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
Initial settlement Individuals from the Middle East first arrived in Canada in 1882, when a group of Syrian-Lebanese immigrants settled in Montreal. These early Arab immigrants were mostly Christian and arrived primarily from the Levant (modern-day Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan).
In 1901, approximately 2,000 immigrants from Greater Syria, encompassing modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine, settled in Canada.
20th century During World War I, Middle Eastern Canadians of Turkish origin were placed in "enemy alien" internment camps.
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.
21st century 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.
Demography Ethnic and national origins + Middle Eastern Canadians Demography by Ethnic and National Origins (2011−2021)Ethnic/NationalOriginsOriginsRegion202120162011 Arab, West Asia 263,710 111,405 94,640 Lebanese West Asia 210,605 219,555 190,275 Iranian West Asia 200,465 210,405 163,290 Egyptian North Africa 105,245 99,140 73,250 Moroccan North Africa 99,980 103,945 71,910 Syrian West Asia 98,250 77,045 40,840 Persian West Asia 80,340 Turkish West Asia 76,745 63,955 55,430 Algerian North Africa 73,770 67,335 49,110 Armenian West Asia 68,850 63,810 55,740 Iraqi West Asia 59,300 70,920 49,680 Palestinian West Asia 45,905 44,820 31,245 Berber North Africa 41,700 37,065 25,885 Israeli West Asia 35,345 28,735 15,010 Tunisian North Africa 30,465 25,650 15,125 Kurdish West Asia 23,130 16,315 11,685 Coptic North Africa 22,570 3,535 3,570 Kabyle North Africa 20,565 Assyrian West Asia 19,685 13,830 10,810 Sudanese North Africa 17,485 19,965 16,595 North African, North Africa 16,315 Jordanian West Asia 13,225 14,250 9,425 Chaldean West Asia 12,115 Azerbaijani West Asia 9,915 6,425 4,580 Yemeni West Asia 8,115 6,645 3,945 Libyan North Africa 7,945 7,740 5,515 West Asian origins, West Asia 7,645 25,280 16,540 Georgian West Asia 5,850 4,775 3,155 Cypriot West Asia 4,830 5,655 4,815 Saudi Arabian West Asia 3,935 6,810 7,955 Kuwaiti West Asia 2,375 2,240 2,240 Circassian West Asia 1,390 Yazidi West Asia 1,140 Omani West Asia 660 North African origins, North Africa 450 6,115 2,875 Maure North Africa 1,195 1,040 West Asian origins West Asia 1,253,525 992,875 771,300 North African origins North Africa 436,490 371,685 264,875 Middle EasternCanadian Population Total 1,690,015 1,364,560 1,036,175
Language 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)Language20212016201120062001 Arabic 838,045 629,055 470,965 365,085 290,280 Persian 326,285 252,320 196,110 154,385 111,705 Hebrew 83,205 75,020 70,695 67,390 63,670 Turkish 78,500 50,775 44,080 36,935 32,520 Armenian 44,500 41,295 36,235 35,260 32,905 Berber 42,835 29,460 7,430 2,235 Aramaic 39,660 26,860 Kurdish 24,035 15,290 11,815 9,185 7,145 Azerbaijani 9,870 5,450 2,455 Coptic 3,690 Georgian 3,010 2,150 Iranian languages, 1,830 Semitic languages, 1,760 3,220 19,975 6,035 Total 1,497,225 1,130,895 857,305 678,965 538,225
Religion
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are the dominant religions among the Middle Eastern Canadian population.
+ Religious affiliation amongst Middle Eastern Canadians (2021)Ethnic/NationalOriginsIslam Christianity IrreligionJudaism OthersTotal Arab, 212,610 30,145 18,755 270 263,710 Lebanese 63,255 104,945 36,465 785 210,605 Iranian 89,940 12,435 85,705 870 200,465 Egyptian 40,495 51,525 11,260 1,600 105,245 Moroccan 68,925 2,735 12,815 15,300 99,980 Syrian 47,895 39,115 9,365 595 98,250 Persian 33,105 5,835 34,545 365 80,340 Turkish 42,300 9,070 23,075 1,465 76,745 Algerian 59,485 2,110 11,395 525 73,770 Armenian 710 56,290 11,145 430 68,850 Iraqi 27,445 24,270 4,625 2,085 59,300 Palestinian 32,895 8,605 4,155 110 45,905 Berber 32,490 765 8,180 130 41,700 Israeli 205 3,345 7,805 23,730 35,345 Tunisian 23,715 810 5,125 760 30,465 Kurdish 15,010 995 6,605 45 23,130 Coptic 175 22,210 155 30 22,570 Kabyle 15,385 575 4,515 0 20,565 Assyrian 75 18,835 670 25 19,685 Sudanese 11,345 4,880 1,190 10 17,485 North African, 11,655 990 2,735 870 16,315 Jordanian 9,500 2,590 1,075 15 13,225 Chaldean 70 11,885 160 0 12,115 Azerbaijani 3,765 940 4,400 470 9,915 Yemeni 6,800 155 545 575 8,115 Libyan 7,075 160 485 205 7,945 West Asian origins, 1,755 3,465 1,655 125 7,645 Georgian 195 3,580 1,610 380 5,850 Cypriot 290 3,590 920 10 4,830 Saudi Arabian 3,125 180 595 0 3,935 Kuwaiti 1,925 170 265 0 2,375 Circassian 880 140 350 0 1,390 Yazidi 30 35 0 35 1,140 Omani 555 20 75 0 660 North African origins, 280 130 40 0 450 Total Middle EasternCanadian Population 865,360 427,525 312,460 51,815 32,855 1,690,015
Geographical distribution + Middle Eastern population by province or territory (2016) Province / territory Population Percentage Ontario610,005 Quebec465,920 Alberta120,590 British Columbia109,400 Nova Scotia19,235 Manitoba15,540 Saskatchewan11,605 New Brunswick8,035 Newfoundland and Labrador3,290 Prince Edward Island1,830 Northwest Territories390 Yukon230 Nunavut130 Canada 1,366,190
See also Armenian Canadians Algerian Canadians Assyrian Canadians Berber Canadians Coptic Canadians Egyptian Canadians Iranian Canadians Iraqi Canadians Israeli Canadians Kurdish Canadians Lebanese Canadians Libyan Canadians Moroccan Canadians Palestinian Canadians Syrian Canadians Turkish Canadians Tunisian Canadians
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