Asian Canadians refers to Canadians who can trace their ancestry back to the continent of Asia or Asian peoples. Canadians of Asian ancestry comprise the largest visible minority group in Canada, at 15% of the Canadian population, and is the fastest growing. Most Asian Canadians are concentrated in the urban areas of Southern Ontario, the Greater Vancouver area, Calgary, and other large Canadian cities. In Canada, the term 'Asian' is pan-continental in official data such as the national census, in contrast to its usage in other English-speaking countries such as Australia and the US.
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Asian Canadians considered visible minorities may be classified as Chinese Canadians; Filipino Canadians; South Asian Canadians (e.g, Bangladeshi Canadians, Indian Canadians, Romani Canadians); Southeast Asian (e.g. Vietnamese Canadians); Arab Canadians (e.g. Kuwaiti Canadians); West Asian (e.g. Afghan Canadians, Jewish Canadians, Israeli Canadians, Turkish Canadians); Korean Canadians; or Japanese Canadians.
History
Canada has a long history of East Asian immigration. During the 19th century, many Chinese arrived to take part in the British Columbia gold rushes and later for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Chinese who came from Guangdong Province helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Fraser Canyon. Many Japanese people arrived in the 1890s and became fishermen and merchants in British Columbia. In 1923, the federal government passed the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, which banned all Chinese immigration, and led to immigration restrictions for all East Asians. In 1947, the act was repealed.
During and after the Vietnam War and the Korean War, a large wave of Vietnamese and Korean refugees began arriving in Canada. The Canadian Parliament created the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada in 1985 to better address issues surrounding Canada-Asia relations, including trade, citizenship and immigration. When Hong Kong reverted to mainland Chinese rule, people emigrated and found new homes in Canada.
In recent decades, a large number of people have come to Canada from India and other South Asian countries. As of 2011, South Asians alone make up over 15 percent of the Greater Toronto Area's population, and are projected to make up 24 percent of the region's population by 2031.
Today, Asian Canadians form a significant minority within the population, and over 5 million Asians call Canada their home. Often referred by the Canadian media as "model minorities", Asian Canadians are among the educated and socioeconomically affluent groups in Canada. Asian Canadian students, in particular those of East Asian or South Asian background, make up the majority of students at several Canadian universities.
Demographics
Based on the 2011 census, there are 4,659,395 Asian Canadians with the following ethnic identities.
East Asian in origins: 2,763,870
South Asian origins: 1,567,400
Chinese origins: 1,324,750
Filipino origins: 619,310
Arab origins: 380,620
Southeast Asian origins: 312,075
West Asian origins: 206,840
Jewish origins: 309,650
Israeli origins: 15,015
Turkish origins: 55,435
Korean origins: 161,130
Japanese origins: 87,270
The Asian Canadian population by province or territory according to the 2011 Census.
Asian Canadian Demographics according to recent estimates.