Statistical methods

Skip to filters. View results.

Key indicators

Changing any selection will automatically update the page content.

Selected geographical area:Canada

Selected geographical area:Newfoundland and Labrador

Selected geographical area:Prince Edward Island

Selected geographical area:Nova Scotia

Selected geographical area:New Brunswick

Selected geographical area:Quebec

Selected geographical area:Ontario

Selected geographical area:Manitoba

Selected geographical area:Saskatchewan

Selected geographical area:Alberta

Selected geographical area:British Columbia

Selected geographical area:Yukon

Selected geographical area:Northwest Territories

Selected geographical area:Nunavut

Sort Help
entries

Results

All (2,478)

All (2,478) (0 to 10 of 2,478 results)

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 19-20-0001
    Description: Documents in this series provide insight into the statistical methods used by Statistics Canada to produce official statistics. They include introductory material, in-depth descriptions of techniques and methods, best practices, and guidelines. All documents have undergone review to ensure that they conform to Statistics Canada's mandate and adhere to generally accepted methodological standards and practices.
    Release date: 2026-05-11

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 19-20-00012026001
    Description: This reference document provides nontechnical answers on selected topics related to the use and interpretation of seasonally adjusted data. It is designed to complement more technical discussions of seasonal adjustment found in Statistics Canada publications and reference manuals.
    Release date: 2026-05-11

  • Notices and consultations: 13-605-X
    Description: This product contains articles related to the latest methodological, conceptual developments in the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts as well as the analysis of the Canadian economy. It includes articles detailing new methods, concepts and statistical techniques used to compile the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts. It also includes information related to new or expanded data products, provides updates and supplements to information found in various guides and analytical articles touching upon a broad range of topics related to the Canadian economy.
    Release date: 2026-05-04

  • Journals and periodicals: 11-633-X
    Description: Papers in this series provide background discussions of the methods used to develop data for economic, health, and social analytical studies at Statistics Canada. They are intended to provide readers with information on the statistical methods, standards and definitions used to develop databases for research purposes. All papers in this series have undergone peer and institutional review to ensure that they conform to Statistics Canada's mandate and adhere to generally accepted standards of good professional practice.
    Release date: 2026-04-24

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 11-633-X2026002
    Description: Recent changes in Canada’s immigration levels have heightened interest in understanding how immigration affects housing demand. This article develops a methodological framework for projecting housing use associated with permanent residents (PRs) and non-permanent residents (NPRs) under alternative immigration scenarios. The framework applies observed per capita housing use rates from the Census of Population to estimate incremental housing use by tenure over time.
    Release date: 2026-04-24

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 11-633-X2026001
    Description: This report defines key concepts related to area-level analysis and introduces area-level measures developed and utilized at Statistics Canada for health analysis. It also provides a decision-making framework and practical recommendations to help researchers select appropriate methods. The goal is to guide readers on when area-level analysis is appropriate and what type of area-level measure is suitable to achieve research objectives.
    Release date: 2026-03-05

  • Public use microdata: 89F0002X
    Description: The SPSD/M is a static microsimulation model designed to analyse financial interactions between governments and individuals in Canada. It can compute taxes paid to and cash transfers received from government. It is comprised of a database, a series of tax/transfer algorithms and models, analytical software and user documentation.
    Release date: 2026-02-12

  • Articles and reports: 13-604-M2026001
    Description: This documentation outlines the methodology used to develop the Distributions of household economic accounts published in January 2026 for the reference years 2010 to 2025. It describes the framework and the steps implemented to produce distributional information aligned with the National Balance Sheet Accounts and other national accounts concepts. It also includes a report on the quality of the estimated distributions.
    Release date: 2026-01-29

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200001
    Description: Nested error regression models are commonly used to incorporate unit specific auxiliary variables to improve small area estimates. When the mean structure of the model is misspecified, the design-based mean squared prediction error (MSPE) of Empirical Best Linear Unbiased Predictors (EBLUP) generally increases. The Observed Best Prediction (OBP) method has been proposed with the intent to improve on the design-based MSPE over EBLUP. In this paper, we conduct a Monte Carlo simulation experiments to understand the effect of misspsecification of mean structures on different small area estimators. Our findings suggest that the OBP using unit-level auxiliary variables does not outperform the EBLUP in terms of design-based MSPE, unless the number of small areas m is extremely large. Conversely, the performance of OBP significantly improves when area-level auxiliary variables are employed. This paper includes both analytical and numerical evidence to demonstrate these observations, providing practical insights for addressing model misspecification in small area estimation (SAE).
    Release date: 2025-12-23

