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Visible Minorities

Visible minority population groups as percentage of total population. — 2021 Census of Population

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South AsianChineseBlackFilipinoArabLatin AmericanSoutheast AsianWest AsianKoreanJapanese

Opacity indicates share of population — darker means a higher percentage.

Largest Group

Largest visible minority group by share of population

Distribution by riding

Largest visible minority group by federal riding, 2021 Census. South Asian in 132 of 343 ridings, Black in 104, Filipino in 47. Highest share: 70.2% (South Asian, Brampton East).

Colour

  • Median riding 5.4%

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Vertical axis: Share of the largest group (%)

Each dot is one federal riding (343 with a figure; 2023 Representation Order), placed by its value and spread across the axis so that dots do not overlap. The line marks the median riding (5.4%). Colour: the largest group, as on the map; position: that group’s share.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Highest and lowest ridings

Largest visible minority group by federal riding, 2021 Census. 343 ridings ranked from highest (1) to lowest; tied values share a rank. Bars start at zero on one scale; the vertical line marks the median riding (5.4%).

10 highest

The 10 ridings with the highest values: largest visible minority group, 2021 Census
RankRidingBarShare
1Brampton EastONSouth Asian70.2%
2Markham—UnionvilleONChinese67.5%
3Surrey NewtonBCSouth Asian67.2%
4Brampton SouthONSouth Asian63.9%
5Richmond Centre—MarpoleBCChinese58.0%
6Brampton WestONSouth Asian57.4%
7Brampton North—CaledonONSouth Asian51.5%
8Richmond East—StevestonBCChinese48.2%
9Mississauga—MaltonONSouth Asian43.4%
10Surrey CentreBCSouth Asian43.2%

