According to the Pew Research Centre, African countries such as Chad, which is home to more than a 100 different ethnic groups, or Togo, which is inhabited by 37 tribal groups speaking 39 distinct languages, top the rankings of cultural diversity among countries. If we look at the opposite end of the same scale, Haiti or Argentina are the most homogenous societies in the world. The ranking is the result of a study conducted by Erkan Gören, a researcher from the University of Oldenburg in Germany. He used the criteria of language and ethnicity to assess the similarities and differences between various groups. The assumption was that groups speaking similar languages shoud demonstrate similar cultures.

If you ask Canadians about their identity, 22% of them will answer that they are migrants. Canada is chosen as a new life destination by more people than the USA. What's more, immigration is encouraged and supported by bespoke central policies as well as local integration programmes. All that results in a pretty diverse society consisting of people of English (18.3%), Scottish (13.9%), French (13.6%), Irish (13.4%), German (9.6%) and Chinese (5.1%) origin. Only 4% of the population consider themselves to be aboriginal. However, there are over 70 local languages grouped in 12 families, the most widespread of which is Algonquian.

The assumption of the creator was that no matter where people come from, there always are individuals who love reading, so why not give them an excuse to meet up and chat about books. The first Multicultural Mini Free Library was set up in Calgary but now four more cities have their own ones. Such places attract readers who can start by exchanging a few remarks about the books they borrow and proceed to form friendships and a better understanding of different cultures.

What’s noteworthy is that families that choose Canada to be their new home are looked after by local people in community sponsorship programs. Local residents form groups and undertake the task of supporting newcomers on their way to independence in a new country. They provide migrants with everything they need to start their new life, including accommodation, language training and sometimes even requalification courses. In other words, they foster their integration with the community. The assumption is that after a year of such care and guidance, the family should be self‑sustainable.

The language is one of the features which unites people and differentiates them from other ethnic groups. The Australian variety of English definitely has its distinct features in terms of pronunciation and vocabulary. When one thinks of what is uniquely Australian, what usually comes to people’s minds is flora and fauna, and indigenous culture. There are many endemic species of plants and animals which are not found anywhere else in the world. And the Aboriginal culture, sadly oppressed and neglected for decades, is exactly what makes Australia one of its kind.

The population of Australia is currently around 24 million. Until 1788, which marked the beginning of the British colonisation of the continent, Australia was home to the Aboriginal people only. It is estimated that over 500 indigenous groups inhabited the area. Nowadays, Native Australians constitute only 3% of the total population, which is the ramification of a dark page in the history of settling Down Under.

As in every culture, the Australian Aboriginal one manifests itself through art, music, religion and traditions. The chants and songs sung by the elders tell ancient tales of the creation of the continent and its history. It is said that the songs passed on from generation to generation would create a map of Australia if put together. It’s apparent that the tradition of coming together and being attached to the land is what helped indigenous people survive the invasion of a foreign culture. The Aborigines also have cave paintings which describe the customs of their ancestors. They depict the forefathers’ way of life and their beliefs. It’s a shame, though, that we understood so late that culture is an essential part of who we are and that every culture is important and should be valued. Nowadays, Australia prides itself on both multiculturalism and the role of the indigenous culture in the process of creating its national identity.

There is no denying that the United States of America is a nation of immigrants. It has always accepted people who looked for a better, more prosperous or just more liberated place to live. This process has led to the creation of a culturally and ethnically diverse society. The Diversity Index is an interesting measuring device used to assess how ethnically diverse a given population is. Obviously, it varies from state to state, but its average value increased in the United States between the 2010 and 2020 census, which clearly shows that the chances that two random people will be of different ethnic backgrounds are still growing.

The current Native American population, according to the recent census, is 6.79 million people, which is only about 2,09% of the entire population. It is estimated that before Europeans started colonising North America, the indigenous groups counted almost 10 million individuals. They were soon decimated by diseases brought by European settlers. Furthermore, they were systematically pushed from their lands, cut off from resources, and eventually locked up in reservations. Many problems that Native American communities face nowadays are the result of these brutal and unjust policies used against them for decades. These days, the highest number of Native Americans live in California (757,628 people, which is 1.94% of its total population). The highest relative population of Native Americans inhabits Alaska. They make up 19.74% of the state’s total population (about 145,816 people).

Although not without bumps and still with occasional hiccups, it can be stated that people of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds have learnt to coexist alongside each other in most places across the US. It’s a country rich in cultural events, such as festivals and parades, but also more systemic solutions, such as affirmative action or parities. They’re an attempt at making it up to the discriminated minority groups who have suffered centuries of mistreatment and oppression. Affirmative action ensures that a certain number of jobs and positions within the government are guaranteed to representatives of minorities. 

Having worked with the presentation, you’re now capable of describing the varieties of multiculturalism across different nations. The map above summarises the information from the slides, so you can memorise the most important information about each of the discussed countries. Pay special attention to the historical aspects of multiculturalism, especially to how certain nations treated their native inhabitants versus how they present themselves now when it comes to diversity.