Highlights

• Just over half a million people of Caribbean origin live in Canada, representing about 1.7% of the total Canadian population.



• Over half of all Canadians of Caribbean origin were born outside of Canada. As well, the majority of Caribbean immigrants living in Canada arrived in the country in the last twenty years.



• The large majority of Canadians of Caribbean origin live in either Ontario or Quebec. Indeed, over three out of four live in Toronto or Montreal. In 2001, Canadians of Caribbean origin made up 6% of the total population in Toronto and 3% of that of Montreal.



• The Caribbean community in Canada is relatively young. In 2001, 43% of all those with Caribbean origins were under the age of 25, compared with 33% of the overall population. In contrast, people of Caribbean origin were only about half as likely as the overall population to be seniors.



• Almost all Canadians of Caribbean origin can carry on a conversation in one or both official languages. Indeed, less than half a per cent report they are unable to converse in either English or French.



• Only 37% of Canadians of Caribbean origin are married, compared to approximately 50% of adults in the overall population. People of Caribbean origin are also less likely than their counterparts in the overall population to live in a common-law relationship; they are also less likely to live alone. On the other hand, Canadians of Caribbean descent are considerably more likely than other Canadians to be lone parents.



• People of Caribbean origin are somewhat less likely than their counterparts in the overall population to have a university degree, while they are more likely to have a diploma from a community college.



• Canadians of Caribbean origin are somewhat more likely to be employed than the rest of the population.



• The average incomes of Canadians of Caribbean origin are approximately $4,000 lower than the national average.



• One third of children of Caribbean origin live in families with low incomes, compared with less than a fifth of all children in Canada.



• The majority (69%) of senior women of Caribbean origin who live alone are considered to have low incomes.