Iranian Canadians

Canadians of Iranian descent From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Iranian Canadians or Persian Canadians[3][4] are Canadians of Iranian origin.[5] From the 2016 Canadian census, the main communities can be found in Southern Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. As of 2016 a total of 97,110 Iranians reside in the Greater Toronto Area,[6] 46,255 in the Greater Vancouver Area,[7] and 23,410 in the Greater Montreal Area,[8] with the remainder spread out in the other major cities of Canada, based on the 2016 Canadian Census. These numbers represent the people who stated "Iranian" as their single or joint ethnic origin in the census survey.

Quick facts Total population, Regions with significant populations ...
Iranian Canadians
ایرانیان کانادایی
Total population
280,805 (2021 census)[1][a]
0.8% of the total Canadian population (2021)
262,625 (Persian-speaking Canadians)[2]
0.7% of the total Canadian population (2021)
Regions with significant populations
Richmond Hill, Toronto, North Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa
Languages
Persian, Canadian English, Canadian French Azerbaijani, Armenian, Kurdish, Mandaic, and other languages of Iran.
Religion
Predominantly Shia Islam and Irreligion
Minorities include Agnosticism, Baháʼí Faith, Christianity (Protestantism and Catholicism), Judaism, Sunni Islam, Zoroastrianism and Mandaeism
Related ethnic groups
Iranian diaspora (Iranians of UAE • Ajam of Bahrain • Ajam of Qatar • Ajam of Iraq • 'Ajam of Kuwait • Iranians of Canada • Iranians of America • Iranians of UK • Iranians of Germany • Iranians of Israel • Iranians in Turkey)

Iranian Peoples (Lurs, Achomis, Baluchs, Kurds, Iranian Azeris), Turkic peoples (Qashqai, Azerbaijanis), Huwala
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Terminology

Iranian-Canadian is used interchangeably with Persian-Canadian,[9][10][11][12] partly due to the fact[13] that, in the Western world, Iran was known as "Persia". On the Nowruz of 1935, Reza Shah Pahlavi asked foreign delegates to use the term Iran, the endonym of the country used since the Sasanian Empire, in formal correspondence. Since then the use of the word "Iran" has become more common in the Western countries. This also changed the usage of the terms for Iranian nationality, and the common adjective for citizens of Iran changed from "Persian" to "Iranian". In 1959, the government of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Reza Shah Pahlavi's son, announced that both "Persia" and "Iran" could officially be used interchangeably.[14] However the issue is still debated today.[15][16]

While the majority of Iranian-Canadians come from Persian backgrounds, there is a significant number of non-Persian Iranians such as Azeris[17][18][19] and Kurds within the Iranian-Canadian community,[20][21] leading some scholars to believe that the label "Iranian" is more inclusive, since the label "Persian" excludes non-Persian minorities.[20] The Collins English Dictionary uses a variety of similar and overlapping definitions for the terms "Persian" and "Iranian".[22][23]

Demography

Population

More information Year, Pop. ...
Iranian-Canadian
Population History
YearPop.±%
19815,600—    
198615,745+181.2%
199143,210+174.4%
199664,405+49.1%
200188,220+37.0%
2006121,505+37.7%
2011163,290+34.4%
2016210,405+28.9%
2021280,805[a]+33.5%
Source: Statistics Canada
[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][1]
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Immigration


The first known Iranian immigrant to Canada was Hakob Melik Vartanian (Persian: هاکوب ملیک وارتانیان) of Miandoab who was naturalised in Montreal, QC on 2 October 1905.[33]

In 2021, there were 213,160 individuals in Canada who had been born in Iran, of which 70,395 had immigrated to Canada since 2011.

Religion

Among all Iranian-Canadians, 103,560 (49%) identified as Muslim. Among immigrants since 2011, about 39,860 (57%) identified as Muslim while most of the rest did not identify with any religion.[34]

