The Muslim population in Canada has more than doubled in just two decades

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Canada's Muslim community is rapidly expanding and remarkably young. Between 2001 and 2021, the proportion of Muslims in the country rose from 2.0% to 4.9%. This demographic is significantly younger than the national average, reflecting a diverse and evolving landscape that spans every province and territory across the nation.

The growth of the Muslim population in Canada is a defining demographic shift of the 21st century. According to the 2021 Census of Population, the number of people identifying as Muslim reached 1,775,715, up from 579,640 in 2001. This increase has been accompanied by a distinct age profile: the median age of Canadian Muslims is 30, notably lower than the 41.2-year median age of the total Canadian population. While 18.1% of all Canadians are aged 65 or older, only 6.4% of the Muslim population falls into this bracket, highlighting a community with a high concentration of younger individuals and families.

Geographically, the Muslim population is present in every province and territory, though concentrations vary. Ontario holds the largest proportion at 6.7%, followed by Quebec at 5.1% and Alberta at 4.8%. Nunavut reports the smallest proportion at 0.4%. This community is also characterized by significant ethnocultural diversity. In 2021, South Asians represented the largest racialized group within the Muslim population at 37.6%, followed by Arabs at 32.2%, West Asians at 13.0%, and Black people at 11.6%.

Language and origin further illustrate this diversity. While 29.5% of the Muslim population was born in Canada, the remainder reflects a global diaspora, with Pakistan, Iran, Morocco, and Algeria among the most frequent countries of birth for those born abroad. At home, English is the most frequently spoken language for 47.3% of the community, followed by Arabic at 18.1%, French at 15.3%, and Urdu at 13.0%. This data, collected through the Census of Population, captures a wide range of religious affiliations, including Sunni, Shi’a, Ahmadi, and Ibadi Muslims, as well as those who identified simply as Muslim.

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