South African Canadians

South African Canadians

Total population
51,590 (2021)
Regions with significant populations
Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Ottawa
Languages
Afrikaans English French
Religion
Christianity Judaism
Related ethnic groups
Zimbabwean Canadians, Australian Canadians

South African Canadians are Canadians of South African descent. Most South African Canadians are White South Africans, mostly of British and Afrikaner ancestry. According to the 2021 Canada census there were 51,590 South African-born immigrants in Canada. ^[1] It includes those who hold or have ever held permanent resident status in Canada, including naturalized citizens. 12,270 people considered Afrikaans their mother tongue. ^[2]

Demographics

South African-born population in Canada by year: ^[3]

Year	Number	/
1921 [4]	1,760
1931 [5]	2,235	27.0%
2001 [6]	34,990	1.465%
2006 [7]	38,305	9.5%
2011 [8]	40,550	5.9%
2016 [9]	44,660	10.1%
2021 [10]	51,590	15.5%

South African-born immigrants by province and territory as recorded in the 2021 Canada Census:

Total South African Born Population

Province or Territory	Total	% of Total
Canada	51,590	100%
Ontario	21,540	41.7%
British Columbia	15,380	29.9%
Alberta	8,965	17.4%
Saskatchewan	2,075	4.0%
Manitoba	1,180	2.2%
Quebec	1,020	1.9%
Nova Scotia	710	1.4%
New Brunswick	300	0.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador	185	0.4%
Prince Edward Island	120	0.2%
Northwest Territories	90	0.2%
Yukon	15	0.1%
Nunavut	10	0.0%

Notable South African Canadians

• Luca Bellisomo, soccer player
• Ngaire Blankenberg, former director of the National Museum of African Art
• Neill Blomkamp, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and animator
• Mike Botha, master diamond cutter
• Kim Brunhuber, journalist
• Arlene Dickinson, businesswoman
• Robin Esrock, travel writer
• Kevin Harmse, soccer player
• Mpho Koaho, actor
• Jay Manuel, director creative and make-up artist
• Derek Muller, science communicator, film-maker and television personality, also known by YouTube channel Veritasium
• Joyce_Murray South African Canadian politician
• Elon Musk, business magnate, investor, engineer and inventor. Founder of SpaceX, co-founder of PayPal and Tesla, Inc.
• Steve Nash, basketball player
• Lisa de Nikolits, writer
• Johannes Sauer, sport shooter
• Tony Dean Smith, film and television director, screenwriter, and editor
• D. T. H. van der Merwe, rugby union player
• Murad Velshi, former politician in Ontario

See also

• Canada portal
• South Africa portal

• South African diaspora
• Dutch Canadians
• Canadian Immigrant population by country of birth
• Canada–South Africa relations

References

1. "Immigrant population by selected places of birth, admission category and period of immigration, 2021 Census". Statistics Canada.
2. "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". Statistics Canada.
3. "B05006PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES". United States Census Bureau.
4. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "Sixth census of Canada,1921 . Vol. II: Ages, conjugal condition, birthplace, birthplace of parents, year of immigration and naturalization, language spoken, literacy, school attendance, blindness and deaf-mutism". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
5. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "Seventh census of Canada, 1931 . v. 4. Cross-classification". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
6. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (10A) and Place of Birth of Respondent (260) for Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
7. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2009-03-23). "Place of birth for the immigrant population by period of immigration, 2006 counts and percentage distribution, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
8. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-01-23). "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Profile - Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity, and Aboriginal Peoples for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, National Household Survey, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
9. Statistics Canada (25 October 2017). "Immigrant population by place of birth, period of immigration, 2016 counts, both sexes, age (total), Canada, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data | Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity Highlight Tables". Statistics Canada . Government of Canada. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
10. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Immigrant status and period of immigration by place of birth and citizenship: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-26.