The 2006 Census enumerated 6,186,950 foreign-born people in Canada.
The 2006 Census enumerated 6,186,950 foreign-born people in Canada. They accounted for virtually one in five (19.8%) of the total population, the highest proportion in 75 years. Recent immigrants born in Asia (including the Middle East) made up the largest proportion (58.3%) of newcomers to Canada.
This was virtually unchanged from 59.4 in 2001. In contrast, in 1971, only 12.1 of recent immigratns for this period were born in Asia. Newcomers born in Europe made up the second largest group (16.1%) of recent immigrants. Europe used to be the main source region of immigrants. In 1971, they accounted for 61.9 of newcomers to Canada.
Source: Statistics Canada