OTTAWA—Canada’s aboriginal population is young and growing fast.

New statistics from the 2011 National Household Survey reveal that 1.4 million people reported an aboriginal identity in 2011, up 20 per cent from 2006, compared to a 5.2 per cent increase in the non-aboriginal population.

Aboriginals now comprise 4.3 per cent of the country’s population, up from 2.8 per cent in 1996.

“They are a very, very diverse population. But one thing that is common is they are very young, younger than the Canadian population,” said André Cyr, chief for analysis of aboriginal programs for Statistics Canada.

About 60 per cent of the aboriginal population is First Nations, followed by Métis at 32.3 per cent and Inuit at 4.2 per cent.

And the aboriginal population is young — almost half are under the age of 24. That stark statistic drives home the policy challenge for Harper’s Conservatives to ensure educational and job prospects for this growing group of young Canadians.

The median age for Canada’s aboriginal population is 28, compared to 41 for non-aboriginal population. Inuit are the youngest group with a median age of 23 followed by First Nations at 26 and Métis at 31.

Most aboriginal people live in Ontario (21.5 per cent) and the Western provinces.

The data also provides a glimpse of the living arrangements for aboriginal children. Almost 50 per cent live with both parents, compared to 76 per cent for non-aboriginal families. Single-parent families make up 34 per cent of the living arrangements, compared with 17.4 per cent for non-aboriginal population.

The Assembly of First Nations said the numbers highlight the need for government to ensure that economic opportunities exist for aboriginal young people.

“The results released today further highlight the importance of First Nations as one of the fastest growing and youngest population, and as drivers of and partners to economic development,” said AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo.

The AFN also noted that the survey data reveals that aboriginal children represent almost half of all children under 14 in foster care.

The numbers reveal a challenge in preserving aboriginal culture. The number of aboriginal people able to conduct a conversation in an aboriginal language declined to 17.2 per cent from 21 per cent between 2006 and 2011.

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Officials attribute part of the increase in Canada's aboriginal population to the fact that more people are identifying themselves as aboriginal, a trend that has accounted for increases in past census counts.

Atleo touched on the concern that First Nations people reported losing their traditional language.

“This echoes the clear statements by First Nations that we need support for First Nation languages and it must come through education,” Atleo said in a statement.

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