Demographics of Prince Edward Island

Canada Prince Edward Island Density 2016

Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province. According to the 2011 National Household Survey, the largest ethnic group consists of people of Scottish descent (39.2%), followed by English (31.1%), Irish (30.4%), French (21.1%), German (5.2%), and Dutch (3.1%) descent. Prince Edward Island is mostly a white community and there are few visible minorities. Chinese people are the largest visible minority group of Prince Edward Island, comprising 1.3% of the province's population. Almost half of respondents identified their ethnicity as "Canadian." Prince Edward Island is by a strong margin the most Celtic and specifically the most Scottish province in Canada and perhaps the most Scottish place (ethnically) in the world, outside Scotland. 38% of islanders claim Scottish ancestry, but this is an underestimate and it is thought that almost 50% of islanders have Scottish roots. When combined with Irish and Welsh, almost 80% of islanders are of some Celtic stock, albeit most families have resided in PEI for at least two centuries. Few places outside Europe can claim such a homogeneous Celtic ethnic background. The only other jurisdiction in North America with such a high percentage of British Isles heritage is Newfoundland.

PE
Canadian Provinces and Territories
Demographics of Canada's provinces and territories

Population history

Population of Prince Edward Island since 1851
Year Population Mean annual % change 5-year % change 10-year % change Rank among provinces
1850 62,678 n/a n/a n/a 5
1861 80,857 2.6 n/a 29.0 5
1871 94,021 1.5 n/a 16.3 5
1881 108,891 1.5 n/a 15.8 5
1891 109,078 0.017 n/a 0.2 6
1901 103,259 −0.55 n/a -5.3 7
1911 93,728 −0.96 n/a -9.2 9
1921 88,615 −0.56 n/a -5.4 9
1931 88,038 −0.065 n/a -0.7 9
1941 95,047 0.77 n/a 8.0 9
1951 98,429 0.35 n/a 3.6 10
1956 99,285 0.17 0.9 n/a 10
1961 104,629 1.1 5.4 6.3 10
1966 108,535 0.74 3.7 9.3 10
1971 111,635 0.56 2.9 6.7 10
1976 118,225 1.2 5.9 8.9 10
1981 122,506 0.7 3.6 9.7 10
1986 126,640 0.67 3.4 7.1 10
1991 129,765 0.49 2.5 5.9 10
1996 134,557 0.73 3.7 6.3 10
2001 135,294 0.11 0.5 4.2 10
2006 138,581 0.47 2.4 2.9 10
2011 140,204 0.25 1.2 3.6 10
2016 142,907 n/a 1.9 3.1 10
2021 154,331 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Source: Statistics Canada[1][2]

Population geography

Census agglomerations

Source: Statistics Canada[3][4]

City 2021 2016 2011 2006 Land Area (km2) Density (/km2)
Charlottetown 78,858 71,821 64,487 59,325 1,112.43 70.9
Summerside 18,157 16,831 16,488 16,153 125.12 145.1

Cities and towns

All statistics according to 2016 Canadian census, unless otherwise specified

Town Population Population (2011) Population ranking Land Area (km2) Area ranking Density (/km2) Density ranking
Alberton 1,145 1,135 7 4.52 6 253.5 8
Borden-Carleton 724 750 9 12.99 5 55.7 10
Charlottetown 36,094 34,562 1 44.34 1 814.1 1
Cornwall 5,348 5,162 4 28.19 3 189.7 9
Georgetown 555 675 10 1.59 10 348.1 6
Kensington 1,619 1,513 6 3.01 9 537.8 3
Montague 1,961 1,895 5 3.16 8 620.8 2
Souris 1,053 1,173 8 3.47 7 303.7 7
Stratford 9,706 8,574 3 22.53 4 430.8 5
Summerside 14,829 14,751 2 28.49 2 520.5 4

