South Asian Canadians

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South Asian Canadians

South Asian ancestry % by census division in Canada (2021)
Total population
2,571,400[1] 7.1% of the total Canadian population (2021)
Regions with significant populations
Southern Ontario, Southwestern BC, Central Alberta, Southern Quebec, Most urban areas
Languages
Canadian English Canadian French Punjabi Hindi–Urdu Tamil Gujarati Bengali Other South Asian languages
Religion
Hinduism (29.9%) Sikhism (29.6%) Islam (23.1%) Christianity (9.5%) Irreligion (6.1%) Buddhism (1.1%) Jainism (0.3%) Zoroastrianism (0.1%) Judaism (0.05%) Baháʼí (0.02%) Indigenous (0.004%) Others (0.1%)[2]
Related ethnic groups
South Asian Americans Dutch South Asians British South Asians South Asian people

South Asian Canadians are Canadians who were either born in or can trace their ancestry to South Asia or the Indian subcontinent, which includes the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.^[3] The term also includes immigrants from South Asian communities in East and South Africa, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Mauritius, and the rest of the world.^[4]

The term South Asian Canadian is a subgroup of Asian Canadian and, according to Statistics Canada, can further be divided by nationality, such as Indian Canadian, Pakistani Canadian, and Bangladeshi Canadian.^[5] As of 2021, South Asians (7.1 percent) comprise the second largest pan-ethnic group in Canada after Europeans (69.8 percent).^[1][6]

According to the 2021 Canadian census, 2,571,400 Canadians had South Asian geographical origins, constituting approximately 7.1 percent of the total population and 35.1 percent of the total Asian Canadian population.^[1] This makes them the largest visible minority group in Canada comprising 26.7 percent of the visible minority population, followed by Chinese and Black Canadians respectively.^[1]

The largest South Asian Canadian communities are found in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, while metropolitan areas with large populations include Toronto (1,182,485), Vancouver (369,295), Calgary (153,200), Edmonton (123,340), and Montréal (121,260).^[1] Over half (60.3 percent) of South Asian Canadians live in two metropolitan areas as of 2021; Greater Toronto and Metro Vancouver.^[1]

The term "Asian" in Canadian English generally refers to people from East and Southeast Asia. This differs from the British English definition of Asian, which includes South Asia but excludes East and Southeast Asians terming them as Oriental or East Asian instead. Thus, the term South Asian has come into common usage referring to Asians hailing from the Indian subcontinent.^[7] This includes countries such as India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives. It does not include nations such as Myanmar, which have been considered South Asian in some other connotations of the term.

Canadians from South Asia may also be identified by their country of origin such as Indian or Pakistani. They may also be identified by their specific cultural backgrounds, for example Punjabi or Tamil. The term "East Indian" was a historical term used widely in Canada to refer to people hailing from India as opposed to Aboriginal peoples who are also sometimes referred to as "Indian". This term has been made less common after the introduction of the general term "South Asian" in areas with significant Indian Canadian populations like Toronto.

Brown^{[8][9][10][11][12]} and Desi are also terms used to refer to Canadians from South Asia. However, these are avoided in more formal contexts due to their ambiguity and the possibility of being seen as derogatory.

Statistics Canada lists both cultural backgrounds like Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Malayali, and Goan in addition to cultures like East Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Pakistani.

The first census which took place following Canadian Confederation was in 1871 and enumerated the four original provinces including, Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick found that the population with racial origins from South Asia (then-labeled as "Hindu" on the census) stood at 11 persons or 0.0003 percent of the national population, with 8 persons from Ontario, and the remaining 3 persons from Nova Scotia.^[13]: 332

The first well-known record of Canadians from South Asia dates back to 1897, when Punjabi Sikh soldiers arrived in British Columbia while transiting from India to the United Kingdom during the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.^[14]

With an estimated population of 100 by 1900,^[14] further South Asian settlement waves to Canada occurred in the few years after the turn of the 20th century; after hearing stories about the high wages being paid in British Columbia, some Punjabi British Indian soldiers stationed in Hong Kong and other British-controlled Chinese cities emigrated to Canada and settled in the western province.^[14] Attracted by these wages, more Sikh men began immigrating into British Columbia, working mainly in industries such as mining, logging and railroads. Many of these men, who arrived without their families, settled in Greater Vancouver, Vancouver Island, interior BC, northern BC, and the Fraser Valley in what is now Abbotsford, British Columbia.

A notable moment in early South Asian Canadian history was in 1902 when Punjabi Sikh settlers first arrived in Golden, British Columbia to work at the Columbia River Lumber Company.^[15] These early settlers built the first Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) in Canada and North America in 1905,^[16][17] which would later be destroyed by fire in 1926.^[18]

In 1907, the government in British Columbia enacted laws limiting the rights and privileges of Canadians from South Asian countries, which prevented them from voting and denied them access to holding political office, public sector jobs and other professions,^[19] which prompted many to migrate south from Vancouver across the border to the United States, where some became the victims of the 1907 Bellingham riots.^[20] In early 1908, the continuous journey regulation was enacted in an effort to prevent South Asians from immigrating to Canada. The law required that people arriving from South Asia in Canada must "come from the country of their birth or citizenship by a continuous journey and or through tickets purchased before leaving their country of their birth or nationality." This prevented Indian soldiers stationed in Hong Kong and Japan from immigrating to Canada.

The second Gurdwara to be built in Canada was in 1908 in Kitsilano (Vancouver) and aimed at serving a growing number of Punjabi Sikh settlers who worked at nearby sawmills along False Creek at the time.^[21] Many South Asian Canadians soon began to face discrimination and xenophobia from those of European (Anglo-British) background, experiencing similar treatment to the East Asian Canadian community, such as the Japanese and Chinese.^[22][23] European settlers viewed Asian settlers, and included the Indians, as a threat to the European nature of Canada.^[24] In addition, many Asian migrants had to work for lower wages, which agitated the European (Anglo-British) majority of the time.^[25]

Year-end statistics in 1908 indicated that the South Asian Canadian population stood at 5,179 persons or 0.08 percent of the national population,^[26] primarily Punjabi settlers concentrated in British Columbia, of which many of whom would ultimately migrate south to the United States, back to British India or British Hong Kong as the 1911 Canadian Census later revealed the South Asian Canadian population had declined to 2,342 persons or 0.03 percent of the national population.^[27][28]

By 1911, the third Gurdwara to be built in Canada opened in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Built in 1911, the Gur Sikh Temple was designated as a national historic site of Canada in 2002 and is the oldest existing Gurdwara in the country, as the Golden temple built in 1905 was destroyed by fire in 1926, and the Kitsilano temple built in 1908 would later close and be demolished in 1970, as the temple society relocating to the newly built Gurdwara on Ross Street, in South Vancouver. Later, the fourth Gurdwara to be built Canada was established in 1912 in Victoria on Topaz Avenue, while the fifth soon followed at the Fraser Mills (Coquitlam) settlement in 1913.

A notable example of early anti-South Asian sentiments as a result of continuous journey regulation in Canada was the Komagata Maru incident. A successful Punjabi fisherman living in British Columbia attempting to circumnavigate the continuous journey regulation chartered a Japanese steamship known as the Komagata Maru to travel from Kolkata, India to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The ship made stops in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokohama, where it picked up more Eastern-Caucasian settlers. In total the ship carried 376 passengers, of whom 337 were Sikh, 27 were Muslim and 12 were Hindu. All passengers originated from the Punjab and were registered as British subjects. Upon arriving in Vancouver though the ship was not permitted to dock with several British Columbian politicians such as Conservative MP Henry Herbert Stevens campaigning against their right to dock.

Some South Asian Canadians already settled in Canada began launching "shore committees" led by Husain Rahim (Gujarati Canadian),^[29] Muhammad Akbar (Punjabi Canadian),^[29] and Sohan Lal Pathak. These were to protest against the decision not to allow the settlers on the Komagata Maru no to enter Canada. Passengers threatened to start a rebellion, or ghadar, if they were forced back to India. The shore committee raised $22,000 and launched a test case legal battle in the British Columbia Court of Appeal. On July 6, the court unanimously decided they had no authority to interfere with the Department of Immigration and Colonization and had ordered the harbor tug Sea Lion to pull the ship out to sea on July 19. This resulted in rioting between the settlers on board and police officers. The ship was ultimately forced back to India on July 23, with only 20 of the settlers being allowed to stay in Canada.

