Languages

This publication brings together and analyzes a wide range of data sources in order to provide information on various aspects of Canadian society, including labour, income, education, social, and demographic issues, that affect the lives of Canadians.

Data on the mother tongue of the population of Canada and Canada outside Quebec, and of all provinces and territories, for Census years 1951 to 2016.

Data on the knowledge of official languages by the population of Canada and Canada outside Quebec, and of all provinces and territories, for Census years 1951 to 2016.

Data on the first official language spoken of the population of Canada and Canada outside Quebec, and of all provinces and territories, for Census years 1971 to 2016.

This thematic series groups different statistical products related to ethnicity, languages, and immigration. It features analytical documents of varying scopes, such as population profiles, reference materials, data products (including tables and factsheets), among other document types.

This document presents a descriptive analysis of recent and established immigrants in Canada, in Canada outside Quebec, in each province and territory, and in the six largest census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in the country, by certain linguistic characteristics and by their main countries of birth. This analysis comprises five sections. The first section presents statistics on immigrants' first official language spoken. The second and third sections respectively address immigrants' mother tongue and the language spoken most often at home. The fourth section provides statistics on their knowledge of the official languages (English and French) by mother tongue of the immigrant population. Lastly, the fifth section explores the main countries of birth of immigrants.

Using data from the 2016 Census, this study examines the extent to which Aboriginal languages are spoken in Canada, and whether the number of Aboriginal-language speakers rose in past decades. The study also examines the factors that are related to Aboriginal language use and retention.

This product presents selected data from the linkage between the Census of Agriculture and the Census of Population at the national and provincial levels. It provides a socioeconomic profile of the the farm population at the person, family, household and farm levels and includes variables such as age, sex, marital status, country of birth, mother tongue, educational attainment and income.

The number of students in regular Aboriginal language programs and Aboriginal language immersion programs in public elementary and secondary schools, last five school years.

This table presents first official language spoken, highest certificate, diploma or degree, immigrant status and period of immigration, individual low-income status, low-income indicators, work activity during the reference year, and sex and age for the population aged 15 years and over in private households of Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations.

Data on the mother tongue of the population of Canada and Canada outside Quebec, and of all provinces and territories, for Census years 1951 to 2016.

Data on the knowledge of official languages by the population of Canada and Canada outside Quebec, and of all provinces and territories, for Census years 1951 to 2016.

Data on the first official language spoken of the population of Canada and Canada outside Quebec, and of all provinces and territories, for Census years 1971 to 2016.

This product presents selected data from the linkage between the Census of Agriculture and the Census of Population at the national and provincial levels. It provides a socioeconomic profile of the the farm population at the person, family, household and farm levels and includes variables such as age, sex, marital status, country of birth, mother tongue, educational attainment and income.

The number of students in regular Aboriginal language programs and Aboriginal language immersion programs in public elementary and secondary schools, last five school years.

This table presents first official language spoken, highest certificate, diploma or degree, immigrant status and period of immigration, individual low-income status, low-income indicators, work activity during the reference year, and sex and age for the population aged 15 years and over in private households of Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations.

This table presents first official language spoken, occupation - National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016, highest certificate, diploma or degree and immigrant status and admission category for the population aged 15 years and over who worked since 2015, in private households of Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations.

This table presents mother tongue, industry - North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2012, knowledge of official languages, highest certificate, diploma or degree and immigrant status and admission category for the population aged 15 years and over who worked since 2015, in private households of Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations.

This table presents first official language spoken, mobility status 5 years ago, place of residence 5 years ago, occupation - National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016, highest certificate, diploma or degree, employment income statistics and age for the population aged 15 years and over who worked since 2015, in private households of Canada, provinces and territories.

This table presents first official language spoken, mobility status 5 years ago, place of residence 5 years ago, industry - North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2012, highest certificate, diploma or degree, employment income statistics and age for the population aged 15 years and over who worked since 2015, in private households of Canada, provinces and territories.

This publication brings together and analyzes a wide range of data sources in order to provide information on various aspects of Canadian society, including labour, income, education, social, and demographic issues, that affect the lives of Canadians.

This thematic series groups different statistical products related to ethnicity, languages, and immigration. It features analytical documents of varying scopes, such as population profiles, reference materials, data products (including tables and factsheets), among other document types.