Ethnic origins

Ethnic origins in Canada, 2021.
Dominant self-identified ethnic origin of the population of Prince Edward Island
Ethnic origin Population Percent
Canadian 60,000 44.98%
Scottish 50,700 38.01%
English 38,330 28.74%
Irish 37,170 27.87%
French 28,410 21.30%
German 5,400 4.05%
Dutch (Netherlands) 4,130 3.10%
Acadian 3,020 2.26%
North American Indian 2,360 1.77%
Welsh 1,440 1.08%
American (USA) 640
Polish 615
Italian 605
Lebanese 525
Danish 420
Norwegian 325
Ukrainian 320
Swedish 315
Belgian 240
Métis 245
Chinese 225
Hungarian (Magyar) 225
British, not included elsewhere 210
Spanish 175
Jewish 165
Russian 160
Swiss 145
Finnish 135
Inuit 120
Information taken from the Canada 2001 Census..[5]
* These percentages sum to more than 100% due to dual responses (e.g. "French-Canadian" generating an entry in both "French" and "Canadian" categories.) Groups with greater than 1,000 responses are included.

Visible minorities and Indigenous peoples

Visible minority and Indigenous population (Canada 2021 Census)[6]
Population group Population %
European[a] 132,790 88.2%
Visible minority group
 South Asian 3,735 2.5%
Chinese 3,335 2.2%
Black 1,815 1.2%
Filipino 1,760 1.2%
Arab 1,125 0.7%
Latin American 585 0.4%
Southeast Asian 1,040 0.7%
West Asian 295 0.2%
Korean 120 0.1%
Japanese 190 0.1%
Visible minority, n.i.e. 125 0.1%
Multiple visible minorities 170 0.1%
Total visible minority population 14,310 9.5%
Indigenous group
 First Nations (North American Indian) 2,165 1.4%
Métis 845 0.6%
Inuk (Inuit) 180 0.1%
Multiple Indigenous responses 30 0.0%
Indigenous responses n.i.e. 165 0.1%
Total Indigenous population 3,385 2.2%
Total population 150,485 100.0%

Languages

Knowledge of languages

Knowledge of official languages of Canada in Prince Edward Island (2016)
Language Percent
English only
 
 86.38%
French only
 
 0.08%
English and French
 
 12.65%
Neither English nor French
 
 0.89%

The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses. The following figures are from the 2021 Canadian Census and the 2016 Canadian Census, and lists languages that were selected by at least 0.5 per cent of respondents.

Knowledge of languages in Prince Edward Island
Language 2021[7] 2016
Pop. % Pop. %
English 149,525 99.36% 138,735 99.32%
French 19,445 12.92% 17,875 12.8%
Mandarin 2,940 1.95% 2,105 1.51%
Hindi 1,660 1.1% 165 0.12%
Tagalog 1,630 1.08% 615 0.44%
Punjabi 1,550 1.03% 185 0.13%
Spanish 1,425 0.95% 945 0.68%
Arabic 1,165 0.77% 650 0.47%
German 1,040 0.69% 570 0.41%
Vietnamese 785 0.52% 55 0.04%

Mother tongue

Mother tongue in Prince Edward Island (red: English, blue: French). The only part of the province to have a Francophone majority is the so-called Evangeline Region.

The 2006 Canadian census showed a population of 135,851. Of the 133,570 singular responses to the question concerning mother tongue the most commonly reported languages were:

Place Language Population Percentage
1 English 125,260 93.78%
2 French 5,345 4.00%
3 Dutch 865 0.65%
4 German 275 0.21%
5 Spanish 220 0.16%
6 Chinese languages 190 0.14%
Mandarin 45 0.03%
Cantonese 15 0.01%
7 Arabic 150 0.11%
8 Hungarian 120 0.09%
9 Algonquian languages 95 0.07%
Mi'kmaq 90 0.07%
10 Serbo-Croatian languages 85 0.07%
Serbian 35 0.03%
Croatian 20 0.01%
Bosnian 15 0.01%
Serbo-Croatian 15 0.01%
11 Japanese 80 0.06%
12 Bantu languages 70 0.05%
12 Polish 70 0.05%
14 Korean 65 0.05%
14 Scandinavian languages 65 0.05%
Danish 40 0.03%
Swedish 15 0.01%
Icelandic 10 0.01%
16 Frisian 55 0.04%
16 Italian 55 0.04%
18 Flemish 40 0.03%
18 Hindi 40 0.03%
20 Creole 35 0.03%
20 Urdu 35 0.03%

