 Population distribution of Punjabi Canadians by census division, 2021 census | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 942,170[1][b] 2.6% of the total Canadian population (2021) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Ontario | 397,865 (2.8%) |
| British Columbia | 315,000 (6.4%) |
| Alberta | 126,385 (3.0%) |
| Manitoba | 42,820 (3.3%) |
| Quebec | 34,290 (0.4%) |
| Languages | |
| Canadian English • Punjabi • Canadian French • Hindi • Urdu | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly: Sikhism (81.4%) Minorities: Hinduism (6.9%) Islam (6.8%) Irreligion (3.7%) Christianity (1.1%) Buddhism (0.02%) Judaism (0.01%) Indigenous (0.005%) Zoroastrianism · Jainism · Others (0.05%) [2][c] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Punjabi Americans • British Punjabis • Punjabi Australians • Indian Canadians • Pakistani Canadians | |
Punjabi Canadians are Canadian citizens of Punjabi descent, numbering approximately 950,000 and accounting for roughly 2.6% of Canada's population, as per the 2021 Canadian census.[b] Their heritage originates wholly or partly from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan.
Punjabis first arrived in Canada during the late 19th century to work in the forestry industry. Primarily concentrated in the western province of British Columbia, the Punjabi population initially peaked in 1908 before an ensuing period of population decline and stagnation followed. In the mid 20th century Canadian immigration laws were relaxed, fostering rapid population growth into the present day.
Today, the largest Punjabi communities in Canada are situated in the province of British Columbia, concentrated in Vancouver, and the province of Ontario, particularly in Toronto.
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- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-08-17). "Knowledge of languages by age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2023-05-10). "Religion by ethnic or cultural origins: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-03-17.