Middle Eastern Canadians

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Middle Eastern Canadians
File:Middle Eastern Distribution in Canada, 2021 Census.jpg
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 are Canadians who were either born in or can trace their ancestry to the Middle East (MENA region), which includes both West Asia and North Africa.

History

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  • Middle Eastern Canadian
  • Population History
YearPop.±%
20111,036,175—    
20161,364,560+31.7%
20211,690,015+23.9%

Initial settlement

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Individuals from the Middle East first arrived in Canada in 1882, when a group of Syrian-Lebanese[5] immigrants settled in Montreal.[6] These early Arab immigrants were mostly Christian and arrived primarily from the Levant (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]

20th century

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During World War I, Middle Eastern Canadians of Turkish 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 1979 Iranian Revolution resulted in a spike of immigration to Canada from the West Asian country.[12]

21st century

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The Syrian 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 of immigration to Canada adding 35,000 Syrians becoming permanent residents in 2016.[13]

Demography

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Ethnic and national origins

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Middle Eastern Canadians Demography by Ethnic and National Origins (2011−2021)
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%

Language

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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 include Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Turkish, and Armenian.

Knowledge of Middle Eastern languages in Canada (2001−2021)
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%

Religion

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Religious affiliation amongst Middle Eastern Canadians (2021)[2]
  1. Islam (51.2%)
  2. Christianity (25.3%)
  3. Irreligion (18.5%)
  4. Judaism (3.07%)
  5. Other religions (1.94%)

Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are the dominant religions among the Middle Eastern Canadian population.[2]

Religious affiliation amongst Middle Eastern Canadians (2021)[2]
Ethnic/National
Origins 		Islam File:Star and Crescent.svg Christianity File:Christian cross.svg Irreligion Judaism File:Star of David.svg 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%

Geographical distribution

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Middle Eastern population by province or territory (2016)
Province / territory Population Percentage
File:Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario[21] 610,005 4.6%
File:Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec[22] 465,920 5.8%
File:Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta[23] 120,590 3%
File:Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia[24] 109,400 2.4%
File:Flag of Nova Scotia.svg Nova Scotia[25] 19,235 2.1%
File:Flag of Manitoba.svg Manitoba[26] 15,540 1.3%
File:Flag of Saskatchewan.svg Saskatchewan[27] 11,605 1.1%
File:Flag of New Brunswick.svg New Brunswick[28] 8,035 1.1%
File:Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador.svg Newfoundland and Labrador[29] 3,290 0.6%
File:Flag of Prince Edward Island.svg Prince Edward Island[30] 1,830 1.3%
File:Flag of the Northwest Territories.svg Northwest Territories[31] 390 0.9%
File:Flag of Yukon.svg Yukon[32] 230 0.7%
File:Flag of Nunavut.svg Nunavut[33] 130 0.4%
File:Flag of Canada.svg Canada[3] 1,366,190 4%

See also

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Notes

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References

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