There were also 30 single-language responses for Greek and Niger-Congo languages n.i.e.; 25 for Russian; 20 for Ukrainian; 15 for Finnish, Germanic languages n.i.e., Inuktitut, Maltese, Persian and Tagalog; and 10 for Czech, Estonian, Portuguese, Slovenian, Turkish and Vietnamese. In addition, there were also 105 responses of English and a non-official language; 25 of French and a non-official language; 495 of English and French; and 10 of English, French, and a non-official language. (Figures shown are for the number of single language responses and the percentage of total single-language responses.)[8]

Religion

Religious groups in Prince Edward Island (1981−2021)
Religious group 2021[9] 2011[10] 2001[11] 1991[12] 1981[13]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Christianity 101,755 67.62% 115,620 84.16% 123,805 92.82% 122,750 95.82% 117,675 97.07%
Irreligion 42,830 28.46% 19,820 14.43% 8,945 6.71% 4,880 3.81% 3,240 2.67%
Islam 1,720 1.14% 660 0.48% 195 0.15% 60 0.05% 70 0.06%
Hinduism 1,245 0.83% 205 0.15% 30 0.02% 25 0.02% 75 0.06%
Sikhism 1,165 0.77% 10 0.01% 0 0% 65 0.05% 0 0%
Buddhism 755 0.5% 560 0.41% 135 0.1% 60 0.05% 50 0.04%
Judaism 165 0.11% 100 0.07% 55 0.04% 85 0.07% 80 0.07%
Indigenous spirituality 75 0.05% 55 0.04% — — — — — —
Other 765 0.51% 350 0.25% 210 0.16% 185 0.12% 30 0.02%
Total responses 150,480 97.5% 137,375 97.98% 133,385 98.59% 128,100 98.72% 121,225 98.95%
Total population 154,331 100% 140,204 100% 135,294 100% 129,765 100% 122,506 100%

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown comprises the entire Island and is the second oldest English diocese in Canada. The Archdiocese of Kingston is the oldest.

Migration

Immigration

Prince Edward Island immigration[14]: 8 [15]: 239 [16]: 108 
Year Immigrant percentage Immigrant population Total population
1861 22.3% 18,011 80,857
1881 8.7% 9,494 108,891
1891 5.9% 6,398 109,078
1901 4.1% 4,253 103,259
1911 2.7% 2,574 93,728
1921 2.7% 2,365 88,815
1931 3.2% 2,787 88,038
1941 2.6% 2,439 95,047
1951 2.6% 2,571 98,429
1961 2.9% 2,992 104,629
1971 3.3% 3,705 111,640

The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 11,765 persons or 7.8 percent of the total population of Prince Edward Island.[17]

Immigrants in Prince Edward Island by country of birth
Country of birth 2021[18][17] 2016[19] 2011[20][21] 2006[22][23] 2001[24][25]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
China 1,675 14.2% 1,830 20.5% 1,490 21% 60 1.3% 90 2.2%
United Kingdom 1,385 11.8% 1,375 15.4% 1,260 17.8% 1,165 24.4% 1,050 25.4%
United States 1,175 10% 1,205 13.5% 1,330 18.8% 1,255 26.3% 1,310 31.6%
Philippines 1,010 8.6% 480 5.4% 50 0.7% 20 0.4% 25 0.6%
India 840 7.1% 225 2.5% 85 1.2% 55 1.2% 30 0.7%
Vietnam 525 4.5% 55 0.6% 70 1% 15 0.3% 15 0.4%
Netherlands 430 3.7% 470 5.3% 450 6.4% 495 10.4% 415 10%
Syria 400 3.4% 205 2.3% 50 0.7% 40 0.8% 10 0.2%
Germany 185 1.6% 255 2.9% 195 2.8% 225 4.7% 155 3.7%
Iran 185 1.6% 230 2.6% 305 4.3% 15 0.3% 15 0.4%
Total immigrants 11,765 7.8% 8,940 6.4% 7,085 5.2% 4,780 3.6% 4,140 3.1%
Total responses 150,480 97.5% 139,685 97.7% 137,375 98% 134,205 96.8% 133,385 98.6%
Total population 154,331 100% 142,907 100% 140,204 100% 138,581 100% 135,294 100%