With most Punjabi Sikhs continuing to seek employment in the forestry industry, at various sawmills across British Columbia, more Gurdwaras continued to be built, including one at the Queensborough (New Westminster) settlement in 1919,^[30][31][32] soon followed by another at the Paldi (Vancouver Island) settlement, also in 1919.^{[33][34][35][36]}

South Asian Canadian population history

Year	Pop.	±%
1871	11	—
1901	100	+809.1%
1908	5,179	+5079.0%
1911	2,342	−54.8%
1921	1,016	−56.6%
1931	1,400	+37.8%
1941	1,465	+4.6%
1951	2,148	+46.6%
1961	6,774	+215.4%
1971	67,925	+902.7%
1981	223,235	+228.6%
1986	314,305	+40.8%
1991	505,515	+60.8%
1996	723,345	+43.1%
2001	963,190	+33.2%
2006	1,316,770	+36.7%
2011	1,615,925	+22.7%
2016	1,963,330	+21.5%
2021	2,571,400	+31.0%
Source: Statistics Canada [13]: 332 [26][27]: 15 [37]: 16 [28][38]: 353 [39]: 225 [40]: 236 [41]: 503  [42]: 272 [43]: 2 [44]: 484 [45]: 5 [46]: 2 [47]: 26 [48]: 31&68 [49]: 34 [50]: 47  [51]: 68 [52]: 11 [53][54][55][56][57][1]

The continuous journey regulation provision remained in effect until 1947, as did most other anti-South Asian laws. However pressure from the community resulted in the Canadian government allowing the wife and children of their Canadian husband/father to immigrate. However, a population stagnation ensued and by the mid-1920s the South Asian population in Canada stood at just over 1,000 persons.^[58] Despite their declining numbers, Canadians from South Asia grew wealthier. They began to acquire their own lumber mills which were used to produce wood and sawdust for consumer purchase. During the Great Depression the tight-knit nature of the South Asian community mitigated many of the economic effects the depression had on other communities in Canada.

South Asian Canadians were granted the right to vote in 1947. Furthermore, as a result of the recent independence of several South Asian nations such as India, Pakistan and Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka, the Canadian government created annual immigration quotas which were to allow 150 Indians, 100 Pakistanis, and 50 Sri Lankans the right to immigrate to Canada each year.

In 1950, 25 years after settling in Canada and nine years after moving to British Columbia from Toronto, Naranjan "Giani" Singh Grewall became the first individual of South Asian ancestry in Canada and North America to be elected to public office after successfully running for a position on the board of commissioners in Mission, BC against six other candidates.^{[59][60][61][62][63]} Grewall was re-elected to the board of commissioners in 1952 and by 1954, was elected to become mayor of Mission.^[59][62][63]

"Thank you all citizens of Mission City [...] It is a credit to this community to elect the first East Indian to public office in the history of our great dominion. It shows your broad-mindedness, tolerance and consideration.".^[61]

— Notice by Naranjan Singh Grewall in the local Mission newspaper following his election to public office, 1950

A millwright and union official, and known as a sportsman and humanitarian philanthropist as well as a lumberman, Grewall eventually established himself as one of the largest employers and most influential business leaders in the northern Fraser Valley, owned six sawmills and was active in community affairs serving on the boards or as chairman of a variety of organizations, and was instrumental in helping create Mission's municipal tree farm.^{[59][61][62][63][64]} With strong pro-labour beliefs despite his role as a mill-owner, after a scandal embroiled the provincial Ministry of Forestry under the-then Social Credit party government, he referred to holders of forest management licenses across British Columbia as Timber Maharajahs, and cautioned that within a decade, three or four giant corporations would predominantly control the entire industry in the province, echoing similarities to the archaic zamindar system in South Asia.^[62][64] He later ran unsuccessfully for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (the precursor of today's New Democratic Party) in the Dewdney riding in the provincial election of 1956.^[63][64]

While by the 1950s, South Asian Canadians had gained respect in business in British Columbia primarily for their work in owning sawmills and aiding the development of the provincial forestry industry, racism still existed especially in the upper echelons of society.^[62][65] As such, during the campaign period and in the aftermath of running for MLA in 1956, Grewall received personal threats, while the six mills he owned along with his house were all set ablaze by arsonists.^[65][a] One year later, on July 17, 1957, while on a business trip, he was suspiciously found dead in a Seattle motel, having been shot in the head.^{[a][b][65][66]} Grewall Street in Mission was named in his honour.^[67]

Every kid in the North Fraser, who thinks he or she is being discriminated against, should read the Grewall story and the challenges he faced.^[a]

— Former BC premier Dave Barrett on Naranjan Singh Grewall

Beginning in the 1960s racial and national restrictions were removed from Canada's immigration policies resulting in the explosive growth of South Asian community. The South Asian Canadian community grew from just 6,774 in 1961 to 67,925 just ten years later in 1971.

Many of the South Asians arriving during the 1970s were not directly from South Asia but instead from Southeast Africa. Discrimination in many African Great Lakes nations like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania against Indians was growing as a result of their status as a market-dominant minority. This is when a minority group controls a disproportionately large segment of the economy due to their over representation in business and above average education. One notable incident of this was Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's expulsion of 80,000 Ugandan Indians as part of his economic war to allow indigenous Ugandans to regain control of the countries economy. As a result, nearly 20,000 Indians fled to Canada, some directly others after temperately settling in other nations in Africa. They eventually grew to be the first sizable non-Sikh South Asian community in Canada. Shenaaz Nanji's Governor General's Award-nominated novel Child of Dandelions deals with the expulsion of Indians from Uganda and their immigration to Canada.

Around this time the Indo-Caribbeans (mainly from Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as some from Suriname, Jamaica, and other Caribbean nations) Indo-Fijians, Indo-South Africans, and Indo-Mauritians began immigrating to Canada as well, settling mainly in Toronto, Ontario. Many of these South Asians were the descendants of indentured laborers were brought by the colonial British government to replace the slaves on plantations. After completing their work terms the majority remained in these countries. Many of the immigrants who arrived from the Caribbean, the African Great Lakes, Mauritius, South Africa, and Fiji were educated professionals who upon arriving in Canada worked in the service sector or began their own businesses. As opposed to the industrial sector which mainly early Sikhs worked in.

Prior to the wide-scale urbanization of the South Asian Canadian community, the most statistically significant populations existed across rural British Columbia; a legacy of previous waves of immigration and settlement patterns that existed earlier in the 20th century through until the latter quarter of the century, as Punjabi Canadians continued to seek employment in the provincial forestry sector at sawmills throughout Vancouver Island and the interior. During the period between 1981 and 1996, small towns including Fort St. James (South Asians formed 22 percent of the total population), Quesnel (14 percent), Lake Cowichan (13 percent), Merritt (13 percent), Williams Lake (12 percent), Tahsis (10 percent), Golden (10 percent), 100 Mile House (10 percent), Squamish (9 percent), and Lillooet (9 percent) had the largest South Asian concentrations in Canada.^{[68][69][70][71][72][73]}

Starting in the 1980s South Asians arriving directly from the Indian subcontinent began to increase noticeably as well. In 1985 around 15,000 immigrants arrived from South Asia annually in 2012 that number was at 46,000 annually. In addition to the South Asians still arriving from other parts of the world like the Persian Gulf, the Caribbean, the African Great Lakes, and Fiji. As a result, the South Asian community began forming growing enclaves particularly in the Vancouver and Toronto area. Some notable areas are Gerrard Street, Brampton and several neighborhoods in Mississauga, Scarborough, Markham, and Etobicoke in the Greater Toronto Area. In British Columbia notable South Asian districts include South Vancouver, Surrey, Delta, and Abbotsford.

In 1986, following the British Columbia provincial election, Moe Sihota became the first Canadian of South Asian ancestry to be elected to provincial parliament. Sihota, who was born in Duncan, British Columbia in 1955, ran as the NDP candidate in the riding of Esquimalt-Port Renfrew two years after being involved in municipal politics, as he was elected as an Alderman for the city of Esquimalt in 1984.

The rise of the Khalistan movement, the secessionist movement that sought to make the Indian state of Punjab a separate nation for Sikhs. As a result, during the 1980s many Sikhs living in Canada began to involve themselves in the Khalistan movement by organizing protests in Canada and sending money to fund separatist groups back in India. These protests reached their peak in 1984 when the Indian Army raided the Golden Temple, which was followed by the assassination of then–Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards and finally by anti-Sikh riots throughout North India. Several major anti-Indian protests occurred in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto with angry protesters forcing their way into the Indian consulate in Toronto carrying knives and smashing photos of Indira Gandhi. On June 23, 1985, several Canadian Sikhs led by Talwinder Singh Parmar were arrested for the Air India Flight 182 bombing, which killed 329 people. It is considered the worst terrorist attack to ever be carried out by Canadians.