This document presents a descriptive analysis of recent and established immigrants in Canada, in Canada outside Quebec, in each province and territory, and in the six largest census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in the country, by certain linguistic characteristics and by their main countries of birth. This analysis comprises five sections. The first section presents statistics on immigrants' first official language spoken. The second and third sections respectively address immigrants' mother tongue and the language spoken most often at home. The fourth section provides statistics on their knowledge of the official languages (English and French) by mother tongue of the immigrant population. Lastly, the fifth section explores the main countries of birth of immigrants.

Using data from the 2016 Census, this study examines the extent to which Aboriginal languages are spoken in Canada, and whether the number of Aboriginal-language speakers rose in past decades. The study also examines the factors that are related to Aboriginal language use and retention.

This issue of Canadian Megatrends tracks the evolution of the Canadian population’s composition by mother tongue from 1901 to 2016.

This article in the Census in Brief series describes how the use of English, French and other languages in the workplace has evolved between 2006 and 2016 in Canada, Quebec, Canada excluding Quebec, as well as in census metropolitan areas where many linguistic groups coexist. Special attention is given to certain other languages and to the specific context in which they are used at work.

Based on 2016 Census data, the following infographic provides a portrait of Aboriginal languages in Canada, including mother tongue and languages spoken at home.

This Census in Brief article describes the composition of Canada’s immigrant population according to four language variables. It focuses on immigrants’ adoption of English or French and includes a comparison of results for Quebec and the rest of Canada.

This guide focuses on the following topic: Language. It provides information that enables users to effectively use, apply and interpret data from the 2016 Census. Each guide contains definitions and explanations on census concepts, talks about changes made to the 2016 Census, data quality and historical comparability, as well as comparison with other data sources. Additional information will be included for specific variables to help general users better understand the concepts and questions used in the census.

Updated on November 29, 2017 to include information on language of work.

The Language of work Release and concepts overview provides an overview of the concepts, definitions and key measures used in the 2016 Census of Population Language of work release, as well as the products which will be available on release day and later.

The Language Release and concepts overview provides an overview of the concepts, definitions and key measures used in the 2016 Census of Population Language release, as well as the products which will be available on release day and later.

The main objective of this document is to raise awareness among Statistics Canada data users of the different sources of language data available at Statistics Canada. Along with the census, surveys with an important sample of official-language minority groups and/or with information on languages are listed by themes. Users will find a description of the survey and its target population, sample sizes (total and according to available linguistic characteristics), available language variables based on questions asked, date of the first release, year for which the data is available and a direct internet link to additional information on the various surveys.

The National Household Survey (NHS) Dictionary is a reference document which contains detailed definitions of concepts, universes, variables, and geographic terms used in the NHS. By referring to the NHS Dictionary, both beginner and intermediate data users will gain a better understanding of the data.

This reference guide provides information that enables users to effectively use, apply and interpret data from the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS). This guide contains definitions and explanations of concepts, classifications, data quality and comparability to other sources. Additional information is included for specific variables to help general users better understand the concepts and questions used in the NHS.

Readers will find a complete analysis of factors affecting the comparability of Language results between the censuses in the Methodological Document on the 2011 Census Language Data.

This guide focuses on the following topic: Language. Provides information that enables users to effectively use, apply and interpret data from the 2011 Census. Each guide contains definitions and explanations on census concepts, talks about changes made to the 2011 Census, data quality and historical comparability, as well as comparison with other data sources. Additional information will be included for specific variables to help general users better understand the concepts and questions used in the census.

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a parent-reported instrument designed to provide information on children's behaviours and relationships. The SDQ consists of 25 items which are grouped into five subscales: (1) pro-social, (2) inattention-hyperactivity, (3) emotional symptoms, (4) conduct problems, and (5) peer problems. The SDQ was used to provide information on children aged 2 to 5 years in the 2006 Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS). Though validated on general populations, the constructs of the SDQ have not been validated for off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit children in Canada. The first objective of this evaluation is to examine if the five subscales of the SDQ demonstrate construct validity and reliability for off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit children. The second objective is to examine if an alternative set of subscales, using the 25 SDQ items, may be more valid and reliable for off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit children.

This guide is intended to help data users understand the concepts and methods used in the 2006 Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS), which was conducted from October 2006 to March 2007.

Technical details on sampling, processing and data quality are included in this guide. Further, the guide explains the relationship between the ACS and the 2006 Census and cautions users as to important differences in the data produced from these two sources. Appendix 1 contains a glossary of terms that relate to the ACS. Answers to some frequently asked questions are provided in Appendix 2. Links to the 2006 ACS questionnaires are found in Appendix 3.