Arab Canadians (French: Arabo-Canadiens) come from all of the countries of the Arab world. According to the 2021 Census, there were 690,000 Canadians, or 1.9%, who claimed Arab ancestry.[4] According to the 2011 census there were 380,620 Canadians who claimed full or partial ancestry from an Arabic-speaking country.[5][verify] The large majority of the Canadians of Arab origin population live in either Ontario or Quebec.[6]
Quick Facts كنديون عرب, Total population ...
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The distribution of the Arab population of Canada according to the 2001, 2011, and 2016 Canadian censuses was as follows:[verify]
More information Province or territory, Arabs 2001 ...
Province or territory |
Arabs 2001 |
% 2001 |
Arabs 2011 |
% 2011 |
Arabs 2016 |
% 2016 |
Arabs 2021 |
% 2021 |
Québec |
73,345 |
1.0% |
166,260 |
2.2% |
213,740 |
2.7% |
280,075 |
3.3% |
Ontario |
88,545 |
0.8% |
151,645 |
1.2% |
210,435 |
1.6% |
284,215 |
2.0% |
Alberta |
19,320 |
0.7% |
34,920 |
1.0% |
56,700 |
1.4% |
69,505 |
1.6% |
British Columbia |
6,605 |
0.2% |
14,090 |
0.3% |
19,840 |
0.4% |
28,010 |
0.6% |
Nova Scotia |
3,610 |
0.4% |
6,285 |
0.7% |
8,110 |
0.9% |
10,610 |
1.1% |
Manitoba |
1,230 |
0.1% |
3,240 |
0.3% |
5,030 |
0.4% |
7,820 |
0.6% |
Saskatchewan |
900 |
0.1% |
2,095 |
0.2% |
4,300 |
0.4% |
5,575 |
0.5% |
New Brunswick |
580 |
0.1% |
1,380 |
0.2% |
2,960 |
0.4% |
5,060 |
0.7% |
Newfoundland and Labrador |
270 |
0.1% |
370 |
0.1% |
1,375 |
0.3% |
1,740 |
0.3% |
Prince Edward Island |
175 |
0.0% |
200 |
0.1% |
585 |
0.4% |
1,125 |
0.7% |
Northwest Territories |
80 |
0.2% |
110 |
0.3% |
100 |
0.2% |
225 |
0.6% |
Nunavut |
10 |
0.0% |
15 |
0.0% |
40 |
0.1% |
35 |
0.1% |
Yukon |
10 |
0.0% |
0 |
0.0% |
10 |
0.0% |
20 |
0.1 |
Canada |
194,685 |
0.7% |
380,620[7] |
1.2% |
523,235[7] |
1.5% |
694,015[7] |
1.9% |
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By Arabic-speaking country
More information Country ...
Country[8] |
2016[5] |
Lebanon |
219,555’´* |
Algeria |
104,395´’ |
Morocco |
103,945’´* |
Saudi Arabia |
86,810’´* |
Syria |
77,045’’ |
Egypt |
73,250’´* |
Palestine |
50,245´* |
Kuwait |
2,235´’ |
Tunisia |
25,645´’ |
Iraq |
68,490´’ |
UAE |
25,530´’ |
Sudan |
19,960’´ |
Jordan |
25,250’´ |
Mauritania |
9,325’´ |
Libya |
7,740’´ |
Yemen |
6,645’´ |
Canada total |
756,455’´[9] |
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Religion
The 2011 Canadian census shows that 55% from Arab Canadians reported belonging to a Muslim faith and 34% reported belonging to a Christian faith. These number differ measurably from the numbers reported in the 2001 Canadian census, which showed an even split in the Arab Canadian community between those who practiced the Muslim faith with 44% and those who practiced the Christian faith 44%, (where 28% as Catholic, 11% as Eastern Orthodox Church and 5% as Other Christian). In 2011, about 3% of Arab Canadians are Jewish. The largest Arab Jewish communities in Canada are Moroccan and Iraqi. Other Arabs Jews are of Egyptian, Syrian, Algerian, and Lebanese descent.[10]
The percentage of Arab Canadians were not affiliated with any religions only marginally increased from 6% in 2001 to 8% in 2011.[10]
The greatest percentage of Arab Christians in Canada come from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Iraq, where the highest rates of Muslims come from Algeria and Morocco.[10]
Politicians
- Omar Alghabra - current Liberal MP in the federal riding of Mississauga Centre in Ontario, Canada (of Syrian descent, born in Saudi Arabia)
- Pierre de Bané - former Liberal MP (1968–1984), Cabinet Minister and former Senator (of Palestinian descent)
- Sam Hamad - he held various cabinet posts during his 14 years in the National Assembly of Quebec (of Syrian descent)
- Michael Basha - former member of the Senate of Canada (of Lebanese descent)
- Tarik Brahmi - former NDP member of House of Commons for Saint-Jean (of Algerian descent)
- Ramez Ayoub - former Member of Parliament for Thérèse-De Blainville, former mayor of Lorraine (of Syrian descent)
