Canada is an ethnically diverse country with a multicultural population. However, whites still make up the largest ethnic group in Canada. According to the latest census data from Statistics Canada, over 22 million people identified as white in Canada in 2021. This accounted for over 57% of the total Canadian population. The white population has been the dominant ethnic group in Canada for centuries, although its share of the total population has been declining over time. Understanding the size and distribution of the white population provides important demographic insight into Canadian society.
Total white population
In the 2021 census, 22,235,090 people identified as white in Canada. This was 57.2% of the total Canadian population of 38,892,425. The white population increased by 2.9% between 2016 and 2021. This compares to a total population growth rate of 5.2% over the same period. So while the white population continues to grow in absolute numbers, its share of the total population is gradually declining over time.
White population by province/territory
The distribution of the white population varies significantly by region. The table below shows the white population by province and territory in 2021:
| Province/Territory | White population | Share of provincial/territorial population |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 8,799,925 | 66.4% |
| Quebec | 6,328,415 | 79.0% |
| British Columbia | 3,150,080 | 65.5% |
| Alberta | 2,691,675 | 64.1% |
| Manitoba | 843,650 | 66.7% |
| Saskatchewan | 725,575 | 67.5% |
| Nova Scotia | 823,230 | 92.4% |
| New Brunswick | 597,375 | 82.4% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 492,705 | 97.0% |
| Prince Edward Island | 126,385 | 93.2% |
| Northwest Territories | 16,525 | 39.2% |
| Yukon | 22,100 | 59.1% |
| Nunavut | 4,770 | 13.3% |
The data shows that the Atlantic provinces and Quebec have the highest proportion of whites as a share of their provincial populations. In contrast, the northern territories have much lower white population shares, given their large indigenous populations. The white share of the Prairie provinces sits in the middle between the Atlantic/Quebec and the North. Ontario and British Columbia have two of the largest absolute white populations, but whites make up a smaller majority in those diverse provinces.
Trends in the white population
While the white population remains the largest ethnic group in Canada, its share of the total population has been declining over time:
- In 1971, the white population was 96.8% of the total Canadian population.
- By 2001, this had declined to 78.0% white.
- In the latest 2021 census, the white population share was down to 57.2%.
This gradual decline is driven by a few key demographic factors:
Lower white fertility rates
– Fertility rates among white women have been below replacement level (less than 2.1 children per woman) since the 1970s. This has slowed population growth.
Increasing immigration from non-European sources
– Immigration to Canada was traditionally dominated by European countries. But since the 1970s, most immigrants now come from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This has diversified the ethnic makeup of the country.
Indigenous population growth
– Fertility rates among indigenous groups are higher than the Canadian average. The share of indigenous peoples has gradually increased over time.
Interracial marriages
– A rising number of interracial marriages and partnerships has also contributed to the declining white share of the population. Children from these unions often identify with multiple ethnic backgrounds.
Age distribution
The white population in Canada also has a distinct age distribution compared to other ethnic groups:
- 11% of whites are age 0-14 compared to 19% of the total population
- 41% of whites are 30-59 compared to 39% of the total
- 21% of whites are 60+ compared to 18% of the total
Overall, the white population skews older than the total Canadian population. The median age of the white population is 43.7 compared to a total Canadian median age of 41.2. This older age distribution is driven by lower fertility rates and higher life expectancy among whites. The implications are a slower pace of white population growth and an increasing senior dependent ratio within the white demographic cohort.
Immigrant status
Most whites in Canada are native-born Canadian citizens. According to 2021 census estimates:
- 86% of whites are Canadian-born
- 14% of whites are immigrants
This compares to only 21% of the total population being foreign-born immigrants. So while immigration contributes to the white population total, most growth comes from natural increases among Canadian-born whites. Looking only at the immigrant population, Europeans now make up only 18% of new permanent residents. This declining share of European immigration is contributing to the gradual decline in the white population percentage over time.
Geographic distribution
The majority of Canada’s white population resides in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia:
- Ontario contains 39% of Canada’s white population
- Quebec has 28% of whites
- British Columbia accounts for 14%
In particular, whites tend to be concentrated in metropolitan areas within those provinces:
- 49% of Toronto’s population is white
- 65% of Montreal’s population is white
- 54% of Vancouver’s population is white
However, in certain regions like Nunavut and Northwest Territories, whites make up less than 15% of the population. The distribution correlates to where European settlement was initially most concentrated in Canada’s history.
Conclusion
While no longer an overwhelming majority, whites remain the largest ethnic group in Canada, representing over 57% of the total population in the latest census. However, due to lower fertility rates and declining European immigration, the white share of the population has been gradually declining for decades. Whites represent a disproportionate share of the elderly population and tend to be concentrated in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, especially in metropolitan areas. The demographic profile and geographic distribution of Canada’s white population provides insight into the country’s historic European settlement patterns and ongoing cultural evolution.