Census of Population

Description: This series of regional maps shows the number of school-aged children eligible to primary and secondary instruction in English in Quebec by census subdivision, and the proportion of these children who attend or have attended an English-language school in Canada. All the information provided comes from the 2021 Census of Population and the 2022 Open Database of Educational Facilities.

Description: The current study uses the 2011 National Household Survey and the 2016 and 2021 Censuses to provide data on the number of Indigenous foster children in private households, foster child rates, and disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous foster care rates between 2011 and 2021. Subsequently, select sociodemographic characteristics of Indigenous children in foster care and household characteristics are explored using the 2021 Census.

Description:

This interactive chart is comprised of two visualizations to show statistics of selected income sources by various characteristics and geographies.

Description: These interactive charts display various census data or indicators for selected geographies. Clicking a particular area of a chart allows users to customize their view and display different data or indicators.

Description: Data from the Census of Population are important for all communities and are vital to plan services that support education, employment, transportation, health care and housing. To maintain the relevance of the census, Statistics Canada evaluates and reviews the census questionnaire content for each census cycle. In preparation for the 2026 Census, Statistics Canada consulted Canadians from fall 2022 to spring 2023. Detailed responses were received from organizations and individuals representing federal, provincial, territorial and local government departments; First Nations people, Métis and Inuit; the general public; academia; special interest groups; and the private sector.

This report focuses on the findings of the 2026 Census data needs consultation and stakeholder discussions. Chapter 1 explains whom we consulted. Chapter 2 describes the strength of census data users’ needs such as the size of the population of interest. Chapter 3 provides an assessment of the perceived data gaps in census content and the availability and suitability of alternative data sources. Chapter 4 focuses on information needs by census topic and how preparations for the 2024 Census Test will help meet these needs.

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: User consultation is the first step in determining Census Program content. The findings of content consultations are presented in these reports.

Description: This product offers a visual overview of historical data by language indicators in Canada from 1951 to 2021. The language indicators showcased in this product are the first official language spoken, mother tongue, knowledge of official languages and language spoken most often at home. It provides information on the number and proportion of language groups in each province and territory from 1951 to 2021. Data can be filtered by province or territory, language, multiple responses distribution and reference period.

Description: The Pan-Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP) draws from a wide variety of data sources to provide information on the school-age population, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, transitions, and labour market outcomes.

PCEIP products include tables, fact sheets, reports and a methodological handbook. They present indicators for all of Canada, the provinces, the territories, as well as selected international comparisons and comparisons over time.

The Pan-Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP) is an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Education Statistics Council, a partnership between Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada that provides a set of statistical measures on education systems in Canada.

Description: This dashboard allows users to examine the latest data for several diversity indicators. Data are visualized at the census subdivision level.

Description: Distribution of economic family total income in 2020 constant dollars by family structure (couples, one-parent families, presence of children), family size, age of members, and number of earners.

Description: Distribution of economic family after-tax income in 2020 constant dollars by family structure (couples, one-parent families, presence of children), family size, age of members, and number of earners.

Description: Distribution of income between married spouses or common-law partners and characteristics of couples, including presence of children for married spouses or common-law partners.

Description: Distribution of income between married spouses or common-law partners by characteristics of couples, including gender diversity status of couples and presence of children for married spouses or common-law partners.

Description: Individual poverty status using Northern Market Basket Measure (MBM-N) by family characteristics, age and gender for Canada, territories, census divisions and census subdivisions.

Description: Data on military service status by visible minority, religion, generation status, age and gender for the population aged 17 years and over in private households in Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts.

Description: Data on military service status by mother tongue, knowledge of official languages, immigrant status and period of immigration, visible minority and gender for the population aged 17 years and over in private households in Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts.

Description: Data on military service status by individual poverty status using the Market Basket Measure (MBM), individual low-income status, economic family characteristics of persons, highest certificate, diploma or degree, age and gender for the population aged 17 years and over in private households in Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts.

Description: Data on military service status by housing indicators, household type of person, dwelling type and tenure including presence of mortgage payments and subsidized housing for the population aged 17 and over in owner and tenant households with household total income greater than zero in non-reserve, non-farm private households in Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts.

Description: Data on military service status by industry subsectors - North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2017, occupation - National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, work activity during the reference year, age and gender for the population aged 17 and over who worked since 2020, in private households, Canada, provinces and territories.

Description:

The purpose of this document is to report on the reasoning for continuing to use the digital planimeter for calculating land area for the 1996 Census. Despite the fact that the data are subject to a number of errors and logical inconsistencies, the Geography Division does not yet have a digital database in place to support the automated calculation of land area.

This report first provides an historical background on the treatment of land area. It then presents the results of some land area tests based on 1991 data. The tests include the actual use of the digital planimeter, as well as logical consistency checks that compare land area with total area. Finally, a description of the 1996 Digital Cartographic File of enumeration areas (EA/DCF) demonstrates the reason why that file is not employed to calculate land area in an automated fashion.

Description:

Prior to the 2001 Census, the Geography Division manually calculated land area using a planimeter. The manual approach was necessary since the division did not have a national digital database to support an automated method. The manual land area calculation was a labour intensive process as well as very time consuming, expensive and very prone to error. With the anticipation of having a national digital base for the 2001 Census (to be called the National Geographic Base or NGB), the automated land area calculation becomes a simple GIS process.