- Fonse Faour - former NDP MP and leader of Newfoundland NDP (of Lebanese descent)
- Eddie Francis - Mayor of Windsor, Ontario (of Lebanese descent)
- Joe Ghiz - former Premier of Prince Edward Island (of Lebanese descent)
- Tony Clement - served as an Ontario cabinet minister, including as Minister of Health and Industry (of Syrian descent from his mother's side)
- Robert Ghiz - Premier of Prince Edward Island (of Lebanese descent)
- Sadia Groguhé - former NDP member of House of Commons for Saint-Lambert (of Algerian descent)
- Mac Harb - Senator, former Liberal MP (1988–2004) and former Ottawa City Councilor (of Lebanese descent)
- Sana Hassainia - former NDP member of House of Commons for Verchères—Les Patriotes riding (of Tunisian descent)
- Lorraine Michael - former Nun, leader of New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador (of Lebanese descent)
- Maria Mourani - former Bloc Québécois (2006–2013) and independent MP (2013–2015) in federal riding of Ahuntsic in Quebec, Canada (of Lebanese descent)
- Khalil Ramal - Ontario MPP (of Lebanese descent)
- Djaouida Sellah - former NDP member of House of Commons for Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert (of Algerian descent)
- Paul Zed - lawyer, professor, former Member of Parliament (of Lebanese descent)
- Sam Elkas - former representative of the electoral district of Robert-Baldwin in the National Assembly of Quebec. (of Syrian descent)
Filmmakers and writers
- Rawi Hage (Author: De Niro's Game, Beirut Hellfire Society, Cockroach; Lebanese)
- Ruba Nadda - film director who won the Best Canadian Feature Film award in 2009 (of Syrian and Palestinian descent)
- Anisa Mehdi - Emmy Award-winning film director, journalist and director of Inside Mecca (of Iraqi descent)
- Wajdi Mouawad (Writer: Incendies, Lebanese)
- Trish Salah - Lambda Award-winning poet and writer, author of Wanting in Arabic and Lyric Sexology, Vol. 1
- Habeeb Salloum (1924-2019) - prominent author and freelance writer
- Donald Shebib - documentary filmmaker (of Lebanese descent)
Singers
- Ali Gatie - singer (of Iraqi descent)
- Paul Anka - singer (of Syrian-Lebanese descent)
- Belly - rap/hip hop artist (of Palestinian descent)
- Andy Kim - pop singer/songwriter (of Lebanese descent)
- K.Maro - rapper (of Lebanese descent)
- Kristina Maria - singer/songwriter (of Lebanese descent)
- Massari - pop and hip-hop singer (of Lebanese descent)
- Narcy - rapper (of Iraqi descent)
- Nasri - reggae and pop singer (of Palestinian descent)
- Raffi - children musician and composer (of Egyptian descent), famous for Baby Beluga
- Vaï - rapper, hip hop singer (of Moroccan descent)
- Karl Wolf - singer (of Lebanese descent)
- Zaho - singer (of Algerian descent)
Others
- Reema Abdo - former backstroke swimmer (of Yemeni descent)
- René Angélil - manager and husband of Céline Dion, (of Syrian descent)[11]
- Nahlah Ayed - journalist (of Palestinian descent)
- Rachid Badouri - comedian (of Moroccan descent)
- Hoda ElMaraghy - first woman to serve as dean of engineering at a Canadian university. Appointed as Canada Research Chair (CRC) in manufacturing systems in 2002. (of Egyptian descent)
- Mohamed Fahmy - journalist and reporter
- Ghassan Halazon - entrepreneur (of Jordanian-Palestinian descent)
- Jade Hassouné - known for his role as Meliorn in the US television series "Shadowhunters" and for that of Prince Ahmed Al Saeed in the Canadian series '"Heartland" (of Lebanese descent)
- Jesse Hutch - actor, model, director and musician (of Syrian descent)
- Mena Massoud - an actor best known for starring as Aladdin in the 2019 live-action adaptation (of Egyptian descent)
- Habeeb Salloum - author, cookbook author, writer, travel writer (of Syrian descent)
- Inanna Sarkis - internet personality, actress and director (of Syrian descent)
- Mamdouh Shoukri - former president of York University (of Egyptian descent)
- Ty Wood - an actor and model. Grand nephew of Miss Universe 1971 Georgina Rizk (of Palestinian-Lebanese Ukrainian descent.)
Including ethnic minorities.