Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population

Ontario, Province

2.9%

In 2021, there were 406,590 Indigenous people in Ontario, making up 2.9% of the population.

61.7%

The majority of the Indigenous population reported a single Indigenous identity—either First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit). Of the Indigenous population in Ontario, 61.7% (251,025) were First Nations people, 33.1% (134,615) were Métis, and 1.1% (4,310) were Inuit.

60.4%

Within the First Nations population, 60.4% (151,555) had Registered or Treaty Indian status, as defined under the Indian Act. The other 39.6% (99,475) of the First Nations population did not have Registered or Treaty Indian status.

7,120

In addition to those who reported a single Indigenous identity, 7,120 people reported more than one Indigenous identity and 9,515 were defined as having an Indigenous identity that was not included elsewhere.

Total population by Indigenous identity and Registered or Treaty Indian status, Ontario, 2021

Total population by Indigenous identity and Registered or Treaty Indian status, Ontario, 2021
Indigenous identity Number Percent (%)
Total – Population by Indigenous identity 14,031,755 100.0
Indigenous identity 406,590 2.9
Single Indigenous responses 389,955 2.8
First Nations (North American Indian) 251,025 1.8
First Nations (Registered or Treaty Indian) 151,555 1.1
First Nations (not a Registered or Treaty Indian) 99,475 0.7
Métis 134,615 1.0
Inuk (Inuit) 4,310 0.0
Multiple Indigenous responses 7,120 0.1
Indigenous responses not included elsewhere 9,515 0.1
Non-Indigenous identity 13,625,165 97.1

Distribution of the Indigenous population by population centre size, Ontario, 2021

Distribution of the First Nations population with Registered or Treaty Indian status by residence on or off reserve, Ontario, 2021

Younger

In general, the Indigenous population in Ontario is younger than the non-Indigenous population.

22.3%

Indigenous children aged 14 and under represented 22.3% of the total Indigenous population, while non-Indigenous children aged 14 and under accounted for 15.8% of the non-Indigenous population.

35.3

The average age of the Indigenous population in Ontario was 35.3 years, compared with 41.6 years for the non-Indigenous population.

33.9

The average age was 33.9 years for First Nations people; it was 38 years for Métis; and it was 31.2 years for Inuit.

Age distribution by Indigenous identity, Ontario, 2021

Top 10 census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations by Indigenous population, Ontario, 2021

Selected Indigenous language indicators for First Nations people, Métis and Inuit, Ontario, 2021

Top 6 most common Indigenous languages spoken for the Indigenous population, Ontario, 2021

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