With the outbreak of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 1983 many Sri Lankan Tamils were forced to flee persecution and violence and see refuge in Canada. This made Sri Lankan Canadians the fifth largest source of immigrants during the 1990s. It also made Canada home to One of the largest Tamil population in the Western World with 140,000 Tamils living in Canada, primarily Toronto and Montreal. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), or Tamil Tigers, though officially recognized as terrorist group in Canada still receives widespread support among the Sri Lankan Tamil Canadian community.

In 1990, Baltej Singh Dhillon, a Canadian Sikh challenged the traditional dress code of the RCMP in order to accommodate his turban, a mandatory article of clothing worn by many Sikh men. The caused controversy with opponents arguing that the uniform of the RCMP was a national icon to be preserved, while proponents pointed out that Sikh soldiers served in the British army during World War I and World War II and also served in many Canadian police forces. On March 16, 1990, the policy was amended to include Sikhs to serve while wearing a turban.

Beginning in the 21st century the makeup of Canadians from South Asia had changed greatly. Sikhs had gone from making up nearly 90% of Canadian South Asians during much of the early−mid 20th century to just 28% in 2001. This is as a result of a more diverse background of South Asians immigrating to Canada as opposed to the primarily Sikh and Punjabi immigrants of the early 20th century. In 2006 total South Asian Canadians outnumbered the specific numbers of Chinese Canadians as the largest visible minority group in Canada with 25% of visible minorities. On February 24, 2000 Ujjal Dosanjh became the first Canadian of South Asian origin to become a provincial premier when he became premier of British Columbia as leader of New Democratic Party.

During the first decade of the 21st century, India remained the second largest source of invited immigrants behind China but ahead of the Philippines. Pakistan was also among the top ten sources of invited immigrants to Canada. In addition, India is also the second largest source of foreign students in Canada with 28,939 invited Indian students studying in Canada in 2012 compared with 1,747 in 2000. In 2007, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Toronto opened in Toronto, making it the largest Hindu temple in Canada. The Aga Khan Museum, built and run by Ismaili Muslims, was opened in 2014. Several other notable places of worship have been built by Canadians from South Asia including the Khalsa Darbar Gurdwara and Baitul Islam mosque.

South Asian Canadian culture also began to move into the Canadian mainstream in the 21st century. Bhangra music, a genre of music from India that combines traditional Punjabi music with pop and hip hop and other Western musical styles has grown increasingly popular throughout Canada. Canadians of all backgrounds enjoy and are also familiar with Bollywood. In 2011 the 12th International Indian Film Academy Awards were hosted in Toronto, which was home to nearly 832,000 Canadians of South Asian ancestry, one of the largest in the Western World. How to Be Indie, a Canadian children's television program produced by YTV, revolves around the daughter of Hindu Indian immigrants living in Toronto, and has since been syndicated in the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, Latin America and elsewhere. The Indian Canadian comedian Russell Peters has used his heritage as material for many of his jokes.

In the 2015 Canadian federal election, 16 South Asian Members of Parliament (MPs) were elected from Ontario alone, which is the most in Canadian history.^[74] Four South Asian ministers have been appointed to the Canadian cabinet, which includes the Minister of National Defence, Harjit Sajjan.^[75]

South Asian Canadian population history (1901−2021)

Year	Population	% of total population
1901 [14]	>100	0.002%
1908 [37][26][27]	5,179	0.078%
1911 [38]: 354 [37]	2,342	0.032%
1921 [38]: 356 [37]	1,016	0.012%
1931 [41]: 503 [37]	1,400	0.013%
1941 [42]: 272 [43]: 2 [37]	1,465	0.013%
1951 [44]: 484 [37]	2,148	0.015%
1961 [45]: 5 [37]	6,774	0.037%
1971 [46]: 2 [37]	67,925	0.315%
1981 [47]: 7 [48]: 68	223,235	0.927%
1986 [49]: 34 [48]: 31	314,305	1.256%
1991 [51]: 68 [52]: 11	505,515	1.873%
1996 [53]	723,345	2.536%
2001 [54]	963,190	3.25%
2006 [55]	1,316,770	4.215%
2011 [56]	1,615,925	4.919%
2016 [57]	1,963,330	5.697%
2021 [1]	2,571,400	7.078%

Reports on Canadians from India in 1908 indicated the East-Indian Canadian population was 5,179.^[26][27] The overwhelming majority of whom were Sikh, male, and settled in British Columbia. However, as a result of laws which restricted the immigration the community had declined to only 1,100 by the mid-1920s. By 1961, right before racial restriction were respectfully removed from Canada's immigration policy, Canadians of South Asian descent rose to 6,774. With racial quotas being removed (invitations extended) during the 1960s the number of Canadians of South Asian ancestry created the diverse population we see into the present day.

According to the 2021 census, 2,322,895 Canadians had South Asian origins and 2,571,400 other Canadians were classified as belonging to the visible minority group, generally termed, South Asian.^[1][76] The growth of the population is mainly attributed to sustained invitations of immigration from South Asian nations. According to a 2022 study conducted by Statistics Canada, Canadians with South Asian ancestry will grow to between 4.7 and 6.5 million by 2041 or 11.0 to 12.5 percent of the Canadian population overall.^[77][78]

South Asian Canadians demography by national origin (1996–2021)

National origin	2021[1][76]		2016[57]		2011[56]		2006[55]		2001[54]		1996[53]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
India[c]	1,858,755	72.29%	1,582,215	80.59%	1,321,360	81.77%	1,072,380	81.44%	813,730	84.48%	638,345	88.25%
Pakistan	303,260	11.79%	215,560	10.98%	155,310	9.61%	124,730	9.47%	74,015	7.68%	38,655	5.34%
Sri Lanka	144,490	5.62%	152,595	7.77%	139,415	8.63%	103,625	7.87%	61,315	6.37%	46,585	6.44%
Bangladesh	75,425	2.93%	45,940	2.34%	34,205	2.12%	24,595	1.87%	13,080	1.36%	6,955	0.96%
Nepal	21,975	0.85%	17,140	0.87%	9,780	0.61%	3,780	0.29%	1,170	0.12%	—	—
Bhutan	3,215	0.13%	3,600	0.18%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total South Asian Canadian population	2,571,400	100%	1,963,330	100%	1,615,925	100%	1,316,770	100%	963,190	100%	723,345	100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Until the 1950s, Sikhs formed up to 95% of the entire South Asian Canadian population.^[79]: 4

The 1981 Canadian census found that the religious breakdown of Canadians with South Asian ancestry was 31.5% Sikhism, 27.2% Hinduism, 21% Islam, 15.2% Christianity, 3.1% Irreligion, 0.5% Buddhism, 0.1% Judaism, 0.01% Baháʼí, and 0.1% other.^[80]: 40

The 2001 Canadian census found that the religious breakdown of Canadians with South Asian ancestry was 29.7% Sikhism, 28.4% Hinduism, 23.2% Islam, 13.6% Christianity, 3.3% Irreligion, 0.9% Buddhism, 0.3% Zoroastrianism, 0.3% Jainism, 0.1% Judaism, 0.1% Indigenous, and 0.1% other.^[83][84]

A report detailing the religious proportion breakdown of the South Asian Canadian community was done between 2005 and 2007 by Statistics Canada, with results derived from the 2001 Canadian census and a following survey^[5][81][85] which found that Canadians of South Asian ancestry were 28% Sikh, 28% Hindu, 22% Muslim and 16% Christian, and 4% irreligious.^[d] Other religious such as Jainism, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism practiced by Canadians of South Asian heritage formed the remaining 2%. The irreligious proportion of 4% among South Asian Canadians is statistically significant, as this figure climbs to approximately 17% when surveying all Canadians.^[d]

The 2011 Canadian census found that the religious breakdown of Canadians with South Asian ancestry was 29.1% Hinduism, 28.5% Sikhism, 24.5% Islam, 11.8% Christianity, 4.3% Irreligion, 1.1% Buddhism, 0.1% Judaism, and 0.6% other.^[82] This marked the first time in census records where Sikhs did not form the largest religious group amongst Canadians with South Asian ancestry.