10 lowest

The 10 ridings with the lowest values: largest visible minority group, 2021 Census, lowest first
RankRidingBarShare
343Terra Nova—The PeninsulasNLSouth Asian0.2%
342AvalonNLBlack0.3%
336Central NewfoundlandNLSouth Asian0.4%
336Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—TémiscouataQCBlack0.4%
336Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—ListugujQCBlack0.4%
336JonquièreQCBlack0.4%
336Laurentides—LabelleQCLatin American0.4%
336Portneuf—Jacques-CartierQCBlack0.4%
329Saint-Maurice—ChamplainQCBlack0.5%
329Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel BeltONBlack0.5%
All 343 ridings, ranked
All ridings ranked by largest visible minority group, 2021 Census, highest first
RankRidingProvince or territoryLargest groupShare
1Brampton EastOntarioSouth Asian70.2%
2Markham—UnionvilleOntarioChinese67.5%
3Surrey NewtonBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian67.2%
4Brampton SouthOntarioSouth Asian63.9%
5Richmond Centre—MarpoleBritish ColumbiaChinese58.0%
6Brampton WestOntarioSouth Asian57.4%
7Brampton North—CaledonOntarioSouth Asian51.5%
8Richmond East—StevestonBritish ColumbiaChinese48.2%
9Mississauga—MaltonOntarioSouth Asian43.4%
10Surrey CentreBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian43.2%
11Scarborough—AgincourtOntarioChinese41.3%
12Markham—ThornhillOntarioChinese39.7%
13Brampton—Chinguacousy ParkOntarioSouth Asian39.2%
14Calgary McKnightAlbertaSouth Asian39.1%
14Edmonton SoutheastAlbertaSouth Asian39.1%
16Scarborough—WoburnOntarioSouth Asian38.9%
17Vancouver Fraserview—South BurnabyBritish ColumbiaChinese37.1%
18Fleetwood—Port KellsBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian35.3%
18Scarborough NorthOntarioChinese35.3%
20Winnipeg NorthManitobaFilipino34.7%
21Richmond Hill SouthOntarioChinese34.6%
22Burnaby CentralBritish ColumbiaChinese33.8%
23Markham—StouffvilleOntarioChinese32.9%
24Vancouver KingswayBritish ColumbiaChinese31.8%
25Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge ParkOntarioSouth Asian31.4%
26Mississauga CentreOntarioSouth Asian30.2%
27Brampton CentreOntarioSouth Asian30.1%
28Calgary SkyviewAlbertaSouth Asian29.6%
29BourassaQuebecBlack29.4%
30Vancouver QuadraBritish ColumbiaChinese29.3%
31Don Valley NorthOntarioChinese28.0%
32Etobicoke NorthOntarioSouth Asian27.6%
33DeltaBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian27.4%
34Mississauga—Erin MillsOntarioSouth Asian26.9%
35Vancouver GranvilleBritish ColumbiaChinese26.3%
36AjaxOntarioSouth Asian26.2%
37Scarborough SouthwestOntarioSouth Asian25.7%
38WillowdaleOntarioChinese25.3%
39York South—Weston—EtobicokeOntarioBlack25.0%
40Humber River—Black CreekOntarioBlack24.6%
41Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond HillOntarioChinese24.1%
42Mississauga—StreetsvilleOntarioSouth Asian23.6%
43Abbotsford—South LangleyBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian22.9%
44Mission—Matsqui—AbbotsfordBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian22.6%
45Burnaby North—SeymourBritish ColumbiaChinese21.3%
46Cloverdale—Langley CityBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian21.0%
47Burlington North—Milton WestOntarioSouth Asian20.9%
48Edmonton GatewayAlbertaSouth Asian20.1%
48Honoré-MercierQuebecBlack20.1%
50Vancouver EastBritish ColumbiaChinese20.0%
51Coquitlam—Port CoquitlamBritish ColumbiaChinese19.5%
51Scarborough Centre—Don Valley EastOntarioSouth Asian19.5%