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200002
    Description: This study examines interviewer effects on household nonresponse in three waves of the Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS) in Austria using a multilevel model. Addressing nonresponse at its source is crucial for maintaining survey data quality and representativeness. Our findings indicate that the variation in response behavior explained by interviewer effects decreased from about one-third in the first wave to 7% in the third wave. Effective interviewers tend to have a university degree, be married, homeowners, and have a larger workload. Additionally, higher mean wages in the household’s municipality negatively affect survey participation. These insights suggest targeted interviewer selection and training strategies to improve response rates.
    Release date: 2025-12-23
Data (10)

Data (10) ((10 results))

  • Public use microdata: 89F0002X
    Description: The SPSD/M is a static microsimulation model designed to analyse financial interactions between governments and individuals in Canada. It can compute taxes paid to and cash transfers received from government. It is comprised of a database, a series of tax/transfer algorithms and models, analytical software and user documentation.
    Release date: 2026-02-12

  • Profile of a community or region: 46-26-0002
    Description: The National Address Register (NAR) is a list of commercial and residential addresses in Canada that are extracted from Statistics Canada's Building Register and deemed non-confidential.
    Release date: 2025-12-19

  • Table: 89-26-0006
    Description: PASSAGES is an open-source dynamic microsimulation model aimed at supporting policy analysis and research relating to Canadian retirement income system outcomes at the individual and family level. The publicly available version includes a synthetic starting database, a model, and documentation. A confidential starting database is also available.
    Release date: 2025-03-12

  • Data Visualization: 71-607-X2020010
    Description: The Canadian Statistical Geospatial Explorer empowers users to discover geo enabled data holdings of Statistics Canada at various levels of geography including at the neighbourhood level. Users are able to visualize, thematically map, spatially explore and analyze, export and consume data in various formats. Users can also view the data superimposed on satellite imagery, topographic and street layers.
    Release date: 2024-08-21

  • Table: 11-10-0074-01
    Geography: Census tract
    Frequency: Occasional
    Description:

    The divergence index (D-index) describes the degree that families with different income levels are mixing together in neighbourhoods. It compares neighbourhood (census tract, CT) discrete income distributions to a base distribution, which is the income quintiles of the neighbourhood’s census metropolitan area (CMA).

    Release date: 2020-06-22

  • Data Visualization: 71-607-X2019010
    Description: The Housing Data Viewer is a visualization tool that allows users to explore Statistics Canada data on a map. Users can use the tool to navigate, compare and export data.
    Release date: 2019-10-30

  • Table: 53-500-X
    Description:

    This report presents the results of a pilot survey conducted by Statistics Canada to measure the fuel consumption of on-road motor vehicles registered in Canada. This study was carried out in connection with the Canadian Vehicle Survey (CVS) which collects information on road activity such as distance traveled, number of passengers and trip purpose.

    Release date: 2004-10-21

  • Table: 13-220-X
    Description: In the 1997 edition, new and revised benchmarks were introduced for 1992 and 1988. The indicators are used to monitor supply, demand and employment for tourism in Canada on a timely basis. The annual tables are derived using the National Income and Expenditure Accounts (NIEA) and various industry and travel surveys. Tables providing actual data and percentage changes, for seasonally adjusted current and constant price estimates are included. In addition, an analytical section provides graphs, and time series of first differences, percentage changes, and seasonal factors for selected indicators. Data are published from 1987 and the publication will be available on the day of release. New data are included in the demand tables for non-tourism commodities produced by non-tourism industries and in the employment tables covering direct tourism employment generated by non-tourism industries. This product was commissioned by the Canadian Tourism Commission to provide annual updates for the Tourism Satellite Account.
    Release date: 2003-01-08

  • Table: 11-516-X
    Description:

    The second edition of Historical statistics of Canada was jointly produced by the Social Science Federation of Canada and Statistics Canada in 1983. This volume contains about 1,088 statistical tables on the social, economic and institutional conditions of Canada from the start of Confederation in 1867 to the mid-1970s. The tables are arranged in sections with an introduction explaining the content of each section, the principal sources of data for each table, and general explanatory notes regarding the statistics. In most cases, there is sufficient description of the individual series to enable the reader to use them without consulting the numerous basic sources referenced in the publication.

    The electronic version of this historical publication is accessible on the Internet site of Statistics Canada as a free downloadable document: text as HTML pages and all tables as individual spreadsheets in a comma delimited format (CSV) (which allows online viewing or downloading).

    Release date: 1999-07-29

  • Table: 82-567-X
    Description:

    The National Population Health Survey (NPHS) is designed to enhance the understanding of the processes affecting health. The survey collects cross-sectional as well as longitudinal data. In 1994/95 the survey interviewed a panel of 17,276 individuals, then returned to interview them a second time in 1996/97. The response rate for these individuals was 96% in 1996/97. Data collection from the panel will continue for up to two decades. For cross-sectional purposes, data were collected for a total of 81,000 household residents in all provinces (except people on Indian reserves or on Canadian Forces bases) in 1996/97.