The objectives of this paper are to show the effects of data aggregation and different map projections on automated land area calculation. The testing is a two- staged process; the first stage uses the 1996 Digital Cartographic Files (DCFs) and the second stage will use the NGB. Although the DCFs are not ideal for testing land area, this two-staged approach is necessary since the NGB will not be completed until Autumn 1998. This report presents results on the first stage using the 1996 DCFs.

The results reveal that the effects of data aggregation are minimal; thus land area can be stored at the census block level and then aggregated to higher level geographic entities without any serious ramifications for the 2001 Census. The results also indicate that an equal-area projection, specifically the Albers Equal-Area Conic projection, is more appropriate for calculating land area.

Description:

The Dissemination Block Boundary Files portray the dissemination block boundaries for which Census data are disseminated. A dissemination block is an area bounded on all sides by roads and/or boundaries of standard geographic areas and is the smallest geographic area for which population and dwelling count data are disseminated. The files contain the boundaries of all dissemination blocks which combine to cover all of Canada.

There are two types of boundary files: digital and cartographic. Digital files depict the full extent of the geographical areas, including the coastal water area. Cartographic files depict the geographical areas using only the major land mass of Canada and its coastal islands. The files provide a framework for mapping and spatial analysis using commercially available geographic information systems or other mapping software.

The Dissemination Block Boundary Files are portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection and are based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). A reference guide is available (92-160-GWE).

Description:

The Dissemination Area Boundary Files portray the dissemination area boundaries for which Census data are disseminated. A dissemination area is a small area composed of one or more neighbouring dissemination blocks and is the smallest standard geographic area for which all census data are disseminated. The files contain the boundaries of all dissemination areas which combine to cover all of Canada.

There are two types of boundary files: digital and cartographic. Digital files depict the full extent of the geographical areas, including the coastal water area. Cartographic files depict the geographical areas using only the major land mass of Canada and its coastal islands. The files provide a framework for mapping and spatial analysis using commercially available geographic information systems or other mapping software.

The Dissemination Area Boundary Files are portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection and are based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). A reference guide is available (92-160-GWE).

Description:

The Federal Electoral District Boundary Files portray the federal electoral district boundaries for which census data are disseminated. A federal electoral district is an area represented by a member of the House of Commons. The federal electoral district boundaries used for the census are based on the Representation Order in effect on January 1 of census year. The files contain the boundaries of all federal electoral districts which combine to cover all of Canada.

There are two types of boundary files: digital and cartographic. Digital files depict the full extent of the geographical areas, including the coastal water area. Cartographic files depict the geographical areas using only the major land mass of Canada and its coastal islands. The files provide a framework for mapping and spatial analysis using commercially available geographic information systems (GIS) or other mapping software.

The Federal Electoral District Boundary Files are portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection and are based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). A reference guide is available (92-160-GWE).

Description: The 2021 Census Teacher's Kit has been developed for use in elementary, intermediate and secondary classes across the country. It includes five fun, classroom-ready activities that will help students gain an understanding of what the census is used for, how it is conducted, and the role it has played in shaping present-day Canada.

Description: The 2021 Census Adult Education Kit has been developed for use in adult literacy and English- or French-as-a-second-language (ESL or FSL) classes across the country. It contains four dynamic activities designed to help students understand and complete the 2021 Census while giving them an opportunity to practise official language skills.

Description: The Community Snapshot Toolkit provides all the information you need to get the most out of census data and create individualized infographics for your community.

Description:

This white paper presents Statistics Canada’s planned approach to the 2021 Census of Population and provides a clear explanation of the processes behind the census program, touching on historical, legal, operational and content aspects. Statistics Canada recognizes that it is important to not only successfully conduct the census, but also to be transparent and informative about the way in which those efforts are accomplished. Painting a Portrait of Canada: The 2021 Census of Population gives readers an exclusive, detailed look at how census data is collected, analyzed and given back to Canadians, in the form of high-quality statistical information, used to make evidence-based decisions in Canadian society.

Description:

This fact sheet offers a concise overview of updated—new or modified—content for the 2021 Census of Population that is specific to the theme of family and demographic concepts, and activities of daily living, which includes the following topics: demographic concepts, sex at birth and gender, and activities of daily living. The changes considered for these topics are explained, along with the resulting approach for 2021.

Description:

This fact sheet offers a concise overview of updated—new or modified—content for the 2021 Census of Population that is specific to the theme of immigration, ethnocultural diversity and languages in Canada, which includes the following topics: immigration and citizenship, place of birth of person/parents, ethnic or cultural origins, population groups, religion, language, and minority language educational rights. The changes considered for these topics are explained, along with the resulting approach for 2021.

Description:

This fact sheet offers a concise overview of updated—new or modified—content for the 2021 Census of Population that is specific to the theme of Indigenous peoples, which includes the following topics: returning content, membership within a Métis organization or Settlement, and enrollment under an Inuit land claims agreement. The changes considered for these topics are explained, along with the resulting approach for 2021.