% | 196,110 | 22.88% | 154,385 | 22.74% | 111,705 | 20.75% |
| Hebrew | 83,205 | 5.56% | 75,020 | 6.63% | 70,695 | 8.25% | 67,390 | 9.93% | 63,670 | 11.83% |
| Turkish | 78,500 | 5.24% | 50,775 | 4.49% | 44,080 | 5.14% | 36,935 | 5.44% | 32,520 | 6.04% |
| Armenian | 44,500 | 2.97% | 41,295 | 3.65% | 36,235 | 4.23% | 35,260 | 5.19% | 32,905 | 6.11% |
| Berber | 42,835 | 2.86% | 29,460 | 2.61% | 7,430 | 0.87% | 2,235 | 0.33% | — | — |
| Aramaic | 39,660 | 2.65% | 26,860 | 2.38% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kurdish | 24,035 | 1.61% | 15,290 | 1.35% | 11,815 | 1.38% | 9,185 | 1.35% | 7,145 | 1.33% |
| Azerbaijani | 9,870 | 0.66% | 5,450 | 0.48% | — | — | 2,455 | 0.36% | — | — |
| Coptic | 3,690 | 0.25% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Georgian | 3,010 | 0.2% | 2,150 | 0.19% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Iranian languages,n.i.e. | 1,830 | 0.12% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Semitic languages,n.i.e. | 1,760 | 0.12% | 3,220 | 0.28% | 19,975 | 2.33% | 6,035 | 0.89% | — | — |
| Total | 1,497,225 | 100% | 1,130,895 | 100% | 857,305 | 100% | 678,965 | 100% | 538,225 | 100% |
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are the dominant religions among the Middle Eastern Canadian population.[2]
| Ethnic/National Origins | Islam | Christianity | Irreligion | Judaism | Others | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Arab,n.o.s. | 212,610 | 80.62% | 30,145 | 11.43% | 18,755 | 7.11% | 270 | 0.1% | — | — | 263,710 | 15.6% |
| Lebanese | 63,255 | 30.03% | 104,945 | 49.83% | 36,465 | 17.31% | 785 | 0.37% | — | — | 210,605 | 12.46% |
| Iranian | 89,940 | 44.87% | 12,435 | 6.2% | 85,705 | 42.75% | 870 | 0.43% | — | — | 200,465 | 11.86% |
| Egyptian | 40,495 | 38.48% | 51,525 | 48.96% | 11,260 | 10.7% | 1,600 | 1.52% | — | — | 105,245 | 6.23% |
| Moroccan | 68,925 | 68.94% | 2,735 | 2.74% | 12,815 | 12.82% | 15,300 | 15.3% | — | — | 99,980 | 5.92% |
| Syrian | 47,895 | 48.75% | 39,115 | 39.81% | 9,365 | 9.53% | 595 | 0.61% | — | — | 98,250 | 5.81% |
| Persian | 33,105 | 41.21% | 5,835 | 7.26% | 34,545 | 43% | 365 | 0.45% | — | — | 80,340 | 4.75% |
| Turkish | 42,300 | 55.12% | 9,070 | 11.82% | 23,075 | 30.07% | 1,465 | 1.91% | — | — | 76,745 | 4.54% |
| Algerian | 59,485 | 80.64% | 2,110 | 2.86% | 11,395 | 15.45% | 525 | 0.71% | — | — | 73,770 | 4.37% |
| Armenian | 710 | 1.03% | 56,290 | 81.76% | 11,145 | 16.19% | 430 | 0.62% | — | — | 68,850 | 4.07% |
| Iraqi | 27,445 | 46.28% | 24,270 | 40.93% | 4,625 | 7.8% | 2,085 | 3.52% | — | — | 59,300 | 3.51% |
| Palestinian | 32,895 | 71.66% | 8,605 | 18.75% | 4,155 | 9.05% | 110 | 0.24% | — | — | 45,905 | 2.72% |
| Berber | 32,490 | 77.91% | 765 | 1.83% | 8,180 | 19.62% | 130 | 0.31% | — | — | 41,700 | 2.47% |