53York CentreOntarioFilipino19.3%
54Saint-LaurentQuebecArab19.2%
55Winnipeg CentreManitobaFilipino18.9%
56Don Valley WestOntarioSouth Asian18.8%
57Milton East—Halton Hills SouthOntarioSouth Asian18.4%
58University—RosedaleOntarioChinese18.2%
59Pickering—BrooklinOntarioSouth Asian18.1%
60Saint-Léonard—Saint-MichelQuebecArab17.8%
61Mississauga East—CooksvilleOntarioSouth Asian17.7%
62Calgary Nose HillAlbertaChinese17.3%
63Port Moody—CoquitlamBritish ColumbiaChinese16.7%
64South Surrey—White RockBritish ColumbiaChinese16.4%
65VimyQuebecArab16.2%
66Oakville EastOntarioSouth Asian15.6%
66Winnipeg SouthManitobaSouth Asian15.6%
68Dorval—Lachine—LaSalleQuebecBlack15.4%
69Ottawa SouthOntarioBlack14.8%
69Spadina—HarbourfrontOntarioSouth Asian14.8%
71Newmarket—AuroraOntarioChinese14.5%
72Edmonton ManningAlbertaBlack14.2%
72New Westminster—Burnaby—MaillardvilleBritish ColumbiaChinese14.2%
74Ottawa—Vanier—GloucesterOntarioBlack14.1%
75King—VaughanOntarioSouth Asian14.0%
76Toronto CentreOntarioSouth Asian13.7%
77Ahuntsic-CartiervilleQuebecArab13.4%
77Edmonton RiverbendAlbertaChinese13.4%
77WhitbyOntarioSouth Asian13.4%
80Brossard—Saint-LambertQuebecChinese13.3%
80Kitchener South—HespelerOntarioSouth Asian13.3%
82PapineauQuebecSouth Asian13.2%
83Vancouver CentreBritish ColumbiaChinese12.8%
84Alfred-PellanQuebecBlack12.7%
85La Pointe-de-l'ÎleQuebecBlack12.5%
86North Vancouver—CapilanoBritish ColumbiaWest Asian12.3%
87Mount RoyalQuebecFilipino12.1%
87Windsor WestOntarioArab12.1%
89Hull—AylmerQuebecBlack11.8%
89Laval—Les ÎlesQuebecArab11.8%
89ThornhillOntarioChinese11.8%
92Oakville WestOntarioSouth Asian11.4%
93Beaches—East YorkOntarioSouth Asian11.3%
93Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyneQuebecBlack11.3%
95Toronto—DanforthOntarioChinese11.2%
96Kildonan—St. PaulManitobaFilipino11.1%
96Vaughan—WoodbridgeOntarioSouth Asian11.1%
98Edmonton WestAlbertaFilipino11.0%
98Langley Township—Fraser HeightsBritish ColumbiaChinese11.0%
100Edmonton NorthwestAlbertaFilipino10.9%
100Eglinton—LawrenceOntarioFilipino10.9%
102Bowmanville—Oshawa NorthOntarioSouth Asian10.8%
102OrléansOntarioBlack10.8%
104CambridgeOntarioSouth Asian10.7%
104WaterlooOntarioSouth Asian10.7%
106Edmonton GriesbachAlbertaBlack10.6%
107Calgary EastAlbertaFilipino10.5%
108Calgary CrowfootAlbertaSouth Asian10.4%
108Pierrefonds—DollardQuebecSouth Asian10.4%
108TerrebonneQuebecBlack10.4%
111Hamilton East—Stoney CreekOntarioSouth Asian10.2%
111Marc-Aurèle-FortinQuebecArab10.2%
111Saskatoon WestSaskatchewanFilipino10.2%
114Edmonton CentreAlbertaBlack10.1%
114Mississauga—LakeshoreOntarioSouth Asian10.1%
116Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-SoeursQuebecChinese10.0%
117NepeanOntarioSouth Asian9.5%
117Regina—LewvanSaskatchewanSouth Asian9.5%
119Calgary HeritageAlbertaFilipino9.3%
119Longueuil—Saint-HubertQuebecBlack9.3%
121Regina—WascanaSaskatchewanSouth Asian9.1%
122Ottawa West—NepeanOntarioBlack8.9%
123Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—WestmountQuebecBlack8.7%
124Elmwood—TransconaManitobaFilipino8.6%
125Calgary ConfederationAlbertaChinese8.5%
125Etobicoke CentreOntarioSouth Asian8.5%
125RepentignyQuebecBlack8.5%
128KanataOntarioChinese8.3%
129Hochelaga—Rosemont-EstQuebecBlack8.2%
130Calgary Signal HillAlbertaChinese8.0%
131DavenportOntarioBlack7.8%
131Kitchener CentreOntarioBlack7.8%
131OshawaOntarioBlack7.8%
134Calgary ShepardAlbertaFilipino7.7%
135Lac-Saint-LouisQuebecChinese7.5%