Religious affiliation in the South Asian Canadian community varies greatly based on national background. Based on a 2007 report, Indo-Canadians are split between Sikhs (34%) and Hindus (27%), Muslims (17%), Christians (16%), Irreligious (4%), with Jains, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians forming the remaining 2%.^[86] The majority of Pakistani Canadians (90%) and Bangladeshi Canadians (87%) profess to follow Islam,^[e] while the majority of Sri Lankan Canadians are Hindu (64%)^[f] with a significant minority following Christianity. Nepalese Canadians tend to mostly follow Hinduism with few of them following Buddhism. Additionally, religious distributions among certain South Asian Canadian ethnic groups also vary; 80% of Tamil Canadians are adherents of Hinduism,^[f] a large majority of Punjabi Canadians (86%) are Sikh, ^[g] while most Bengali Canadians (74%) are Muslim.^[e]

Religion is found to play an important part in the lives of many Canadians from South Asia and serves as defining point in their identity, as with many people. Religious institutions such as gurdwaras, mosques, mandirs, koils and churches have often served as points for the community. Religion can also play an important role in the marriage of some young Canadians from South Asia (who were born in Canada or in a country from South Asia). Some families believe that the couple must share the same religious heritage, which may also include caste, although this is becoming outdated. In recent years, Canadians from South Asia have opened private schools in order to preserve their religious heritage (as with Catholic schools), though the greatest majority attend government run schools.

More recently in 2013 the Quebec Soccer Federation had banned Sikh players in turbans from participating in matches, citing that turbans were a health hazard, though it is practised in India. This move created controversy among the Sikh community in Canada and was condemned by FIFA.

South Asian Canadian demography by religion (1981–2021)

Religious group	2021[2]		2011[82]		2001[83][84]		1991[87]: 209		1981[80]: 40
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Hinduism	768,785	29.9%	455,840	29.1%	260,535	28.4%	120,585	28.7%	53,490	27.2%
Sikhism	761,960	29.6%	447,330	28.5%	272,220	29.7%	134,790	32.1%	61,785	31.5%
Islam	595,085	23.1%	383,365	24.5%	212,805	23.2%	90,890	21.6%	41,310	21%
Christianity	245,035	9.5%	185,345	11.8%	124,320	13.6%	54,960	13.1%	29,760	15.2%
Irreligion	156,855	6.1%	67,405	4.3%	30,610	3.3%	12,095	2.9%	6,045	3.1%
Buddhism	27,885	1.1%	17,685	1.1%	8,630	0.9%	2,960	0.7%	1,020	0.5%
Jainism	8,100	0.3%	—	—	2,385	0.3%	—	—	—	—
Zoroastrianism	3,630	0.1%	—	—	2,900	0.3%	—	—	—	—
Judaism	1,270	0.05%	1,105	0.07%	660	0.07%	70	0.02%	100	0.05%
Baháʼí	440	0.02%	—	—	400	0.04%	80	0.02%	15	0.01%
Indigenous	115	0.004%	—	—	585	0.1%	—	—	—	—
Other	2,240	0.1%	9,325	0.6%	1,025	0.1%	3,865	0.9%	105	0.1%
Total responses	2,571,400	100%	1,567,400	97%	917,075	95.2%	420,295	83.1%	196,395	88%
Total South Asian Canadian population	2,571,400	100%	1,615,920	100%	963,190	100%	505,515	100%	223,235	100%

Religious affiliation amongst Canadians of South Asian ancestry varies greatly by province and territory. For example, in British Columbia, adherents of Sikhism are the largest religious group amongst the South Asian community, a legacy of chain migration stemming from nearly 130 years of settlement and immigration to the western province. Conversely, in Ontario, adherents of Hinduism and Islam are more prevalent amongst the South Asian community, reflecting the religious diversity of South Asia through more recent settlement and immigration waves.

Religious affiliation amongst South Asian Canadians by province and territory (2021)^[2]

Province/territory	Hinduism		Sikhism		Islam		Christianity		Irreligion		Buddhism		Jainism		Others[h]		Total
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Ontario	529,200	34.92%	296,215	19.55%	412,500	27.22%	169,100	11.16%	81,200	5.36%	16,045	1.06%	6,050	0.4%	4,990	0.33%	1,515,295	58.93%
British Columbia	75,935	16.02%	287,940	60.75%	44,690	9.43%	21,740	4.59%	38,560	8.14%	3,100	0.65%	720	0.15%	1,275	0.27%	473,970	18.43%
Alberta	74,420	25%	102,520	34.44%	72,005	24.19%	25,020	8.41%	17,820	5.99%	4,510	1.52%	570	0.19%	780	0.26%	297,650	11.58%
Quebec	43,755	34.18%	22,510	17.59%	35,880	28.03%	13,705	10.71%	9,860	7.7%	1,680	1.31%	260	0.2%	340	0.27%	127,995	4.98%
Manitoba	17,510	24.59%	35,125	49.32%	8,630	12.12%	4,815	6.76%	3,685	5.17%	1,185	1.66%	195	0.27%	80	0.11%	71,215	2.77%
Saskatchewan	13,795	30.84%	8,860	19.81%	15,040	33.63%	4,050	9.06%	2,025	4.53%	745	1.67%	160	0.36%	50	0.11%	44,725	1.74%
Nova Scotia	8,145	37.62%	4,605	21.27%	2,755	12.73%	3,625	16.74%	2,015	9.31%	345	1.59%	95	0.44%	70	0.32%	21,650	0.84%
New Brunswick	3,180	36.85%	1,725	19.99%	1,605	18.6%	1,175	13.62%	760	8.81%	90	1.04%	20	0.23%	80	0.93%	8,630	0.34%
Newfoundland and Labrador	1,150	25.27%	845	18.57%	1,240	27.25%	755	16.59%	435	9.56%	100	2.2%	10	0.22%	10	0.22%	4,550	0.18%
Prince Edward Island	1,190	31.82%	1,130	30.21%	320	8.56%	750	20.05%	265	7.09%	65	1.74%	15	0.4%	10	0.27%	3,740	0.15%
Yukon	260	25.12%	385	37.2%	130	12.56%	150	14.49%	105	10.14%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	1,035	0.04%
Northwest Territories	195	25.16%	110	14.19%	225	29.03%	130	16.77%	95	12.26%	10	1.29%	0	0%	10	1.29%	775	0.03%
Nunavut	55	30.56%	10	5.56%	65	36.11%	20	11.11%	30	16.67%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	180	0.01%
Canada	768,785	29.9%	761,960	29.63%	595,085	23.14%	245,035	9.53%	156,855	6.1%	27,885	1.08%	8,100	0.32%	7,695	0.3%	2,571,400	100%

With the diversity in religious affiliation across the provinces and territories of Canada amongst individuals of South Asian descent, metropolitan areas follow a similar trend.

Religious affiliation amongst South Asian Canadians by metropolitan areas (2021)^[2]

