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Indicators of Well-being in Canada


Canadians in Context - Aboriginal Population

How many are we?

  1. Population Size and Growth

Where do we live?

  1. Geographic Distribution

What is the make-up of our population?

  1. Aging Population
  2. Immigration
  3. Aboriginal Population
  4. People with Disabilities
  5. Households and Families

What are our perceptions?

  1. Perceptions and Life Satisfaction

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The following section provides information on National Aboriginal Populations, Regional Aboriginal Populations, Aboriginal Population Growth, and the Aboriginal Population Age.


National Aboriginal Populations

According to the 2006 Canadian Census, there was a total of 1,172,785 Aboriginal people in Canada, comprising 3.8% of the Canadian population. Of the three Aboriginal groups, North American Indians (698,025) had the largest populaion, followed by Métis (389,780), and Inuits (50,480).


This Chart contains data for Aboriginal population, Canada, 2006. Information is available in table below Multiple and other Aboriginal = 3% Inuit = 4% Métis = 33% North American Indian = 60% (percent) Aboriginal population, Canada, 2006

Source: Statistics Canada. Aboriginal Peoples in Canada in 2006: Inuit, Metis and First Nations, 2006 Census. Ottawa, Statistics Canada, 2008 (Cat. No. 97-558-XIE).


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Aboriginal population, Canada, 2006 (percent)
North American IndianMétisInuitMultiple and other Aboriginal
59.533.24.32.9

Regional Aboriginal Populations

Ontario and the four western provinces had the largest Aboriginal populations in 2006, ranging from 242,495 in Ontario to 141,890 in Saskatchewan. The provinces and territories with the highest proportion of Aboriginal populations were Nunavut (85.0%), the Northwest Territories (50.3%), Yukon (25.1%), Manitoba (15.5%) and Saskatchewan (14.9%). The Aboriginal people in Canada are increasingly living in urban areas. In 2006, 54% lived in urban areas (including large cities or census metropolitan areas and smaller urban centres).


This Chart contains data for Individuals reporting Aboriginal identity, by region, 2006. Information is available in table below NU = 24.9 NT = 20.6 YT = 7.6 BC = 196.1 AB = 188.4 SK = 141.9 MB = 175.4 ON = 242.5 QC = 108.4 NB = 17.7 NS = 24.2 PE = 1.7 NL = 23.5 (thousands) Individuals reporting Aboriginal identity, by region, 2006

Source: Statistics Canada. Aboriginal Peoples in Canada in 2006: Inuit, Metis and First Nations, 2006 Census. Ottawa, Statistics Canada, 2008 (Cat. No. 97-558-XIE).


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Individuals reporting Aboriginal identity, by region, 2006 (thousands)
NLPENSNBQCONMBSKABBCYTNTNU
23.51.724.217.7108.4242.5175.4141.9188.4196.17.620.624.9

Aboriginal Population Growth

Canada's Aboriginal population is growing faster than the general population, increasing by 20.1% from 2001 to 2006. This is due to a higher fertility rate among Aboriginal women than among other Canadian women. Of the three Aboriginal groups (North American Indian, Métis, Inuit), Métis had the largest population growth, with an increase of 33.3% between 2001 and 2006.

Population projections estimate that Aboriginal people could account for 4.1% of Canada's population by 2017, but this proportion would be significantly larger in Saskatchewan (20.8%) and Manitoba (18.4%).[1]


This Chart contains data for Aboriginal population growth, 2001-2006. Information is available in table below Non-Aboriginal = 4.9 Inuit = 12.0 Metis = 33.3 North American Indian = 14.6 Aboriginal = 20.1 (percent) Aboriginal population growth, 2001-2006

Source: Statistics Canada. Aboriginal identity population, 2006 counts, percentage distribution, percentage change for both sexes, for Canada, provinces and territories. Ottawa, Statistics Canada, 2008.


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Aboriginal population growth, 2001-2006 (percent)
AboriginalNorth American IndianMetisInuitNon-Aboriginal
20.114.633.312.04.9

Aboriginal Population Age

The Aboriginal population is much younger than the overall Canadian population. In 2006, the median age of the total Aboriginal population was 27 years, which was 13 years lower than the median age of non-Aboriginals.[2]


This Chart contains data for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population age, 2006. Information is available in table below 65+ years (Non-Aboriginal) = 13.4 65+ years (Aboriginal) = 4.8 55-64 years (Non-Aboriginal) = 11.9 55-64 years (Aboriginal) = 6.9 45-54 years (Non-Aboriginal) = 16.0 45-54 years (Aboriginal) = 12.2 35-44 years (Non-Aboriginal) = 15.4 35-44 years (Aboriginal) = 14.4 25-34 years (Non-Aboriginal) = 12.7 25-34 years (Aboriginal) = 13.8 15-24 years (Non-Aboriginal) = 13.3 15-24 years (Aboriginal) = 18.1 0-14 years (Non-Aboriginal) = 17.4 0-14 years (Aboriginal) = 29.7 (percent) Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population age, 2006

Source: Statistics Canada. Aboriginal Peoples in Canada in 2006: Inuit, Metis and First Nations, 2006 Census. Ottawa, Statistics Canada, 2008 (Cat. No. 97-558-XIE).


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population age, 2006 (percent)
0-14 years15-24 years25-34 years35-44 years45-54 years55-64 years65+ years
Aboriginal29.718.113.814.412.26.94.8
Non-Aboriginal17.413.312.715.416.011.913.4

Footnotes

  1. Statistics Canada. Projections of the Aboriginal Populations, Canada, Provinces and Territories 2001 to 2017. Ottawa, Statistics Canada, 2005 (Cat. No. 91-547-XIE).

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  2. Statistics Canada. Aboriginal Peoples in Canada in 2006: Inuit, Metis and First Nations, 2006 Census. Ottawa, Statistics Canada, 2008 (Cat. No. 97-558-XIE).

    [Back to Text]

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Date Modified:
2013-05-19