    This overview illustrates the variety of information available by presenting data on perceived health, chronic conditions, injuries, repetitive strains, depression, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, consultations with medical professionals, use of medications and use of alternative medicine.

    Release date: 1998-07-29
Analysis (2,036)

Analysis (2,036) (70 to 80 of 2,036 results)

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100011
    Description: This discussion examines some advancements in survey design and estimation, inspired by the comprehensive appraisal of Professors Jon Rao and Sharon Lohr on current trends in the field. It delves into three specific areas: balanced sampling, calibration, and small area estimation. Probabilistic balanced sampling methods, such as the cube method and penalized balanced sampling, are explored, with an emphasis on addressing emerging challenges, including extensions to linear mixed models, nonparametric regression models, and spatially balanced designs. Calibration is discussed using a modular framework that incorporates modern regression techniques, and highlights innovative uses of model calibration for data editing and causal inference. Small area estimation is considered in the context of latent variable modeling and data integration, emphasizing its role when the variable(s) of interest cannot be measured either directly or without error. Applications in integrating probability and non-probability data and conducting causal analysis at local level are also discussed.
    Release date: 2025-06-30

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100012
    Description: In this discussion, we complement the excellent overview by Profs. Lohr and Rao with some additional topics. The first topic is a call for more recognition of the central role of modeling in survey estimation. The second is a brief discussion of the use of partial frame information in survey design. Finally, we draw the attention to recent increases of synthetic methods, in particular, multilevel regression and poststratification (MRP) in small area estimation applications.
    Release date: 2025-06-30

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100013
    Description: This discussion of the paper by Rao and Lohr focuses on the use of machine learning procedures for estimating finite population parameters. While there is growing interest in these methods within national statistical offices, several areas remain largely unexplored and warrant significant attention in the coming years. In this discussion, I highlight potential topics for future research and development in this rapidly evolving field.
    Release date: 2025-06-30

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100014
    Description: Rao (1999) summarized trends in sample survey theory and methods at the turn of the millenium. We provide an updated discussion of some current trends in survey design and estimation methods for the 50th anniversary of Survey Methodology. Recent innovations in survey design include research on anticipating nonsampling errors at the design stage and development of balanced and adaptive sampling designs to take advantage of detailed sampling frame information or data gathered during the survey process. Nonparametric and machine learning methods are increasingly used for data editing as well as for model-assisted estimation and nonresponse adjustments. Small area models have been expanded to incorporate spatial and time series information, increase the flexibility and robustness of the linking and variance models, benchmark to large-area direct estimators, and (for unit level models) account for informative sampling designs. The increasing availability of large administrative datasets, sensor and satellite data, and convenience samples has spurred research on how to use these sources - on their own and when integrated with probability samples. We conclude by discussing some frontiers for survey research.
    Release date: 2025-06-30

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100015
    Description: This rejoinder is arranged as a series of themes or issues, inspired by the original article, and addressed, to varying degrees, in the six discussions. Among the themes: probability sampling and other paradigms in survey science; the role of the national statistical institutes in the growth of survey science; recent breakthroughs in the use of administrative data in statistics production, with multiple data inputs; the research tradition: a finite population and a well-behaved sample; deepened awareness, in recent decades, of the tradition and its ramifications; the theory track and the role of the academic sector; attempts, over time, at resolving problems; imperfections in the data collection, in the realized sample; nonresponse treatment, responsive design, panel surveys; realpolitik in national statistics production: a realistic approach to meet urgent demands for statistical information.
    Release date: 2025-06-30

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100016
    Description: These comments on C.-E. Särndal’s paper, “Progress in survey science and practice: yesterday-today-tomorrow”, will touch on probability sampling fundamentals, progress through competing approaches to inference, connections with other parts of statistics, and data in the twenty-first century.
    Release date: 2025-06-30

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100017
    Description: In his paper, Särndal is reviewing the scientific aspects of the development of the survey sampling theory. In light of multiple changes in this field, some have called for a new paradigm. Upon careful analysis, Särndal lands on saying that there has been a strong research tradition which is anchored on assumptions about finite populations and feasibility of characterizing them with only a sample. With this framework, there can still be research and change, but the paradigm would essentially remain. In my discussion of this article, after providing precisions on the context of National Statistical Offices (mainly about Statistics Canada), I agree on many points and wonder if it is not a change in methodological paradigm rather than statistical paradigm that we are witnessing and point to some possible ways forward.
    Release date: 2025-06-30