135LaSalle—Émard—VerdunQuebecBlack7.5%
135Saskatoon—UniversitySaskatchewanSouth Asian7.5%
138Hamilton CentreOntarioBlack7.4%
138Red DeerAlbertaFilipino7.4%
138Saskatoon SouthSaskatchewanSouth Asian7.4%
141Calgary MidnaporeAlbertaFilipino7.2%
141London CentreOntarioSouth Asian7.2%
143Dufferin—CaledonOntarioSouth Asian6.9%
143Kitchener—ConestogaOntarioSouth Asian6.9%
145Etobicoke—LakeshoreOntarioSouth Asian6.8%
145OutremontQuebecArab6.8%
145West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky CountryBritish ColumbiaChinese6.8%
145Winnipeg South CentreManitobaSouth Asian6.8%
149St. Boniface—St. VitalManitobaBlack6.7%
150Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-NapiervilleQuebecBlack6.6%
150GatineauQuebecBlack6.6%
150Pontiac—Kitigan ZibiQuebecBlack6.6%
153Fort McMurray—Cold LakeAlbertaFilipino6.5%
153Hamilton West—Ancaster—DundasOntarioSouth Asian6.5%
153Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High ParkOntarioBlack6.5%
156Saanich—Gulf IslandsBritish ColumbiaChinese6.4%
157CharlottetownPrince Edward IslandSouth Asian6.3%
158GuelphOntarioSouth Asian6.2%
159Bow RiverAlbertaSouth Asian6.1%
159HalifaxNova ScotiaSouth Asian6.1%
159London WestOntarioArab6.1%
159New Tecumseth—GwillimburyOntarioSouth Asian6.1%
159Toronto—St. Paul'sOntarioSouth Asian6.1%
164Calgary CentreAlbertaSouth Asian5.9%
164Edmonton StrathconaAlbertaChinese5.9%
164Halifax WestNova ScotiaSouth Asian5.9%
167Hamilton MountainOntarioBlack5.8%
167London—FanshaweOntarioArab5.8%
169Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-LakeOntarioSouth Asian5.7%
170Dartmouth—Cole HarbourNova ScotiaBlack5.5%
171Louis-HébertQuebecBlack5.4%
171Ottawa CentreOntarioBlack5.4%
171Wellington—Halton Hills NorthOntarioSouth Asian5.4%
174Brantford—Brant South—Six NationsOntarioSouth Asian5.3%
174Windsor—Tecumseh—LakeshoreOntarioArab5.3%
176KelownaBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian5.1%
176Laurier—Sainte-MarieQuebecBlack5.1%
176Moncton—DieppeNew BrunswickBlack5.1%
176Rosemont—La Petite-PatrieQuebecBlack5.1%
180Beauport—LimoilouQuebecBlack5.0%
181Pitt Meadows—Maple RidgeBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian4.9%
181YukonYukonFilipino4.9%
183Thérèse-De BlainvilleQuebecBlack4.7%
184Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow LakeSaskatchewanFilipino4.6%
184VaudreuilQuebecSouth Asian4.6%
186CarletonOntarioSouth Asian4.5%
186Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant NorthOntarioSouth Asian4.5%
186Regina—Qu'AppelleSaskatchewanFilipino4.5%
189Grande PrairieAlbertaFilipino4.4%
190Airdrie—CochraneAlbertaSouth Asian4.3%
190Sackville—Bedford—PrestonNova ScotiaBlack4.3%
190VictoriaBritish ColumbiaChinese4.3%
193Middlesex—LondonOntarioSouth Asian4.2%
193Riding MountainManitobaFilipino4.2%
195BurlingtonOntarioSouth Asian4.1%
195Northwest TerritoriesNorthwest TerritoriesFilipino4.1%
195St. CatharinesOntarioBlack4.1%
198Québec CentreQuebecBlack4.0%
198SherbrookeQuebecBlack4.0%
200Barrie South—InnisfilOntarioBlack3.9%
200Souris—Moose MountainSaskatchewanFilipino3.9%
200Winnipeg WestManitobaFilipino3.9%
203Kamloops—Thompson—NicolaBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian3.8%
204Cariboo—Prince GeorgeBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian3.6%
204Swift Current—Grasslands—KindersleySaskatchewanFilipino3.6%
206Peace River—WestlockAlbertaFilipino3.5%
206York—DurhamOntarioChinese3.5%