Metropolitan area	Hinduism		Sikhism		Islam		Christianity		Irreligion		Buddhism		Jainism		Others[h]		Total
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Toronto	420,020	35.52%	241,160	20.39%	322,510	27.27%	123,905	10.48%	55,035	4.65%	11,020	0.93%	4,870	0.41%	3,965	0.34%	1,182,485	45.99%
Vancouver	62,065	16.81%	219,960	59.56%	39,475	10.69%	15,830	4.29%	27,665	7.49%	2,690	0.73%	620	0.17%	990	0.27%	369,290	14.36%
Calgary	33,340	21.76%	55,500	36.23%	43,355	28.3%	9,705	6.33%	8,940	5.84%	1,700	1.11%	270	0.18%	385	0.25%	153,205	5.96%
Edmonton	33,710	27.33%	44,020	35.69%	24,310	19.71%	11,720	9.5%	6,880	5.58%	2,230	1.81%	240	0.19%	225	0.18%	123,335	4.8%
Montreal	42,285	34.87%	22,185	18.3%	34,670	28.59%	11,875	9.79%	8,160	6.73%	1,540	1.27%	260	0.21%	280	0.23%	121,260	4.72%
Winnipeg	14,160	22.19%	33,105	51.88%	8,070	12.65%	3,815	5.98%	3,275	5.13%	1,165	1.83%	155	0.24%	65	0.1%	63,810	2.48%
Ottawa–Gatineau	20,480	33.7%	6,520	10.73%	17,790	29.27%	7,645	12.58%	6,400	10.53%	1,385	2.28%	280	0.46%	295	0.49%	60,780	2.36%
Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo	18,180	32.87%	12,095	21.87%	15,615	28.23%	5,180	9.37%	3,275	5.92%	605	1.09%	220	0.4%	130	0.24%	55,305	2.15%
Abbotsford–Mission	3,860	7.74%	41,325	82.92%	1,105	2.22%	1,205	2.42%	2,290	4.59%	40	0.08%	0	0%	20	0.04%	49,840	1.94%
Hamilton	13,895	29.17%	9,400	19.73%	14,125	29.65%	5,685	11.93%	3,450	7.24%	730	1.53%	210	0.44%	135	0.28%	47,635	1.85%
Oshawa	14,680	39.07%	1,510	4.02%	12,665	33.71%	5,945	15.82%	2,185	5.82%	440	1.17%	80	0.21%	65	0.17%	37,570	1.46%
London	8,765	30.99%	4,195	14.83%	6,535	23.1%	6,000	21.21%	1,925	6.81%	630	2.23%	115	0.41%	120	0.42%	28,285	1.1%
Windsor	7,045	34.22%	4,325	21.01%	6,235	30.29%	1,605	7.8%	1,125	5.47%	195	0.95%	35	0.17%	20	0.1%	20,585	0.8%
Regina	6,435	33.02%	4,380	22.47%	6,010	30.84%	1,480	7.59%	785	4.03%	255	1.31%	115	0.59%	20	0.1%	19,490	0.76%
Saskatoon	5,165	26.66%	3,275	16.9%	8,100	41.81%	1,510	7.79%	845	4.36%	435	2.25%	30	0.15%	15	0.08%	19,375	0.75%
Halifax	6,620	39.29%	3,480	20.65%	2,465	14.63%	2,440	14.48%	1,440	8.55%	265	1.57%	90	0.53%	45	0.27%	16,850	0.66%
Victoria	2,965	21.61%	5,135	37.43%	1,270	9.26%	1,330	9.69%	2,700	19.68%	170	1.24%	50	0.36%	95	0.69%	13,720	0.53%
St. Catharines–Niagara	3,245	25.42%	2,110	16.53%	3,580	28.05%	2,250	17.63%	1,285	10.07%	170	1.33%	100	0.78%	20	0.16%	12,765	0.5%
Guelph	3,830	33.55%	2,460	21.55%	2,785	24.4%	1,230	10.78%	740	6.48%	255	2.23%	55	0.48%	55	0.48%	11,415	0.44%
Barrie	2,535	32.17%	1,260	15.99%	2,060	26.14%	1,380	17.51%	10	6.92%	75	0.95%	10	0.13%	10	0.13%	7,880	0.31%
Canada	768,785	29.9%	761,960	29.63%	595,085	23.14%	245,035	9.53%	156,855	6.1%	27,885	1.08%	8,100	0.32%	7,695	0.3%	2,571,400	100%

Many South Asian Canadians speak Canadian English or Canadian French as a first language, as many multi-generational individuals do not speak South Asian languages as a mother tongue, but instead may speak one or multiple^[i] as a second or third language.

According to the 2021 census, South Asian languages with the largest number of speakers in Canada include Hindustani (1,176,295 persons or 3.2 percent of the national population),^{[nb 1]} Punjabi (942,170 persons or 2.6 percent), Tamil (237,890 persons or 0.7 percent), Gujarati (209,410 persons or 0.6 percent), Bengali (120,605 persons or 0.3 percent), Malayalam (77,910 persons or 0.2 percent), Telugu (54,685 persons or 0.2 percent), Marathi (35,230 persons or 0.1 percent), and Sinhalese (33,050 persons or 0.1 percent).^[88][89]

Knowledge of South Asian languages in Canada (2011−2021)^[i]

Language	2021[88][89]		2016[90]		2011[91][92]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Hindustani[nb 1]	1,176,295	3.24%	755,585	2.19%	576,165	1.74%
Punjabi	942,170	2.59%	668,240	1.94%	545,730	1.65%
Tamil	237,890	0.65%	189,860	0.55%	179,465	0.54%
Gujarati	209,410	0.58%	149,045	0.43%	118,950	0.36%
Bengali	120,605	0.33%	91,220	0.26%	69,490	0.21%
Malayalam	77,910	0.21%	37,810	0.11%	22,125	0.07%
Telugu	54,685	0.15%	23,160	0.07%	12,645	0.04%
Marathi	35,230	0.1%	15,570	0.05%	9,695	0.03%
Sinhalese	33,050	0.09%	27,825	0.08%	23,965	0.07%
Pashto	31,700	0.09%	23,180	0.07%	16,515	0.05%
Nepali	30,660	0.08%	21,380	0.06%	11,450	0.03%
Kannada	18,420	0.05%	8,245	0.02%	5,210	0.02%
Kacchi	15,085	0.04%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Konkani	8,950	0.02%	6,790	0.02%	5,785	0.02%
Sindhi	8,385	0.02%	20,260	0.06%	15,525	0.05%
Oriya	3,235	0.01%	1,535	0.004%	N/A	N/A
Kashmiri	1,830	0.01%	905	0.003%	N/A	N/A
Tulu	1,765	0.005%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Assamese	1,155	0.003%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Baluchi	985	0.003%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Rohingya	765	0.002%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Other	12,290	0.03%	9,665	0.03%	8,615	0.03%
Total Canada	3,022,470	8.32%	2,050,275	5.95%	1,621,330	4.9%

South Asian languages in Canada by number of first language speakers (2011−2021)

Language	2021[89][93]		2016[90][94]		2011[92][95]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Punjabi	763,785	2.09%	543,495	1.56%	459,990	1.39%
Hindustani[nb 1]	521,990	1.43%	377,025	1.08%	300,400	0.91%
Tamil	184,750	0.5%	157,125	0.45%	143,395	0.43%
Gujarati	168,800	0.46%	122,455	0.35%	101,310	0.31%
Bengali	104,325	0.28%	80,930	0.23%	64,460	0.19%
Malayalam	66,230	0.18%	32,285	0.09%	17,695	0.05%
Telugu	39,685	0.11%	18,750	0.05%	10,670	0.03%
Nepali	26,365	0.07%	19,290	0.06%	8,945	0.03%
Pashto	23,185	0.06%	18,295	0.05%	13,100	0.04%
Sinhalese	21,985	0.06%	18,365	0.05%	15,685	0.05%
Marathi	19,570	0.05%	9,755	0.03%	6,655	0.02%
Kacchi	9,855	0.03%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kannada	9,140	0.02%	4,795	0.01%	3,140	0.01%
Sindhi	5,315	0.01%	13,880	0.04%	12,935	0.04%
Konkani	5,225	0.01%	4,255	0.01%	3,535	0.01%
Oriya	2,305	0.01%	1,210	0.003%	N/A	N/A
Kashmiri	1,015	0.003%	620	0.002%	N/A	N/A
Tulu	910	0.002%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Assamese	715	0.002%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Baluchi	645	0.002%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Parsi	635	0.002%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Rohingya	615	0.002%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fiji Hindi	610	0.002%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Saraiki	505	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hindko	485	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Marwari	395	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Pashai	345	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Saurashtra	345	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Pahari	255	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Sylheti[j]	250	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kurux	245	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Memoni	240	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Haryanvi	230	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Maithili	230	0.001%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Chakma	180	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Romani	180	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Bhojpuri	145	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Pahari−Pothwari	140	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Dogri	120	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Garhwali	115	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Rajasthani	105	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kodava	100	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Bishnupuriya	90	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Khowar	75	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Oadki	60	0%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Other	615	0.002%	6,215	0.02%	6,020	0.02%
Total Canada	1,973,525	5.39%	1,428,745	4.11%	1,167,935	3.53%

A large minority of Canadians are first generation, numbering 9,606,600 people and forming 26.44% of the national population as of the 2021 Canadian census.^[1] In comparison with the nation-wide statistics, as of the 2021 Canadian census, a majority of the South Asian Canadian community was first generation, numbering 1,833,640 people and forming 71.31% of the total South Asian Canadian population.^[1]

Similarly, a large minority of Canadians are second generation, numbering 6,393,310 people and forming 17.60% of the total national population as of the 2021 Canadian census.^[1] In comparison with the nation-wide statistics, as of the 2021 Canadian census, a large minority of the South Asian Canadian community was second generation, numbering 682,760 people or 26.55% of the total South Asian Canadian population.^[1]

