When Statistics Canada released the religious affiliation figures from its 2021 Census of Population, it provided a detailed snapshot of the country’s evolving demographic landscape. Among the key findings was a significant rise in the proportion of Canadians identifying as Muslim, a trend heavily anchored in the nation’s major urban centers. Across the country, metropolitan hubs such as Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa-Gatineau recorded the largest Muslim populations by census metropolitan area, reflecting broader patterns of immigration, urban settlement, and national growth over the past two decades.
The official data reveals distinct geographic concentrations, with Ontario and Quebec standing out as primary destinations for Canada’s growing Muslim communities. While the numbers highlight where communities are largest by absolute population count, they also offer insight into the historical roots of Islam in Canada, tracing back to early community-building efforts in the twentieth century.
Which Canadian cities have the highest Muslim populations?
The geographic distribution of Canada’s Muslim population is heavily weighted toward the country’s largest economic and cultural centers. According to the 2021 Census Profile, the ten census metropolitan areas with the highest Muslim population counts span several provinces, though Ontario dominates the upper tiers of the ranking.
At the very top of the list is Toronto, which recorded a Muslim population of 626,010. This single metropolitan area holds a population count that exceeds the next two largest metropolitan areas combined. Following Toronto is Montreal, which registered 365,675 Muslim residents, making it the largest such population center in Quebec. The national capital region of Ottawa-Gatineau ranks third, with 114,780 Muslims distributed across both sides of the provincial boundary in Ontario and Quebec.
Moving westward, Vancouver occupies the fourth position with 110,645 Muslim residents, representing the highest total in British Columbia. Alberta’s major economic centers follow closely behind, with Calgary ranking fifth with 100,825 Muslim residents and Edmonton ranking sixth with 86,120.
The remaining spots in the top ten are rounded out by mid-sized Ontario metropolitan areas. Hamilton recorded 46,435 Muslim residents to take the seventh spot, followed by Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo in eighth place with 38,655. London ranks ninth with 35,875 Muslims, and Windsor completes the top ten with a population count of 30,145.
This ranking focuses exclusively on the ten census metropolitan areas with the highest absolute counts from the 2021 Census. It does not encompass every Canadian municipality with a Muslim community; numerous other established communities exist across the country but fall outside the top ten when measured by absolute population size.
Understanding how Statistics Canada measures religion
To properly interpret these figures, it is essential to understand the methodology behind Statistics Canada’s data collection. The numbers are derived from a single self-reported question included on the long-form census questionnaire, which is distributed to approximately a quarter of Canadian households.
According to guidelines issued by Statistics Canada, the census gathers information on individuals’ religious affiliation regardless of their level of religious practice. Consequently, a respondent who identifies as Muslim is included in the total whether or not they regularly attend a mosque, observe specific religious traditions, or participate in organized community life. Furthermore, these figures apply strictly to the population living in private households.
Religion is not tracked during every census cycle, which affects how demographers analyze trends over time. The 2021 figures are typically compared against data from 2011 and 2001 rather than the 2016 cycle, because the specific question regarding religious affiliation was omitted from the intervening census. Therefore, the 2021 dataset represents the most recent official government count of religious demographics by city, rather than a reflection of current-year fluctuations.
The data also has clear boundaries regarding what it does not capture. Because the census measures self-identified affiliation, it does not quantify belief intensity, frequency of attendance, or the strength of an individual’s connection to specific religious institutions. For inquiries regarding religious practice and the personal importance of faith, Statistics Canada directs researchers to alternate programs, such as the General Social Statistics Program. Additionally, the census does not maintain registries of mosques, congregation sizes, or attendance figures; such institutional data must be sourced directly from local organizations.
National growth trends and regional concentration
Nationally, the demographic shift over the past twenty years has been substantial. The share of Canada’s population reporting Islam as their religion rose from 2.0 percent in 2001 to 4.9 percent in 2021. Overall, Statistics Canada counted nearly 1.8 million people reporting Islam, making it the second most commonly reported religion in the country after Christianity.
Regional variations are notable across the provinces. Ontario recorded the highest percentage of Muslim residents of any province, with 6.7 percent of its population reporting an Islamic affiliation. This concentration is underscored by the fact that five of the top ten metropolitan areas are located entirely within Ontario, with a sixth included in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
Immigration serves as one of the primary catalysts for the growth of non-Christian religions in Canada. Statistics Canada data from 2021 indicates that immigrants made up the majority of the country’s Muslim population, accounting for 63.1 percent of the total demographic. This influx from diverse global regions has continuously reshaped the cultural and social fabric of Canada’s major cities.
City-level context and historical depth
Examining individual metropolitan areas reveals a combination of modern demographic scale and deep historical roots. In Toronto, the massive population of 626,010 Muslim residents forms a vast and diverse network of communities spanning the entire Greater Toronto Area, supported by extensive cultural institutions, businesses, and dining establishments tailored to the population.
In Montreal, the Muslim population of 365,675 forms a vibrant and integral part of the city’s bilingual and multicultural character, representing the largest concentration in the province of Quebec. Meanwhile, the Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area bridges two provinces, accommodating 114,780 Muslim residents who participate in both the federal capital’s civic life and its surrounding regional communities.
On the West Coast, Vancouver’s 110,645 Muslim residents anchor a thriving community that has expanded significantly alongside the broader growth of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.
In Alberta, Calgary and Edmonton both rank within the national top six, with 100,825 and 86,120 Muslim residents respectively. Edmonton holds a unique place in Canadian history as the home of the Al Rashid Foundation of Canada, which operates the Al Rashid Mosque. The foundation traces its origins back to 1938, marking the opening of what is widely recognized as Canada’s first purpose-built mosque.
In southwestern Ontario, London’s population of 35,875 Muslim residents is served by institutions such as the London Muslim Mosque. Historical records from the mosque indicate that community mobilization began in the 1950s, leading to the opening of its doors in 1964. The institution is recognized as the first mosque in Ontario and the second in Canada, illustrating that many of the country’s urban Muslim communities possess histories stretching back over half a century.
As demographers and policymakers continue to analyze the findings from the 2021 Census, these figures serve as an essential baseline for understanding the ongoing evolution of Canada’s multicultural society, highlighting both the scale of modern urban settlement and the deep historical roots established by generations of Canadian Muslims.