Often noted for its cultural diversity & its ethic of multiculturalism, Canada represents one of the most diverse populations, with Canadian citizens & permanent residents hailing from around the world. The South Asian community is one of the strongest communities in Canada. Here’s all about where most South Asians live in Canada. 

As of the latest census, there are 2.3 million people in Canada of South Asian Heritage. Considering that South Asian nations are huge sources of newcomers every year, South Asian newcomers might want to know where to find people of similar backgrounds throughout the country. 

How Does Statistics Canada Define South Asia? 

As most South Asians live in Canada, the term ‘South Asian’ can be ascribed to individuals from a variety of national backgrounds, like Indians, Bhutanese People, Nepalis, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis, & Pakistanis. 

Of these groups, Indians were the most populous at 1.3 million people, followed by Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Nepalis, and Bangladeshi. 

Where Do Most South Asians Live In Canada? 

Breaking down the questions by province, here are the respective populations of South Asian communities in Canada: 

  • Alberta: 267,375 people
  • British Columbia: 428,910 people
  • Manitoba: 63,235 people
  • New Brunswick: 8,400
  • Newfoundland and Labrador: 4,600
  • Nova Scotia: 21,345
  • Ontario: 1,484,185
  • Prince Edward Island: 3,485
  • Quebec: 129,000
  • Saskatchewan: 40,760

Where Do Most South Asians Live In These Provinces? 

To break down further where members of the South Asian community reside in Canada, we will consider the Census Metropolitan Areas & Census Agglomerations in every province where South Asians are most prevalent. 

A CMA or CA are groupings of municipalities around a population. For instance, the CMA of Toronto includes a multitude of municipalities that might themselves be confused for CMAs or CAs.   

  • Ontario 

Ontario is the most populous province for South Asians in Canada, with more than a million people calling the province home. 

The five CMAs or CAs in Ontario with the most South Asians were: 

  • Toronto—1.1 million people
  • Ottawa—62,095 people
  • Kitchener—52,110 people
  • Hamilton—47,570 people
  • Oshawa—39,810 people

  • British Columbia 

British Columbia is the second most populous province in Canada for people of South Asian Origin. With the province, the CMAs or CAs with the greatest South Asian populations were: 

  • Vancouver—333,385 people
  • Abbotsford—43,855 people
  • Victoria—13,405 people
  • Kelowna—6,925 people
  • Kamloops—3,885 people

  • Alberta 

Alberta was the third most populous province of South Asians in Canada. Across the province, the CMAs & CAs with the biggest South Asian populations were: 

  • Calgary—138,280 people
  • Edmonton—109,615 people
  • Wood Buffalo—4,310 people
  • Lethbridge—2,790 people
  • Red Deer—2,240 people

In addition to the CMAs & CAs listed above, other CMAs in Canada with the largest South Asian populations include: 

  • Montréal, Quebec: 128,280 people
  • Winnipeg, Manitoba: 56,180 people
  • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: 14,560 people
  • Regina, Saskatchewan: 14,285 people
  • Halifax, Nova Scotia: 12,925 people