Demographic Overview
On-reserve Population by Region
- By region, the number of Registered Indians living on a reserve in 2002 ranged from
a low of 3,911 in Yukon to a high of 80,216 in Ontario.
- The largest on-reserve regional gains between 1992 and 2002 were in Alberta and
Manitoba.
Off-reserve Population by Region
- The on-reserve population increased steadily between 1982 and 2002 from 96,538
to 301,514.
- The number of Registered Indians who live off-reserve has increased in all regions.
The largest off-reserve regional gain south of 60o between 1992 and 2002 was in
Manitoba.
- Conversely, the off-reserve population of Quebec exhibited the lowest rate of increase
over the same period.
Population Distribution by Age and Gender
- The Registered Indian population has a higher proportion of youth (under age 24)
than the population of Canada as a whole.
- The proportion of population over age 40 years is markedly lower among Registered
Indians than across Canada.
Demographic Explosion
- 1971-2001: Aboriginal population increased 322%; Canadian population increased 37%.
- The demographic explosion of the registered Indian population is in part (35%) due
to Bill C-31, where status was restored to First Nations women who had previously
lost status through marrying non-First Nations men. The demographic increase of
other Aboriginal groups cannot be explained by Bill C-31.
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