208Barrie—Springwater—Oro-MedonteOntarioSouth Asian3.4%
208Brandon—SourisManitobaBlack3.4%
208Esquimalt—Saanich—SookeBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian3.4%
208Kingston and the IslandsOntarioSouth Asian3.4%
208Rivière-des-Mille-ÎlesQuebecBlack3.4%
208Similkameen—South Okanagan—West KootenayBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian3.4%
214Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-CharlesQuebecBlack3.3%
214Leduc—WetaskiwinAlbertaFilipino3.3%
214SudburyOntarioBlack3.3%
217La Prairie—AtatekenQuebecBlack3.2%
217MontcalmQuebecBlack3.2%
217OxfordOntarioSouth Asian3.2%
217Trois-RivièresQuebecBlack3.2%
221Mont-Saint-Bruno—L’AcadieQuebecBlack3.1%
221St. John's EastNewfoundland and LabradorSouth Asian3.1%
223YellowheadAlbertaFilipino3.0%
224Chilliwack—HopeBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian2.9%
224LakelandAlbertaFilipino2.9%
226Battle River—CrowfootAlbertaFilipino2.8%
226FoothillsAlbertaFilipino2.8%
226Louis-Saint-Laurent—AkiawenhrahkQuebecBlack2.8%
226Yorkton—MelvilleSaskatchewanFilipino2.8%
230LabradorNewfoundland and LabradorFilipino2.7%
230LethbridgeAlbertaBlack2.7%
230Niagara SouthOntarioBlack2.7%
230Rivière-du-NordQuebecBlack2.7%
234Chatham-Kent—LeamingtonOntarioBlack2.6%
234Cowichan—Malahat—LangfordBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian2.6%
234EssexOntarioSouth Asian2.6%
234Prince George—Peace River—Northern RockiesBritish ColumbiaFilipino2.6%
234Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—ActonQuebecBlack2.6%
234Sherwood Park—Fort SaskatchewanAlbertaFilipino2.6%
240CardiganPrince Edward IslandChinese2.5%
240EgmontPrince Edward IslandFilipino2.5%
240Prince AlbertSaskatchewanFilipino2.5%
243Fredericton—OromoctoNew BrunswickSouth Asian2.4%
243Nanaimo—LadysmithBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian2.4%
243Saint John—KennebecasisNew BrunswickBlack2.4%
243Stormont—Dundas—GlengarryOntarioSouth Asian2.4%
243Sydney—Glace BayNova ScotiaSouth Asian2.4%
248MirabelQuebecBlack2.3%
248Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—LaniganSaskatchewanFilipino2.3%
248Ponoka—DidsburyAlbertaFilipino2.3%
248Portage—LisgarManitobaFilipino2.3%
252Niagara WestOntarioSouth Asian2.2%
252PeterboroughOntarioSouth Asian2.2%
252ProvencherManitobaFilipino2.2%
252Skeena—Bulkley ValleyBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian2.2%
252Thunder Bay—Superior NorthOntarioSouth Asian2.2%
257ParklandAlbertaFilipino2.1%
258Bay of QuinteOntarioSouth Asian2.0%
258Carlton Trail—Eagle CreekSaskatchewanFilipino2.0%
258Churchill—Keewatinook AskiManitobaSouth Asian2.0%
258Elgin—St. Thomas—London SouthOntarioSouth Asian2.0%
258Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—VerchèresQuebecBlack2.0%
258Prescott—Russell—CumberlandOntarioBlack2.0%
258St. Albert—Sturgeon RiverAlbertaFilipino2.0%
265Beloeil—ChamblyQuebecBlack1.9%
266Acadie—AnnapolisNova ScotiaBlack1.8%
266Central NovaNova ScotiaBlack1.8%
266Kings—HantsNova ScotiaBlack1.8%
266Okanagan Lake West—South KelownaBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian1.8%
270Sarnia—Lambton—BkejwanongOntarioSouth Asian1.7%
270Vernon—Lake Country—MonasheeBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian1.7%
272Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—LévisQuebecBlack1.6%
272DrummondQuebecBlack1.6%
272Joliette—ManawanQuebecBlack1.6%
275Argenteuil—La Petite-NationQuebecBlack1.5%
275Cumberland—ColchesterNova ScotiaBlack1.5%
