Ethiopian Canadians

Last updated
Ethiopian Canadians
Total population
44,065 [1]
Regions with significant populations
Toronto  · Calgary  · Edmonton  · Ottawa  · Winnipeg  · Vancouver
Languages
Amharic  · Harari  · Oromo  · Somali  · Tigrinya  · Canadian English  · Canadian French
Religion
Ethiopian Orthodox Christian  · Muslim  · Jewish
Related ethnic groups
Ethiopians, Eritreans, Eritrean Canadians, Ethiopian Americans, Eritrean Americans, Somali Canadians, Somali Americans

Ethiopian Canadians are a hyphenated ethnicity of Canadians who are of full or partial Ethiopian national origin, heritage and/or ancestry, Canadian citizens of Ethiopian descent, or an Ethiopia-born person who resides in Canada. According to the 2016 Canadian Census, 44,065 people reported Ethiopian ancestry.

Contents

History

Ethiopians began to immigrate to Canada in small numbers following new immigration regulations in 1962, which allowed skilled immigrants into the country regardless of ethnicity or country of origin. [2] However, significant immigration did not occur until the mid-1980s. [3]

Demographics

According to the 2011 Canadian Census, approximately 30,810 people reported Ethiopian ancestry. [4] This number increased to 44,065 by 2016. In addition, a number of people reported other Ethiopian ethnicity: 1,530 people had Amhara ancestry, 660 had Harari ancestry, 3,350 had Oromo ancestry. A further 2,155 reported Tigrayan ancestry, although some of these might be Eritrean. [1] Canada's censuses list four major ethnic identities considered to be Ethiopian ethnic groups: Amhara, Harari, Oromo, and Tigrayan. [5] These numbers cannot be added to people reporting Ethiopian ancestry as this may lead to double counting. Of the people reporting Ethiopian ancestry, 32,790 were Canadian residents born in Ethiopia and 7,510 were recent immigrants. [6]

Religion

Ethiopian Canadian demography by religion
Religious group2021 [7] [a] 2001 [8] [b]
Pop. %Pop.%
Christianity 28,30510,625
Islam 10,4654,140
Irreligion 3,305855
Judaism 29060
Buddhism 150
Hinduism 2010
Indigenous spirituality 035
Sikhism 100
Other 13510
Total Ethiopian Canadian population42,55015,725
Ethiopian Canadian demography by Christian sects
Religious group2021 [7] [a] 2001 [8] [b]
Pop. %Pop.%
Catholic 1,7151,030
Orthodox 14,2605,980
Protestant 3,9601,320
Other Christian8,3702,295
Total Ethiopian Canadian christian population28,30510,625

Geographic distribution

The following table lists Canadian provinces by Ethiopian population.

RankStatePopulation (2016) [1]
1Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario 22,560
2Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta 13,225
3Flag of Manitoba.svg Manitoba 2,900
4Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia 2,550
5Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec 1,575
6Flag of Saskatchewan.svg Saskatchewan 675
7Flag of Nova Scotia.svg Nova Scotia 280
8Flag of New Brunswick.svg New Brunswick 180
9Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador.svg Newfoundland and Labrador 70
10Flag of Nunavut.svg Nunavut 30
11Flag of the Northwest Territories.svg Northwest Territories 20
12Flag of Prince Edward Island.svg Prince Edward Island 15
13Flag of Yukon.svg Yukon 10

Toronto

The largest group of Ethiopians in Canada is that of Toronto. In the 2016 census, there were 17,730 people who reported their ethnic origin as Ethiopian (15,990), Amhara (500), Oromo (830) and/or Tigrinya (410) in the Toronto CMA. [9] In the 2021 census, the number of people who reported their ethnic origin as Ethiopian (13,515), Amhara (2,165), Oromo (2,000) and/or Tigrinya (2,570) was 20,250. [10] Toronto is home to community organizations such as the Ethiopian Association Toronto, which was founded in 1980. [11] There is a concentration of Ethiopian restaurants and businesses along Danforth Avenue East; the area is unofficially referred to as "Little Ethiopia". [12]

Calgary

As of 2016, approximately 6,355 people of Ethiopian descent live in Calgary. [13]

Edmonton

As of 2016, approximately 5,210 people of Ethiopian descent live in Edmonton. [14]

Ottawa

As of 2016, approximately 2,850 people of Ethiopian descent live in Ottawa. [15] The Dawit family, who were among the first Ethiopians to settle in Canada in the 1960s, lived in Ottawa. [16]

Winnipeg

As of 2016, approximately 2,520 people of Ethiopian descent live in Winnipeg. [17]

Vancouver

As of 2016, approximately 2,020 people of Ethiopian descent live in the Vancouver CMA. [18]

Other places

Approximately 1,575 people of Ethiopian descent live in the province of Quebec, the majority (1,020) of whom live in Montreal. [19] [20]

Notable individuals

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Religious breakdown proportions based on "Ethiopian" ethnic or cultural origin response on the 2021 census. [7]
  2. 1 2 Religious breakdown proportions based on "Ethiopian" ethnic or cultural origin response on the 2001 census. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ethnic origin population". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  2. ↑ Rawlyk, G. A. (1962). "Canada's Immigration Policy, 1945-62". Dalhousie Review. 42 (3): 287–300. hdl:10222/58908 . Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  3. ↑ Danso, Ransford (2002). "From 'There' to 'Here': An investigation of the initial settlement experiences of Ethiopian and Somali refugees in Toronto" . GeoJournal. 56 (1): 3–14. doi:10.1023/A:1021748701134. JSTOR   41147662. S2CID   144690305 . Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. ↑ "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables". Statistics Canada. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  5. ↑ Thomson, Daniel K. (April 3, 2018). "Ethnicity and nationality among Ethiopians in Canada's census data: a consideration of overlapping and divergent identities". Comparative Migration Studies. 6 (6): 6. doi: 10.1186/s40878-018-0075-5 . PMC   5880900 . PMID   29629299.
  6. ↑ "Immigration and citizenship". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 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 2024-09-15.
  8. 1 2 3 Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Selected Demographic and Cultural Characteristics (105), Selected Ethnic Groups (100), Age Groups (6), Sex (3) and Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories and Census Metropolitan Areas, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  9. ↑ "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "About Us". www.ethioassociation.org. Ethiopian Association Toronto. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Toronto continues to overlook the gem that is Little Ethiopia". www.blogto.com. blogTO. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  13. ↑ "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  16. ↑ "1960's Canada gave newly immigrated Ethiopian sisters the freedom to be vocal about global issues". www.cbc.ca. CBC. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  18. ↑ "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
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