| Israeli | 205 | 0.58% | 3,345 | 9.46% | 7,805 | 22.08% | 23,730 | 67.14% | — | — | 35,345 | 2.09% |
| Tunisian | 23,715 | 77.84% | 810 | 2.66% | 5,125 | 16.82% | 760 | 2.49% | — | — | 30,465 | 1.8% |
| Kurdish | 15,010 | 64.89% | 995 | 4.3% | 6,605 | 28.56% | 45 | 0.19% | — | — | 23,130 | 1.37% |
| Coptic | 175 | 0.78% | 22,210 | 98.4% | 155 | 0.69% | 30 | 0.13% | — | — | 22,570 | 1.34% |
| Kabyle | 15,385 | 74.81% | 575 | 2.8% | 4,515 | 21.95% | 0 | 0% | — | — | 20,565 | 1.22% |
| Assyrian | 75 | 0.38% | 18,835 | 95.68% | 670 | 3.4% | 25 | 0.13% | — | — | 19,685 | 1.16% |
| Sudanese | 11,345 | 64.88% | 4,880 | 27.91% | 1,190 | 6.81% | 10 | 0.06% | — | — | 17,485 | 1.03% |
| North African,n.o.s. | 11,655 | 71.44% | 990 | 6.07% | 2,735 | 16.76% | 870 | 5.33% | — | — | 16,315 | 0.97% |
| Jordanian | 9,500 | 71.83% | 2,590 | 19.58% | 1,075 | 8.13% | 15 | 0.11% | — | — | 13,225 | 0.78% |
| Chaldean | 70 | 0.58% | 11,885 | 98.1% | 160 | 1.32% | 0 | 0% | — | — | 12,115 | 0.72% |
| Azerbaijani | 3,765 | 37.97% | 940 | 9.48% | 4,400 | 44.38% | 470 | 4.74% | — | — | 9,915 | 0.59% |
| Yemeni | 6,800 | 83.8% | 155 | 1.91% | 545 | 6.72% | 575 | 7.09% | — | — | 8,115 | 0.48% |
| Libyan | 7,075 | 89.05% | 160 | 2.01% | 485 | 6.1% | 205 | 2.58% | — | — | 7,945 | 0.47% |
| West Asian origins,n.i.e. | 1,755 | 22.96% | 3,465 | 45.32% | 1,655 | 21.65% | 125 | 1.64% | — | — | 7,645 | 0.45% |
| Georgian | 195 | 3.33% | 3,580 | 61.2% | 1,610 | 27.52% | 380 | 6.5% | — | — | 5,850 | 0.35% |
| Cypriot | 290 | 6% | 3,590 | 74.33% | 920 | 19.05% | 10 | 0.21% | — | — | 4,830 | 0.29% |
| Saudi Arabian | 3,125 | 79.42% | 180 | 4.57% | 595 | 15.12% | 0 | 0% | — | — | 3,935 | 0.23% |
| Kuwaiti | 1,925 | 81.05% | 170 | 7.16% | 265 | 11.16% | 0 | 0% | — | — | 2,375 | 0.14% |
| Circassian | 880 | 63.31% | 140 | 10.07% | 350 | 25.18% | 0 | 0% | — | — | 1,390 | 0.08% |
| Yazidi | 30 | 2.63% | 35 | 3.07% | 0 | 0% | 35 | 3.07% | — | — | 1,140 | 0.07% |
| Omani | 555 | 84.09% | 20 | 3.03% | 75 | 11.36% | 0 | 0% | — | — | 660 | 0.04% |
| North African origins,n.i.e. | 280 | 62.22% | 130 | 28.89% | 40 | 8.89% | 0 | 0% | — | — | 450 | 0.03% |
| Total Middle Eastern Canadian Population | 865,360 | 51.2% | 427,525 | 25.3% | 312,460 | 18.49% | 51,815 | 3.07% | 32,855 | 1.94% | 1,690,015 | 100% |
| Province / territory | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
 Ontario[21] | 610,005 | 4.6% |
 Quebec[22] | 465,920 | 5.8% |
 Alberta[23] | 120,590 | 3% |
 British Columbia[24] | 109,400 | 2.4% |
 Nova Scotia[25] | 19,235 | 2.1% |
 Manitoba[26] | 15,540 | 1.3% |
 Saskatchewan[27] | 11,605 | 1.1% |
 New Brunswick[28] | 8,035 | 1.1% |
 Newfoundland and Labrador[29] | 3,290 | 0.6% |
 Prince Edward Island[30] | 1,830 | 1.3% |
 Northwest Territories[31] | 390 | 0.9% |
 Yukon[32] | 230 | 0.7% |
 Nunavut[33] | 130 | 0.4% |
 Canada[3] | 1,366,190 | 4% |