A narrow majority of Canadians are third or more generation, numbering 20,328,565 people and forming 55.96% of the total national population as of the 2021 Canadian census.^[1] In comparison with the nation-wide statistics, as of the 2021 Canadian census, a small minority of the South Asian Canadian community was third or more generation, numbering 55,000 people or 2.14% of the total South Asian Canadian population.^[1]

Generation status of South Asian Canadians (2011–2021)

Generation status	2021[1]		2016[97]		2011[98]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
First generation	1,833,640	71.31%	1,330,745	69.14%	1,086,060	69.29%
Second generation	682,760	26.55%	559,415	29.07%	457,150	29.17%
Third generation or more	55,000	2.14%	34,470	1.79%	24,200	1.54%
Total responses	2,571,400	100%	1,924,635	98.03%	1,567,400	97%
Total population	2,571,400	100%	1,963,330	100%	1,615,925	100%

Generation status of South Asian Canadians by province and territory (2021)^[1]

Province/territory	First generation		Second generation		Third generation or more
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Ontario	1,093,575	72.17%	398,410	26.29%	23,315	1.54%
British Columbia	313,570	66.16%	142,360	30.04%	18,030	3.8%
Alberta	210,275	70.65%	81,095	27.25%	6,280	2.11%
Quebec	89,150	69.65%	34,735	27.14%	4,110	3.21%
Manitoba	57,615	80.9%	12,550	17.62%	1,045	1.47%
Saskatchewan	35,320	78.97%	8,780	19.63%	625	1.4%
Nova Scotia	18,425	85.1%	2,510	11.59%	720	3.33%
New Brunswick	7,100	82.27%	1,100	12.75%	425	4.92%
Newfoundland and Labrador	3,600	79.12%	615	13.52%	330	7.25%
Prince Edward Island	3,410	91.18%	230	6.15%	100	2.67%
Yukon	870	84.06%	150	14.49%	20	1.93%
Northwest Territories	590	76.13%	180	23.23%	5	0.65%
Nunavut	135	75%	40	22.22%	5	2.78%
Canada	1,833,640	71.31%	682,760	26.55%	55,000	2.14%

Place of birth of South Asian Canadians

Region	2021[99]		2016[100]		2011[101]		2006[102]		2001[103][104]		1996[105]		1961[106]: 430		1931[39]: 245 [107]: 813
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Southern Asia	1,614,540	62.79%	1,119,430	58.16%	854,935	54.54%	683,635	55.43%	479,790	52.32%	336,655	46.54%	—	—	1,120	80%
Canada	737,760	28.69%	593,885	30.86%	484,140	30.89%	345,970	28.05%	265,160	28.91%	217,030	30%	2,627	38.78%	230	16.43%
Africa	54,700	2.13%	54,260	2.82%	50,120	3.2%	50,435	4.09%	49,635	5.41%	48,045	6.64%	—	—	—	—
Western Asia & Central Asia	41,910	1.63%	31,665	1.65%	25,210	1.61%	18,750	1.52%	13,345	1.46%	5,525	0.76%	—	—	—	—
Central America & South America	27,420	1.07%	33,730	1.75%	36,095	2.3%	36,175	2.93%	29,880	3.26%	39,600	5.47%	—	—	—	—
Northern Europe & Western Europe	24,815	0.97%	21,345	1.11%	16,860	1.08%	14,640	1.19%	13,160	1.43%	13,290	1.84%	—	—	—	—
Oceania	19,180	0.75%	23,480	1.22%	22,305	1.42%	21,410	1.74%	20,990	2.29%	15,775	2.18%	—	—	—	—
North America	18,980	0.74%	12,725	0.66%	7,825	0.5%	5,245	0.43%	3,040	0.33%	1,645	0.23%	—	—	—	—
Caribbean	13,800	0.54%	20,060	1.04%	21,750	1.39%	22,810	1.85%	14,425	1.57%	24,165	3.34%	—	—	—	—
Southeast Asia	12,585	0.49%	10,440	0.54%	9,165	0.58%	7,890	0.64%	7,175	0.78%	4,670	0.65%	—	—	—	—
Southern Europe	2,505	0.1%	1,150	0.06%	275	0.02%	345	0.03%	290	0.03%	200	0.03%	—	—	—	—
Eastern Asia	2,405	0.09%	2,035	0.11%	1,710	0.11%	1,075	0.09%	1,185	0.13%	865	0.12%	—	—	16	1.14%
Eastern Europe	810	0.03%	415	0.02%	335	0.02%	185	0.02%	170	0.02%	75	0.01%	—	—	11	0.79%
Other or Unspecified	0	0%	0	0%	36,615	2.34%	24,700	2%	18,825	2.05%	15,810	2.19%	4,147	61.22%	23	1.64%
Native born	737,760	28.69%	593,885	30.86%	484,140	30.89%	345,970	28.05%	265,160	28.91%	217,030	30%	2,627	38.78%	230	16.43%
Foreign born	1,833,640	71.31%	1,330,750	69.14%	1,083,265	69.11%	887,305	71.95%	651,910	71.09%	506,320	70%	4,147	61.22%	1,170	83.57%
Total responses	2,571,400	100%	1,924,635	98.03%	1,567,405	97%	1,233,275	93.66%	917,075	95.21%	723,345	100%	6,774	100%	1,400	100%
Total population	2,571,400	100%	1,963,330	100%	1,615,925	100%	1,316,770	100%	963,190	100%	723,345	100%	6,774	100%	1,400	100%

According to the 2021 census provinces with the largest South Asian Canadian populations include Ontario (1,515,295 persons or 10.8 percent of the total population), British Columbia (473,970 persons or 9.6 percent), Alberta (297,650 persons or 7.1 percent), Quebec (127,995 persons or 1.5 percent) and Manitoba (71,215 persons or 5.5 percent).^[1]

Canadian provinces and territories by their ethnic South Asian population as per the 2001 Canadian census, 2006 Canadian census, 2011 Canadian census, 2016 Canadian census, and 2021 Canadian census below.

South Asian Canadians by province and territory (2001−2021)

Province/territory	2021[1]		2016[57]		2011[56]		2006[55]		2001[54]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Ontario	1,515,295	10.8%	1,182,845	8.93%	1,003,180	7.93%	833,315	6.93%	592,500	5.25%
British Columbia	473,970	9.64%	365,705[108]	8.02%	313,440[109]	7.25%	265,595	6.52%	210,420	5.44%
Alberta	297,650	7.12%	231,550	5.82%	159,055	4.46%	107,690	3.31%	72,415	2.46%
Quebec	127,995	1.54%	95,670	1.2%	91,395	1.18%	76,990	1.04%	62,585	0.88%
Manitoba	71,215	5.45%	43,150	3.48%	26,220	2.23%	17,800	1.57%	14,135	1.28%
Saskatchewan	44,725	4.05%	29,960[110]	2.8%	12,620	1.25%	5,510	0.58%	4,220	0.44%
Nova Scotia	21,650	2.26%	8,495	0.94%	5,935	0.65%	4,830	0.53%	3,515	0.39%
New Brunswick	8,630	1.14%	2,970	0.41%	3,090	0.42%	2,560	0.36%	1,720	0.24%
Newfoundland and Labrador	4,550	0.91%	2,740	0.53%	2,000	0.39%	1,755	0.35%	1,110	0.22%
Prince Edward Island	3,740	2.49%	975	0.7%	500	0.36%	255	0.19%	140	0.1%
Northwest Territories	775	1.92%	615	1.5%	200	0.49%	210	0.51%	200	0.54%
Yukon	1,035	2.61%	500[111]	1.42%	365[112]	1.1%	200	0.66%	205	0.72%
Nunavut	180	0.49%	130	0.37%	115	0.36%	85[113]	0.29%	30	0.11%
Canada	2,571,400	7.08%	1,963,330	5.7%	1,615,925	4.92%	1,316,770	4.21%	963,190	3.25%

With immigration restrictions for non-European origin ethnocultural groups lifting during the 1960s, the South Asian Canadian population witnessed rapid growth in the mid-late 20th century, increasing from 67,925 persons or 0.3% of the total Canadian population in 1971 to 723,345 persons or 2.5% of the total Canadian population in 1996; this growth was primarily attributed to mass immigration.

