Afghan Canadians

Afghan Canadians
Pashto: د کاناډا افغانان
Dari: کاناداها افغان تبر
Total population
135,000
Regions with significant populations
Greater Toronto Area, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton
Languages
Pashto, Dari, other Afghan languages, Canadian English
Religion
Predominantly:
Islam (92.44%)
Minorities:
Irreligion (5.6%)
Christianity (1.1%)
Hinduism (0.5%)
Sikhism (0.2%)
Judaism (0.04%)
Buddhism (0.01%)
Indigenous (0.01%)
Others (0.1%)

Afghan Canadians are Canadians with ancestry from Afghanistan. They form the second largest Afghan community in North America after Afghan Americans. Their ethnic origin may come from any of the ethnic groups of Afghanistan, which include Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Hazara, Turkmen, etc. In the Canada 2016 Census about 83,995 Canadians were from Afghanistan.

History

The first known Afghan immigrant to Canada was Zaman Khan (Pashto: زمان خان) who was naturalised in Montreal, QC on 27 January 1931.

Demography

Population

Afghan−Canadian
Population History
YearPop.±%
201683,995—    
202196,810+15.3%
Source: Statistics Canada

Religion

Afghan Canadian demography by religion
Religious group 2021
Pop. %
Islam 89,485 92.44%
Irreligion 5,400 5.58%
Christianity 1,035 1.07%
Hinduism 465 0.48%
Sikhism 235 0.24%
Judaism 40 0.04%
Buddhism 10 0.01%
Indigenous spirituality 10 0.01%
Other 135 0.14%
Total Afghan Canadian population 96,810 100%

Geographical distribution

By Canadian province or territory (2016)

ProvincePopulationPercentageSource
Ontario54,5350.4%
Quebec10,9400.1%
Alberta8,5450.2%
British Columbia7,8900.2%
Manitoba1,0150.1%
Saskatchewan7800.1%
Nova Scotia2300.0%
New Brunswick250.0%
Newfoundland and Labrador100.0%
Prince Edward Island100.0%
Northwest Territories100.0%
Nunavut00.0%
Yukon00.0%
 Canada83,9950.24%

Media

The diaspora also have media outlets for the Afghan community, including private TV channels such as Watan E Maa, AfghanJavan TV and Afghan Nobel TV.

Notable individuals

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Religious breakdown proportions based on "Afghan" ethnic or cultural origin response on the 2021 census.
  2. ↑ Pashto: د کاناډا افغانان Dari: کاناداها افغان تبر

References

  1. 1 2 "Census Profile, 2021 Census Canada [Country] and Canada [Country]".
  2. 1 2 3 Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2023-05-10). "Religion by ethnic or cultural origins: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  3. ↑ "Dozens of Sikh and Hindu families persecuted in Afghanistan approved to settle in Canada". cbc.ca. December 27, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Ethnic origin population". statcan. Statistics Canada. 2016. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  5. ↑ "Zaman Khan". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity Highlight Tables". statcan.gc.ca. 25 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Ontario, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Quebec, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  9. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Alberta, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  10. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), British Columbia, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  11. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Manitoba, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  12. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Saskatchewan, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  13. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Nova Scotia, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  14. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), New Brunswick, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Newfoundland and Labrador, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  16. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Prince Edward Island, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  17. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Northwest Territories, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  18. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Nunavut, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  19. ↑ "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Yukon, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  20. ↑ "HOME". Watan-E-Maa tv. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  21. ↑ "Afghanistan's Oprah: Mozhdah on fame, threats and why she won't live her life in fear". The Guardian. October 30, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Halifax-born producer gets Oscar nod for short film". CBC News Nova Scotia, January 10, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Gay Afghan defies tradition to expose identity". BBC News. Retrieved February 20, 2013.