Recent immigration

The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 4,860 people who immigrated to Prince Edward Island between 2016 and 2021.[17]

Recent immigrants to Prince Edward Island by country of birth (2016 to 2021)[17]
Country of birth Population % recent immigrants
China 1,170 24.1%
India 665 13.7%
Philippines 630 13%
Vietnam 475 9.8%
Syria 220 4.5%
United States 140 2.9%
United Kingdom 130 2.7%
Jamaica 105 2.2%
Nigeria 85 1.7%
Hong Kong 65 1.3%
Total 4,860 100%

Interprovincial migration

Net cumulative interprovincial migration per Province from 1997 to 2017, as a share of population of each Provinces

Since 1971, Prince Edward Island mostly had years of positive interprovincial migration. However, in the 2010s, it turned to the negative. This interprovincial migration exceeded all immigration to the province in 2015.[26]

Interprovincial migration in Prince Edward Island
In-migrants Out-migrants Net migration
2008–2009 2,522 3,058 −536
2009–2010 2,709 2,649 60
2010–2011 2,494 2,704 −210
2011–2012 2,620 3,238 −618
2012–2013 2,294 3,195 −901
2013–2014 2,198 3,139 −941
2014–2015 2,367 3,049 −682
2015–2016 2,874 2,844 30
2016–2017 3,124 2,680 444
2017–2018 3,193 3,016 177
2018–2019 3,922 3,793 129

Source: Statistics Canada

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.

References

  1. ^ Statistics Canada Archived 21 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine - PEI Population trend
  2. ^ Population urban and rural, by province and territory (Nova Scotia) Archived 21 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Statistics Canada, 2005.
  3. ^ Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Table 98-10-0005-01 Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations". Statistics Canada. doi:10.25318/9810000501-eng. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statistics Canada. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  5. ^ "PEI 2001 Canadian Census". Archived from the original on 23 March 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2007.
  6. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  7. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (17 August 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Prince Edward Island [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  8. ^ "2006 Census of Canada: Topic-based tabulations". statcan.ca. Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  9. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  10. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  11. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  12. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (29 March 2019). "Data tables, 1991 Census R9101 - Population by Religion (29), Showing Age Groups (13) Education (20% Data) - Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  13. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (3 April 2013). "1981 Census of Canada 20 per cent data base : highlight information on ethnicity, place of birth, citizenship, income, language, immigration, religion, shelter costs". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  14. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (21 September 2023). "Abstract of the census of the population, and other statistical returns of Prince Edward Island : taken in the year 1861". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  15. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (3 April 2013). "Sixth census of Canada,1921 . Vol. II: Ages, conjugal condition, birthplace, birthplace of parents, year of immigration and naturalization, language spoken, literacy, school attendance, blindness and deaf-mutism". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  16. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (4 September 2022). "1971 Census of Canada : population : vol. I – part 3 = Recensement du Canada 1971 : population : vol. I – partie 3. Birthplace. TABLE 42. Population Bom Outside Canada, Showing Numerical and Percentage Distribution, for Canada and Provinces, 1921-1971". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (21 June 2023). "Place of birth and period of immigration by gender and age: Province or territory". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (17 June 2019). "Data tables, 2016 Census Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Place of Birth (272), Age (7A) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census - 25% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  20. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (23 January 2019). "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Profile - Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity, and Aboriginal Peoples for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, National Household Survey, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  21. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (23 January 2019). "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Citizenship (5), Place of Birth (236), Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  22. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (23 March 2009). "Place of birth for the immigrant population by period of immigration, 2006 counts and percentage distribution, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  23. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (1 May 2020). "2006 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (8) and Place of Birth (261) for the Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  24. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (23 December 2013). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (10A) and Place of Birth of Respondent (260) for Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  25. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (23 December 2013). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Selected Places of Birth (85) for the Immigrant Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 1996 and 2001 Censuses - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  26. ^ Yarr, Kevin (16 August 2016). "Immigration not keeping pace with people leaving P.E.I." CBC. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
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