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100018
    Description: In his article, Professor Carl-Erik Särndal presents for sample-based statistics a new conceptual framework with only a few key assumptions. Selected aspects of the research tradition in Survey Science are briefly discussed in my comments.
    Release date: 2025-06-30

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100019
    Description: The attempt to set the current concerns over the future of survey science in the context of the history and philosophy of science offers little specific guidance on the path forward. But the author is to be thanked for sharing his thoughts and encouraging new solutions.
    Release date: 2025-06-30

  • Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100020
    Description: Carl-Erik Särndal’s essay on the challenges to the probability sample survey paradigm (or research tradition) quotes my 2014 article in this journal, which “impatiently” called for a move to a mixed data (or blended data) sources paradigm. I explain my intent not to downgrade probability surveys but to blend them with administrative records and other sources to improve data quality and relevance. The United States has made strides toward blended data since I wrote my article.
    Release date: 2025-06-30
Reference (380)

Reference (380) (0 to 10 of 380 results)

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 19-20-0001
    Description: Documents in this series provide insight into the statistical methods used by Statistics Canada to produce official statistics. They include introductory material, in-depth descriptions of techniques and methods, best practices, and guidelines. All documents have undergone review to ensure that they conform to Statistics Canada's mandate and adhere to generally accepted methodological standards and practices.
    Release date: 2026-05-11

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 19-20-00012026001
    Description: This reference document provides nontechnical answers on selected topics related to the use and interpretation of seasonally adjusted data. It is designed to complement more technical discussions of seasonal adjustment found in Statistics Canada publications and reference manuals.
    Release date: 2026-05-11

  • Notices and consultations: 13-605-X
    Description: This product contains articles related to the latest methodological, conceptual developments in the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts as well as the analysis of the Canadian economy. It includes articles detailing new methods, concepts and statistical techniques used to compile the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts. It also includes information related to new or expanded data products, provides updates and supplements to information found in various guides and analytical articles touching upon a broad range of topics related to the Canadian economy.
    Release date: 2026-05-04

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 11-633-X2026002
    Description: Recent changes in Canada’s immigration levels have heightened interest in understanding how immigration affects housing demand. This article develops a methodological framework for projecting housing use associated with permanent residents (PRs) and non-permanent residents (NPRs) under alternative immigration scenarios. The framework applies observed per capita housing use rates from the Census of Population to estimate incremental housing use by tenure over time.
    Release date: 2026-04-24

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 11-633-X2026001
    Description: This report defines key concepts related to area-level analysis and introduces area-level measures developed and utilized at Statistics Canada for health analysis. It also provides a decision-making framework and practical recommendations to help researchers select appropriate methods. The goal is to guide readers on when area-level analysis is appropriate and what type of area-level measure is suitable to achieve research objectives.
    Release date: 2026-03-05

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 91-528-X
    Description: The Technical Guide on Demographic Estimates at Statistics Canada provides detailed descriptions of the most current data sources and methods used by the Centre for demography at Statistics Canada to produce demographic estimates as part of the Demographic estimates program. They comprise postcensal and intercensal population estimates; base population; births and deaths; immigrants; emigrants; returning emigrants; non-permanent residents; interprovincial migration; subprovincial estimates of population and intraprovincial migration; population estimates by age and gender; and census family estimates. A glossary of commonly used terms is available at the end of the guide.
    Release date: 2025-12-17

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 11-633-X2025004
    Description: The Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB) is a comprehensive source of data that plays a key role in the understanding of the economic behaviour of immigrants. It is the only annual Canadian dataset that allows users to study the characteristics of immigrants to Canada at the time of admission and their economic outcomes and regional (inter-provincial) mobility over a time span of more than 40 years.
    Release date: 2025-12-08

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 89-657-X2025002
    Description: The Survey on the Official Language Minority Population (SOLMP) user guide contains a description of the survey, along with survey concepts and definitions and an overview of the content development. The target and survey populations, the sample design and sample size are described in the Methodology section, while the Data Collection module provides the collection period and instrument, modes of collection, collection and communications strategies and response rates.

    Updates to the guide include descriptions of the survey data processing, survey error and weighting, and guidelines for tabulations and analysis. Appendices will provide a listing of questions and variables which changed between the current and previous occasions of the survey, as well as various primers on the survey methodology.
    Release date: 2025-11-14

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 98-20-00052026004
    Description: This report provides detailed insight into the design and methodology of the content test component of the 2024 Census Test. This test evaluated changes to the wording and flow of some questions, as well as the potential addition of new questions, to help determine the content of the 2026 Census of Population.
    Release date: 2025-07-04

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 32-26-0008
    Description: This report describes the main changes, additions or deletions to the Census of Agriculture questionnaire by topic and in the order they appear on the questionnaire.
    Release date: 2025-07-04