Attributed to the large increase in immigration during the era, Ontario overtook British Columbia by 1971 as the province with the largest population of individuals with South Asian ancestry in Canada. The South Asian population in Ontario grew from 30,920 persons in 1971 to 427,470 persons by 1996; in British Columbia from 18,795 persons in 1971 to 165,010 persons by 1996.

During the same era, British Columbia would continue to be the province with the largest proportion of South Asian Canadians, increasing from 0.9% in 1971 to 4.5% by 1996, while the South Asian Canadian share of the total population in Ontario grew from 0.4% in 1971 to 4.0% by 1996.

Canadian provinces and territories by their ethnic South Asian population as per the 1971 Canadian census, 1981 Canadian census, 1986 Canadian census, 1991 Canadian census and 1996 Canadian census below.

South Asian Canadians by province and territory (1971−1996)

Province/territory	1996[53]		1991[51]: 68		1986[49]: 34		1981[47]: 7		1971[46]: 2
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Ontario	427,470	4.02%	285,600[114]	2.86%	161,395	1.79%	93,990	1.1%	30,920	0.4%
British Columbia	165,010	4.47%	118,200[114]	3.64%	78,810	2.77%	56,210	2.07%	18,795	0.86%
Alberta	56,195	2.11%	46,095	1.83%	34,645	1.48%	21,440	0.97%	4,400	0.27%
Quebec	50,645	0.72%	34,305	0.5%	21,485	0.33%	14,150	0.22%	6,510	0.11%
Manitoba	12,905	1.17%	10,870	1.01%	8,855	0.84%	5,055	0.5%	3,205	0.32%
Saskatchewan	3,985	0.41%	3,695	0.38%	4,165	0.42%	2,200	0.23%	1,625	0.18%
Nova Scotia	3,810	0.42%	2,790	0.31%	2,450	0.28%	1,685	0.2%	1,345	0.17%
New Brunswick	1,565	0.21%	975	0.14%	950	0.14%	720	0.1%	465	0.07%
Newfoundland and Labrador	1,060	0.19%	1,090	0.19%	860	0.15%	725	0.13%	460	0.09%
Prince Edward Island	195	0.15%	210	0.16%	255	0.2%	75	0.06%	135	0.12%
Northwest Territories	280[k]	0.44%	220[k]	0.38%	100[k]	0.19%	55[k]	0.12%	55[k]	0.16%
Yukon	225	0.73%	80	0.29%	70	0.3%	85	0.37%	15	0.08%
Canada	723,345	2.54%	505,515[52]: 11	1.87%	314,305[48]: 31	1.26%	223,235[48]: 68	0.93%	67,925	0.31%

Immigration restrictions prior to the 1960s severely limited South Asian population growth in Canada. British Columbia was the only province to have notable populations during the early-to-mid 20th century, peaking in 1908 with approximately 5,209 persons, forming 1.6% of the provincial population.

Tightened immigration restrictions, heightened racial tensions, along with migration to the United States or a return to the subcontinent prompted a population decline in the following years; the 1911 census counted 2,292 persons of South Asian ancestry in British Columbia, comprising 0.6% of provincial population.

This was followed by another population decline in the ensuing 10 years with 951 persons of South Asian ancestry in British Columbia or 0.2% of the total population in 1921. During the ensuing 30 years, a population stagnation followed by a slow gradual increase in the South Asian Canadian population principally stemmed from natural growth, as immigration from the subcontinent has been essentially halted since 1908 due to the Continuous journey regulation.

In the 1950s, country quotas were introduced and permitted sponsorship of relatives, thus resulting in the first relatively major increase in the South Asian Canadian population since prior to 1908.

Canadian provinces and territories by their ethnic South Asian population as per the 1911 Canadian census, 1921 Canadian census, 1931 Canadian census, 1941 Canadian census, 1951 Canadian census, and 1961 Canadian census below.

South Asian Canadians by province and territory (1911−1961)

Province/territory	1961[45]: 5		1951[44]: 484		1941[42]: 272 [43]: 2		1931[41]: 503		1921[38]: 356		1911[28][38]: 354
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
British Columbia	4,526	0.28%	1,937	0.17%	1,343	0.16%	1,283	0.18%	951	0.18%	2,292	0.58%
Ontario	1,155	0.02%	76	0%	21	0%	43	0%	28	0%	17	0%
Quebec	483	0.01%	61	0%	29	0%	17	0%	11	0%	14	0%
Alberta	208	0.02%	27	0%	48	0.01%	33	0%	10	0%	3	0%
Manitoba	198	0.02%	15	0%	7	0%	13	0%	8	0%	13	0%
Saskatchewan	115	0.01%	5	0%	2	0%	7	0%	6	0%	0	0%
Nova Scotia	46	0.01%	23	0%	15	0%	3	0%	0	0%	0	0%
New Brunswick	22	0%	1	0%	0	0%	1	0%	1	0%	2	0%
Newfoundland and Labrador	17	0%	2	0%	N/A[l]	N/A	N/A[l]	N/A	N/A[l]	N/A	N/A[l]	N/A
Northwest Territories	2[k]	0.01%	1[k]	0.01%	0[k]	0%	0[k]	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Prince Edward Island	1	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Yukon	1	0.01%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	1	0.02%	1	0.01%
Canada	6,774	0.04%	2,148	0.02%	1,465	0.01%	1,400	0.01%	1,016	0.01%	2,342	0.03%

According to the 2021 census, metropolitan areas with large South Asian Canadian communities include Toronto (1,182,485), Vancouver (369,295), Calgary (153,200), Edmonton (123,340), Montréal (121,260), Winnipeg (63,805), and Ottawa (60,780).^[1]

Canadian metropolitan areas by their ethnic South Asian population as per the 2011 Canadian census, 2016 Canadian census, and 2021 Canadian census below.

South Asian Canadians by metropolitan areas (2011−2021)

Metro area	Province	2021[1]		2016[57]		2011[56]
		Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Toronto	Ontario	1,182,485	19.25%	995,125	16.97%	833,080	15.09%
Vancouver	British Columbia	369,295	14.17%	291,005[115]	11.99%	252,400	11.07%
Calgary	Alberta	153,200	10.46%	122,900[116]	8.94%	84,870	7.08%
Edmonton	Alberta	123,340	8.82%	91,600	7.06%	61,135	5.36%
Montreal	Quebec	121,260	2.88%	90,815	2.26%	79,540	2.12%
Winnipeg	Manitoba	63,805	7.78%	38,910	5.11%	23,175	3.24%
Ottawa-Gatineau	Ontario-Quebec	60,780	4.15%	42,310	3.25%	34,790	2.86%
Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo	Ontario	55,305	9.74%	27,525	5.33%	20,910	4.45%
Abbotsford-Mission	British Columbia	49,835	25.94%	38,250[115]	21.69%	32,245	19.35%
Hamilton	Ontario	47,630	6.16%	32,720	4.45%	23,765	3.36%

According to the 2021 census, subdivisions with the largest South Asian Canadian communities include Brampton, Ontario (52.4%); Surrey, British Columbia (37.8%); Abbotsford, British Columbia (30.2%); Milton, Ontario (28.2%); Ajax, Ontario (26.2%); Delta, British Columbia (26.1%); Mississauga, Ontario (25.4%); Caledon, Ontario (21.4%); Pickering, Ontario (21.2%); and Chestermere, Alberta (20.3%).^[117] As of the 2021 census, Brampton is the first (and only) South Asian–majority city in Canada.