275NunavutNunavutBlack1.5%
275Thunder Bay—Rainy RiverOntarioSouth Asian1.5%
279Kamloops—Shuswap—Central RockiesBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian1.4%
279Medicine Hat—Cardston—WarnerAlbertaSouth Asian1.4%
279Simcoe—GreyOntarioSouth Asian1.4%
282Columbia—Kootenay—Southern RockiesBritish ColumbiaSouth Asian1.3%
282Courtenay—AlberniBritish ColumbiaChinese1.3%
282Perth—WellingtonOntarioSouth Asian1.3%
285Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—EeyouQuebecBlack1.2%
285Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—HuntingdonQuebecBlack1.2%
285BeauséjourNew BrunswickFilipino1.2%
285Bruce—Grey—Owen SoundOntarioBlack1.2%
285Haldimand—NorfolkOntarioBlack1.2%
285Kapuskasing—Timmins—MushkegowukOntarioSouth Asian1.2%
285Northumberland—ClarkeOntarioSouth Asian1.2%
285Saint-JeanQuebecBlack1.2%
285SheffordQuebecBlack1.2%
294Cape Breton—Canso—AntigonishNova ScotiaBlack1.1%
294Chicoutimi—Le FjordQuebecBlack1.1%
294Huron—BruceOntarioSouth Asian1.1%
294Lévis—LotbinièreQuebecBlack1.1%
294Sault Ste. Marie—AlgomaOntarioSouth Asian1.1%
299Compton—StansteadQuebecLatin American1.0%
299Madawaska—RestigoucheNew BrunswickBlack1.0%
299MalpequePrince Edward IslandSouth Asian1.0%
299Nipissing—TimiskamingOntarioSouth Asian1.0%
299North Island—Powell RiverBritish ColumbiaFilipino1.0%
299Simcoe NorthOntarioSouth Asian1.0%
305Cape SpearNewfoundland and LabradorBlack0.9%
305Fundy RoyalNew BrunswickSouth Asian0.9%
305Hastings—Lennox and Addington—TyendinagaOntarioSouth Asian0.9%
305Mégantic—L’Érable—LotbinièreQuebecLatin American0.9%
305Montmorency—CharlevoixQuebecBlack0.9%
310Algonquin—Renfrew—PembrokeOntarioSouth Asian0.8%
310BeauceQuebecLatin American0.8%
310Berthier—MaskinongéQuebecBlack0.8%
310Haliburton—Kawartha LakesOntarioSouth Asian0.8%
310Kenora—KiiwetinoongOntarioSouth Asian0.8%
310Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau LakesOntarioSouth Asian0.8%
310Richmond—ArthabaskaQuebecLatin American0.8%
310Rimouski—La MatapédiaQuebecBlack0.8%
310Selkirk—Interlake—EastmanManitobaSouth Asian0.8%
319Abitibi—TémiscamingueQuebecBlack0.7%
319Acadie—BathurstNew BrunswickBlack0.7%
319Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel—AlnôbakQuebecBlack0.7%
319Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—NitassinanQuebecBlack0.7%
319Lanark—FrontenacOntarioSouth Asian0.7%
319South Shore—St. MargaretsNova ScotiaBlack0.7%
319Tobique—MactaquacNew BrunswickSouth Asian0.7%
326Brome—MissisquoiQuebecBlack0.6%
326Parry Sound—MuskokaOntarioSouth Asian0.6%
326Saint John—St. CroixNew BrunswickBlack0.6%
329Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill RiverSaskatchewanFilipino0.5%
329Lac-Saint-JeanQuebecBlack0.5%
329Les Pays-d'en-HautQuebecBlack0.5%
329Long Range MountainsNewfoundland and LabradorSouth Asian0.5%
329Miramichi—Grand LakeNew BrunswickBlack0.5%
329Saint-Maurice—ChamplainQuebecBlack0.5%
329Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel BeltOntarioBlack0.5%
336Central NewfoundlandNewfoundland and LabradorSouth Asian0.4%
336Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—TémiscouataQuebecBlack0.4%
336Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—ListugujQuebecBlack0.4%
336JonquièreQuebecBlack0.4%
336Laurentides—LabelleQuebecLatin American0.4%
336Portneuf—Jacques-CartierQuebecBlack0.4%
342AvalonNewfoundland and LabradorBlack0.3%
343Terra Nova—The PeninsulasNewfoundland and LabradorSouth Asian0.2%