More information Religious group, Pop. ...
Iranian Canadian demography by religion
Religious group 2021[35][b] 2001[36][c]
Pop. % Pop. %
Islam 123,045 43.82% 59,700 67.67%
Irreligion 120,250 42.82% 11,630 13.18%
Christianity 18,270 6.51% 6,565 7.44%
Judaism 1,235 0.44% 455 0.52%
Hinduism 240 0.09% 95 0.11%
Buddhism 220 0.08% 60 0.07%
Sikhism 150 0.05% 105 0.12%
Indigenous spirituality 35 0.01% N/a N/a
Other (primarily Zoroastrianism) 17,350 6.18% 9,610 10.89%
Total Iranian
Canadian population		 280,805[a] 100% 88,220 100%
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More information Religious group, Pop. ...
Iranian/Persian Canadian demography by Christian sects
Religious group 2021[35][b] 2001[36][c]
Pop. % Pop. %
Catholic 5,100 27.91% 2,775 42.27%
Orthodox 870 4.76% 460 7.01%
Protestant 3,040 16.64% 1,765 26.88%
Other Christian 9,260 50.68% 1,565 23.84%
Total Iranian/Persian Canadian christian population 18,270 100% 6,565 100%
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More information Period of immigration, Total ...
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Geographical distribution

Provinces & territories

More information Province/Territory, Pop. ...
Iranian Canadians by province and territory (2001−2021)
Province/Territory 2021[1][a] 2016[32] 2011[31] 2006[30] 2001[29]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Ontario 155,855 1.11% 117,065 0.88% 92,635 0.73% 70,595 0.59% 51,775 0.46%
British Columbia 68,545 1.39% 47,985 1.05% 39,285 0.91% 29,265 0.72% 21,910 0.57%
Quebec 34,010 0.41% 25,530 0.32% 17,825 0.23% 12,370 0.17% 9,535 0.13%
Alberta 15,185 0.36% 13,925 0.35% 9,215 0.26% 5,835 0.18% 3,130 0.11%
Manitoba 2,010 0.15% 1,885 0.15% 1,265 0.11% 1,485 0.13% 630 0.06%
Saskatchewan 1,825 0.17% 1,340 0.13% 795 0.08% 630 0.07% 525 0.05%
Nova Scotia 1,640 0.17% 1,405 0.15% 1,240 0.14% 805 0.09% 390 0.04%
New Brunswick 845 0.11% 670 0.09% 445 0.06% 380 0.05% 185 0.03%
Newfoundland and Labrador 535 0.11% 215 0.04% 180 0.04% 60 0.01% 35 0.01%
Prince Edward Island 270 0.18% 295 0.21% 335 0.24% 15 0.01% 25 0.02%
Northwest Territories 45 0.11% 60 0.15% 55 0.13% 45 0.11% 20 0.05%
Nunavut 20 0.05% 20 0.06% 0 0% 10 0.03% 10 0.04%
Yukon 20 0.05% 15 0.04% 20 0.06% 10 0.03% 45 0.16%
Canada 280,805 0.77% 210,405 0.61% 163,290 0.5% 121,505 0.39% 88,220 0.3%
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British Columbia

Ontario

Islamic republic politicians/sympathizers

In 2022, Canada banned ten thousand IRGC seniors and officers from entry.[37] Iranian celebrities and government former ministers and officials are often mentioned in the news residing or traveling in Canada as well.[38][39][40][41]

During the 2025–2026 Iranian protests and the ensuing massacres and diaspora protests, it was reported on 4 February 2026 that human rights advocates in Canada urged the RCMP to investigate the IRGC officials living in Canada who are linked to the repression of protesters and crimes against humanity.[42] The Canadian Senate held a hearing on 10 February and discussed Islamic Republic agents and affiliates living freely in Canada.[43]

Notable Canadians of Iranian descent

Editorial team of Shahrvand weekly in Toronto, the largest Persian newspaper in Canada

Academia

Little Persia on Yonge Street at North York, 2014

Art and literature

Beauty pageants

Business

The Ghermezians, an Iranian-Canadian family, own the West Edmonton Mall.

Crime

Entertainment

Journalism

ITC TV, one of the Persian-language TV stations in Toronto

Various Persian-language media (including TV and newspapers) are active in Canada, including Shahrvand and Salam Toronto, which cover local events as well.[46]

Politicians

Sport

Technology

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Total population with "Iranian" (200,465 persons) and "Persian" (80,340 persons) ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2021 census.[1]
  2. [b]
    Religious breakdown proportions based on "Iranian" and "Persian" ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2021 census.[35]
  3. [c]
    Religious breakdown proportions based on "Iranian" ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2001 census.[36]
  4. [d]
    Does not those who don't have permanent residency (e.g study permit holder)

References

External links

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