Source: 2021 Canadian census^[117]
National average: 7.1%^[m]

• Chestermere (20.3%)
• Edmonton (11.5%)
• Calgary (11.0%)
• Beaumont (7.8%)

• Surrey (37.8%)
• Abbotsford (30.2%)
• Delta (26.1%)
• Okanagan-Similkameen Subdivision A (15.8%)^[n]
• Okanagan-Similkameen Subdivision C (14.5%)^[o]
• Cawston (12.7%)
• Fraser Valley Subdivision G (12.1%)
• Mission (10.7%)
• New Westminster (10.4%)
• Burnaby (9.4%)
• Oliver (9.4%)
• McBride (8.0%)
• White Rock (7.6%)
• Richmond (7.4%)
• Fraser Valley Subdivision F (7.3%)

Rural British Columbia subdivisions with high South Asian populations (1981−1996)

Subdivision	Regional district	Percentage
		1981[68][69]	1986[70]	1991[71]	1996[72][73][118][119]
Fort St. James	Bulkley-Nechako	15.44%	16.92%	21.59%	19.8%
Quesnel	Cariboo	14.2%	13.68%	12.84%	13.73%
Lake Cowichan	Cowichan Valley	12.73%	7.32%	4.69%	0.53%
Merritt	Thompson-Nicola	11.65%	12.86%	10.53%	9.41%
Tahsis	Comox-Strathcona	10.34%	10.04%	8.26%	1.05%
Williams Lake	Cariboo	10.15%	11.51%	10.08%	9.9%
100 Mile House	Cariboo	9.55%	3.35%	6.1%	2.48%
Lillooet	Squamish-Lillooet	8.86%	5.95%	5.98%	0.51%
Golden	Columbia-Shuswap	6.59%	9.8%	9.21%	6.35%
Elkford	East Kootenay	6.1%	5.18%	5.99%	8.21%
Port Alberni	Alberni-Clayoquot	5.57%	6.46%	5.61%	6.38%
Houston	Bulkley-Nechako	5.23%	8.19%	7.02%	7.38%
Squamish	Squamish-Lillooet	4.75%	4.35%	5.96%	8.93%
Terrace	Kitimat-Stikine	4.45%	4.16%	6.09%	4.58%
Mackenzie	Fraser-Fort George	4.24%	5.86%	5.01%	4.43%
Thompson-Nicola Subdivision A[p]	Thompson-Nicola	4.24%	3.81%	3.54%	1.81%
Kitimat	Kitimat-Stikine	4.24%	6.02%	5.85%	3.87%
Vanderhoof	Bulkley-Nechako	4.18%	2.03%	3.01%	2.18%
North Cowichan	Cowichan Valley	4.1%	4.29%	3.76%	3.82%
Sparwood	East Kootenay	3.36%	3.41%	3.39%	1.01%
Campbell River	Comox-Strathcona	2.99%	2.28%	1.33%	1.79%
Prince Rupert	North Coast	2.51%	3.1%	2.63%	3.76%
Ladysmith	Cowichan Valley	2.41%	2.28%	1.03%	0.39%
Port Hardy	Mount Waddington	2.24%	3.34%	1.67%	0.76%
Kamloops	Thompson-Nicola	1.86%	2.11%	1.88%	2.29%
Port McNeil	Mount Waddington	1.84%	1.4%	2.05%	0%
Prince George	Fraser-Fort George	1.69%	2.21%	2.34%	2.32%
Midway	Kootenay Boundary	1.43%	4.76%	0%	0%
Duncan	Cowichan Valley	1.3%	2.71%	3.95%	1.69%
Fort Nelson	Northern Rockies	1.05%	1.47%	0.4%	0.57%
Fernie	East Kootenay	1.02%	1.95%	0.61%	0%
Columbia-Shuswap Subdivision A[q]	Columbia-Shuswap	0.99%	1.29%	0%	0%
Vernon	North Okanagan	0.92%	1.34%	1.33%	1.85%
Gold River	Comox-Strathcona	0.87%	1.55%	0%	0%
Montrose	Kootenay Boundary	0.82%	3.7%	2.45%	6.33%
Penticton	Okanagan-Similkameen	0.81%	1.25%	1.36%	2.84%
Logan Lake	Thompson-Nicola	0.79%	1.89%	0.84%	0%
Okanagan-Similkameen Subdivision B[r]	Okanagan-Similkameen	0.76%	1.39%	4.53%	8.16%
Pemberton	Squamish-Lillooet	0%	1.37%	0%	0%
Canada	Total	0.93%	1.2%	1.87%	2.54%

• Thompson (9.3%)
• Winnipeg (8.5%)
• West St. Paul (7.6%)

• Brampton (52.4%)
• Milton (28.2%)
• Ajax (26.2%)
• Mississauga (25.4%)
• Caledon (21.4%)
• Pickering (21.2%)
• Markham (17.6%)
• Toronto (14.0%)
• Whitchurch-Stouffville (13.8%)
• Oakville (13.5%)
• Whitby (12.0%)
• Cambridge (11.7%)
• Vaughan (11.2%)
• Waterloo (10.7%)
• Kitchener (9.9%)
• Oshawa (9.3%)
• Bradford West Gwillimbury (9.0%)
• Pickle Lake (8.9%)
• Mono (7.8%)
• Richmond Hill (7.6%)
• Guelph (7.4%)
• Shelburne (7.2%)
• Puslinch (7.1%)
• Windsor (7.1%)

• Dollard-des-Ormeaux (12.2%)
• Vaudreuil-Dorion (9.7%)
• Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac (8.8%)

• Regina (8.6%)
• Saskatoon (7.2%)

For much of the early 20th century restrictions such as the continuous journey regulation and quotas were placed on people immigrating from the countries of South Asia to prevent them from immigrating to Canada. When these restrictions were removed in the 1960s immigration from the Indian subcontinent and other places like the African Great Lakes, the Caribbean and Fiji gradually increased. As of 2012, India was the third largest source of immigrants for Canada behind the Philippines and China respectively. Pakistan was the fourth, Sri Lanka the seventeenth, Bangladesh the nineteenth and Nepal the thirty-eighth. In addition immigrants to Canada arrive from regions such as the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, the Caribbean and the African Great Lakes (as well as European countries). Historically, British Columbia was the traditional destination for Punjabi immigrants. Beginning in the 1970s, however, Ontario grew to become the top destination due to its job availability. In recent years migration to Alberta has also increased due to its comparatively stronger economy and better job market.

Admissions of Permanent Residents by Country of Citizenship, 1980 - 2019

Year	India	Pakistan	Bangladesh	Sri Lanka	Nepal	Total
1980	8 880	978	83	185	1	10 127
1981	8 670	972	84	371	1	10 098
1982	8 148	1 201	86	290	6	9 731
1983	7 338	900	81	197	1	8 517
1984	5 704	668	98	1 086	2	7 558
1985	4 211	514	92	845	4	5 666
1986	7 151	691	486	1 838	13	10 179
1987	10 189	1 072	503	4 447	6	16 217
1988	11 522	1 334	476	2 779	13	16 124
1989	10 343	2 261	387	2 758	4	15 753
1990	12 041	2 470	611	3 525	23	18 670
1991	13 733	3 079	1 115	7 266	29	25 222
1992	13 673	4 071	1 655	13 102	32	32 533
1993	21 496	4 777	1 280	9 563	40	37 156
1994	18 620	4 666	1 361	7 150	31	31 828
1995	18 488	4 994	2 042	9 368	66	34 958
1996	23 859	9 125	2 824	6 484	132	42 424
1997	22 268	13 073	3 378	5 415	155	44 289
1998	17 241	9 068	2 202	3 566	104	32 181
1999	18 974	9 979	2 064	4 982	157	36 156
2000	28 535	15 395	3 117	6 077	236	53 360
2001	31 204	16 705	3 832	5 860	272	57 873
2002	31 894	15 092	2 944	5 272	363	55 565
2003	27 135	13 204	2 138	4 886	312	47 675
2004	28 199	13 399	2 660	4 489	403	49 150
2005	36 179	14 314	4 171	4 918	607	60 189
2006	33 773	13 128	4 012	4 651	540	56 104
2007	28 731	10 123	2 897	4 097	511	46 359
2008	28 257	8 984	2 939	4 751	581	45 512
2009	29 452	7 215	2 106	4 543	561	43 877
2010	34 226	6 812	4 721	4 420	1 392	51 571
2011	27 488	7 467	2 694	3 310	1 129	42 088
2012	30 920	11 208	2 634	3 338	1 185	49 285
2013	33 078	12 611	3 792	2 394	1 308	53 183
2014	38 330	9 113	2 233	2 604	1 219	53 499
2015	39 340	11 295	3 305	1 785	1 525	57 250
2016	39 705	11 350	3 230	1 535	755	56 575
2017	51 590	7 655	3 190	2 150	1 110	65 695
2018	69 980	9 490	3 205	2 165	1 400	86 240
2019	85 585	10 790	3 395	2 235	1 410	103 415
2020	42 885	6 230	1 615	1 010	570	52 310
Total	1,059,035	307,473	85,738	161,707	18,209	1,632,162

Sources:^{[120][121][122][123]}

• Indo-Canadians
• Pakistani Canadians
• Punjabi Canadians
• Bangladeshi Canadian
• Nepalese Canadians
• Sri Lankan Canadians
• Tamil Canadians

• Moulton, Edward C. "South Asian Studies in Canada, and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute." Pacific Affairs, University of British Columbia. Vol. 51, No. 2 (Summer, 1978), pp. 245–264