| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 51,800 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Brampton,Montreal,Ottawa,Calgary,Winnipeg,Regina,Saskatoon,Vancouver,Edmonton,Toronto,Windsor,Quebec City | |
| Languages | |
| English,Yoruba,French,Nigerian Pidgin,Igbo, | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity · Islam · Yoruba religion |
Nigerian Canadians are citizens or residents ofCanada who have total or partialNigerian ancestry. It is estimated that approximately 51,800 Nigerians and their descendants reside in Canada, according to the2016 national census, with the majority concentrated in the province ofOntario, particularly in theGreater Toronto Area.
Nigerians began migrating to Canada during the 1967–1970Nigerian Civil War.[1] Nigerians were not broken out separately in immigration statistics until 1973. 3,919landed immigrants of Nigerian nationality arrived in Canada from 1973 to 1991.[2] Between 1981 and 2001, roughly 70% of African-born residents in Canada arrived, with a considerable share being Nigerians.[3]
The decision to migrate is shaped by a combination of structural challenges in Nigeria and opportunities available in Canada. In Nigeria, persistent governance issues and widespread corruption have undermined public institutions, discouraged return migration, and contributed to broader socio-economic instability. High unemployment and underemployment rates, a poorly functioning infrastructure, and widespread insecurity—including armed insurgencies and political unrest—continue to prompt skilled individuals to seek alternatives abroad.[4]
According to the2016 Canadian census, 51,800 people identified themselves as Nigerians, of whom about half lived inOntario,[5] particularly in theGreater Toronto Area.[6] There are many more Nigerians in Canada, who identified themselves by their ethnic group instead of their country, such as 25,210 areYoruba, 9,315 areIgbo, and 17,275 are from minor ethnic groups. There has also been a steady increase in the number of Nigerians living in the western cities of Canada, such asCalgary,Edmonton, andWinnipeg.[5]
An October 2022 study found that over half of Nigerian respondents screened positive fordepression, a figure notably higher than among other immigrant groups or native Nigerians. Key risk factors included being female, unmarried, having a low income, or remaining in Canada for more than a decade. These findings suggest a weakening of the "healthy immigrant effect", whereby immigrants typically arrive with better health that deteriorates over time due to acculturative stress and systemic marginalization.[7]
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| By ethnic or national origin |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian settlement | ||
Nigerian diaspora | ||
|---|---|---|
| Africa |  | |
| Americas | ||
| Asia | ||
| Europe | ||
| Oceania | ||