Share: the percentage in the largest group, the group shown on the map. Riding names link to the riding's dissemination-area map for this topic.

◆

Visible Minorities — 2021 Census

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Visible Minorities in Canada

Canada's visible minority population grew by 19 percent between 2016 and 2021, reaching 8.76 million or 26.5 percent of the total population — more than one in four Canadians. South Asian (2.6 million), Chinese (1.7 million), and Black (1.5 million) are the three largest groups. The visible minority map reveals the extreme geographic concentration of diversity: a handful of GTA and Metro Vancouver ridings are over 80 percent visible minority, while rural Quebec and Atlantic Canada remain almost entirely white.

Total Visible Minority Share

The most diverse riding in Canada is Brampton East at 93.2 percent visible minority, followed by Scarborough North (91.8%) and Brampton West (88.4%). Nine of the top ten are in the Greater Toronto Area, with Surrey Newton the sole Metro Vancouver entry. These are the suburban rings where immigrants settle — attracted by existing ethnic communities, multilingual services, and relatively affordable family housing.

The least diverse ridings are in rural Newfoundland and Quebec's interior. Terra Nova–The Peninsulas (0.4%), Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine (0.6%), and Lac-Saint-Jean (0.6%) have visible minority populations measured in hundreds, not thousands. The 230-to-1 ratio between Brampton East and Terra Nova is among the starkest demographic contrasts in any developed country.

South Asian Population

South Asian Canadians are the country's largest visible minority group, and their geographic concentration is extraordinary. Brampton East leads at 70.2 percent South Asian, followed by Surrey Newton (67.3%) and Brampton South (63.9%). The Brampton cluster alone contains over 300,000 South Asian residents, making it one of the largest South Asian communities outside the subcontinent.

Chinese Population

The Chinese-Canadian population concentrates in two corridors: Markham-to-Scarborough in the GTA and Richmond-to-Vancouver in BC. Markham–Unionville leads at 67.8 percent Chinese, followed by Richmond Centre–Marpole (58.1%). The Markham cluster is predominantly Cantonese-speaking (Hong Kong origin), while Richmond skews more Mandarin-speaking (mainland China origin).

Black Population

The Black Canadian population is more dispersed than the South Asian or Chinese populations, but still concentrated in specific urban corridors. Bourassa in Montreal leads at 29.4 percent, reflecting Montreal's Haitian and West African communities. The GTA ridings of Humber River–Black Creek (26.1%) and York South–Weston–Etobicoke (25.0%) represent Caribbean and African communities in Toronto's northwest. The Montreal-versus-Toronto split reflects different source countries: Montreal's Black community is predominantly francophone (Haiti, Congo, Cameroon), while Toronto's is predominantly anglophone (Jamaica, Nigeria, Ghana).

Riding Rankings

Most Diverse Ridings (Total Visible Minority)

RankRidingVisible Minority %
1Brampton East93.2%
2Scarborough North91.8%
3Brampton West88.4%
4Markham–Unionville87.5%
5Markham–Thornhill87.3%
6Brampton South86.7%
7Surrey Newton84.1%
8Richmond Centre–Marpole80.6%
9Scarborough–Agincourt80.4%
10Mississauga–Malton80.3%

The GTA's dominance is overwhelming — nine of ten. These ridings are not simply "diverse" in the sense of containing many groups; several are dominated by a single group (South Asian in Brampton, Chinese in Markham). True ethnic mixing occurs more in transitional ridings like Mississauga–Malton, where no single group exceeds 30 percent.

Least Diverse Ridings (Total Visible Minority)

RankRidingVisible Minority %
1Terra Nova–The Peninsulas0.4%
2Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine–Listuguj0.6%
3Lac-Saint-Jean0.6%
4Avalon0.7%
5Central Newfoundland0.9%
6Jonquière0.9%
7Long Range Mountains1.0%
8Côte-du-Sud–Rivière-du-Loup–Kataskomiq–Témiscouata1.0%
9Rimouski–La Matapédia1.1%
10Chicoutimi–Le Fjord1.2%

Newfoundland and rural Quebec — regions with minimal immigration, no major urban centre, and economies that don't attract newcomers. These ridings are demographically identical to what all of Canada looked like in the 1960s. The contrast with the most-diverse list illustrates a country undergoing a demographic transformation that is geographically concentrated in a handful of urban areas.

Highest South Asian Share

RankRidingSouth Asian %
1Brampton East70.2%
2Surrey Newton67.3%
3Brampton South63.9%
4Brampton West57.3%
5Brampton North–Caledon51.6%
6Mississauga–Malton43.5%
7Surrey Centre43.2%
8Calgary McKnight39.9%
9Brampton–Chinguacousy Park39.3%
10Edmonton Southeast39.1%

Five of the top six are Brampton ridings, confirming the city's status as the epicentre of South Asian settlement in Canada. Calgary McKnight and Edmonton Southeast represent the growing prairie South Asian community, drawn by Alberta's economic opportunities.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population. Riding boundaries reflect the 2022 Federal Electoral Districts. Adapted from Statistics Canada; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.

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Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population. Adapted from Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.