Population
Waterloo Region is a diverse and welcoming multicultural community. The area has the fifth highest per capita immigrant population of all Canadian urban areas, and over ten per cent of the Region’s residents are visible minorities. There are several flourishing ethnic groups in Waterloo Region and many cultural festivals and events that add to the international feel of the Region.
In Waterloo Region, immigrants make up 21.4 per cent of the total population. Of these, 28.4 per cent — 26,310 people in all — arrived between 1991 and 2001.
Countries of Origin
These are the 30 most common birthplaces of immigrants to Waterloo Region. Compare with other cities.
| Country | Total Immigrant Population | Immigrants Arriving
1991 – 2001 |
| United Kingdom | 13,105 | 920 |
| Portugal | 8,400 | 330 |
| Germany | 5,915 | 400 |
| Poland | 4,785 | 1,105 |
| Yugoslavia | 4,420 | 2,500 |
| India | 3,730 | 1,670 |
| Romania | 3,360 | 1,730 |
| United States | 3,135 | 760 |
| Viet Nam | 2,755 | 1,045 |
| Guyana | 2,440 | 690 |
| China | 2,305 | 1,675 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,965 | 1,790 |
| Netherlands | 1,880 | 55 |
| Croatia | 1,765 | 745 |
| El Salvador | 1,700 | 650 |
| USSR-Former European part | 1,535 | 560 |
| Italy | 1,505 | 85 |
| Jamaica | 1,430 | 385 |
| Czech & Slovak Fed. Rep-former | 1,390 | 85 |
| Hungary | 1,280 | 115 |
| Laos | 1,270 | 235 |
| Pakistan | 1,010 | 725 |
| Hong Kong | 925 | 355 |
| Iran | 880 | 530 |
| Greece | 845 | 70 |
| Korea, South | 790 | 465 |
| Philippines | 780 | 350 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 695 | 170 |
| Austria | 630 | 20 |
| Ukraine | 630 | 190 |
Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census
First Languages
These are the top ten “first languages” — the mother tongue spoken by people who live in the Region. Compare with other cities.
| Mother Tongue | Number | % of Population |
| English | 335,010 | 85.0 |
| German | 19,420 | 4.9 |
| Portuguese | 10,920 | 2.8 |
| French | 5,865 | 1.5 |
| Polish | 5,535 | 1.4 |
| Spanish | 4,695 | 1.2 |
| Serbo-Croatian/Serbian | 3,440 | 0.9 |
| Romanian | 3,300 | 0.8 |
| Chinese | 3,080 | 0.8 |
| Vietnamese | 2,945 | 0.7 |
Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census
Religions
These are the religions with the most adherents in Waterloo Region. Compare with other cities.
| Religion | Number of Adherents |
| Protestant | 184,995 |
| Catholic | 138,205 |
| Other Christian | 11,335 |
| Christian Orthodox | 10,275 |
| Muslim | 9,225 |
| Hindu | 4,120 |
| Buddhist | 3,705 |
| Sikh | 2,515 |
| Jewish | 1,045 |
| Eastern religions | 605 |
| Other religions | 755 |
| No religious affiliation | 67,105 |
Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census
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