Census of Population

Description: This dashboard features tables and a map designed for users to explore the number and the size of communities by different definitions of rural, including that of rural and small town (census subdivisions outside census metropolitan areas or census agglomerations) and that of rural areas (non-population centres) according to the Census of Population Program. This web-based application undergoes updates every five years with the census.

Description: From November 2022 to March 2023 Statistics Canada undertook a series of discussions to obtain feedback on the questions used to identify First Nations people, Métis and Inuit on the Census of Population and on other Statistics Canada surveys. This report summarizes the feedback received during these discussions.

Description: Using Census data, this infographic provides data trends on the size of the South Asian population, as well admission categories, top source countries and an overview of the historical migration levels of selected South Asian populations.

Description: Engagement on the questions used to identify First Nations people, Métis and Inuit that are included on the Census of Population and on other Statistics Canada surveys is an important part of ensuring high quality and meaningful data are collected. The feedback received during these discussions are presented in these reports.

Description: Using data from the 2021 Census, this study investigates the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racialized workers, focusing on the change in median employment income from 2019 to 2020, and the extent to which payments from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit offset income losses in 2020 among workers affected by the pandemic. Differences between racialized and non-racialized workers are investigated, along with differences among groups of racialized workers, as well as the intersectionality of race and gender.

Description: This interactive tool details the characteristics of Indigenous postsecondary students in Canada entering selected programs leading to a postsecondary credential. This tool includes information on the number of new students by Indigenous identity, educational qualification, field of study, age group, and gender.

Description: Number of new entrants to postsecondary education by Indigenous identity, select educational qualifications (Classification of programs and credentials - professional degree variant), field of study (Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2016 - STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics and computer sciences) and BHASE (business, humanities, health, arts, social science and education) groupings), gender and age group.

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: Data on military service status by census family status and household living arrangements, number of children, age of youngest child, age and gender for the population aged 17 years and over in census families in private households in Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts.

Description: Indigenous identity by gender and age for the population in private households which includes counts, percentage distribution and percentage change from the 2011 National Household Survey, and the 2016 and 2021 censuses.

Description: Indigenous identity by gender and age for the population in private households which includes counts, percentage distribution and percentage change from the 2016 and 2021 censuses.

Description: Data on place of work status by language spoken most often at home for the employed labour force aged 15 years and over in private households in Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions, and census subdivisions.

Description: Data on place of work status by language spoken most often at home for the employed labour force aged 15 years and over in private households in census metropolitan areas, tracted census agglomerations and census tracts.

Description: Data on place of work status by main mode of commuting, time leaving for work, and commuting duration for employed persons aged 15 years and over, with a usual place of work or no fixed workplace address, in private households in Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions, and census subdivisions.

Description: Data on place of work status by main mode of commuting, time leaving for work, and commuting duration for employed persons aged 15 years and over, with a usual place of work or no fixed workplace address, in private households in census metropolitan areas, tracted census agglomerations and census tracts.

Description: Data on place of work status by highest certificate, diploma or degree and gender for the employed labour force aged 15 years and over in private households in Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions.

Description: Data on place of work status by highest certificate, diploma or degree and gender for the employed labour force aged 15 years and over in private households in census metropolitan areas, tracted census agglomerations and census tracts.

Description: Data on labour force status by age and gender for the population aged 15 years and over, in private households in Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions, and census subdivisions.

Description:

This working paper provides an overview of census metropolitan and census agglomeration influenced zones, or MIZ, their background and the methodology used to define them. The MIZ classification is an approach to better differentiate areas of Canada outside of census metropolitan areas (CMA) and census agglomerations (CA). Census subdivisions that lie outside these areas are classified into one of four zones of influence ranging from "strong" to "no" influence according to the degree of influence that CMA/CAs have on them. The MIZ classification fills a gap in Statistics Canada's geographic framework and promotes data integration since we expect it will be possible to obtain survey data as well as census data based on the same geographic structure. Studies done with a preliminary version of MIZ showed the potential of MIZ to reveal the diversity of non-metropolitan Canada. Based on feedback received on that initial research, this working paper reports on more recent work that has been done to refine the number and data breakpoints for MIZ categories and to examine the additional variables of distances between census subdivisions (CSDs), physical adjacency and a north-south allocation.

This is the second in a series of three related Geography working papers (catalogue no. 92F0138MPE) that describe a new statistical area classification that includes census metropolitan areas/census agglomerations, MIZ and the North concept. The first working paper (no. 2000-1, 92F0138MPE00001) briefly describes MIZ and provides tables of selected socio-economic characteristics from the 1991 Census tabulated by the MIZ categories. The third working paper (no. 2000-3, 92F0138MPE00003) describes the North concept and the methodology used to define a continuous line across Canada that separates the north from the south to further differentiate the MIZ classification.

Description:

Statistics Canada's interest in a common delineation of the north for statistical analysis purposes evolved from research to devise a classification to further differentiate the largely rural and remote areas that make up 96% of Canada's land area. That research led to the establishment of the census metropolitan area and census agglomeration influenced zone (MIZ) concept. When applied to census subdivisions, the MIZ categories did not work as well in northern areas as in the south. Therefore, the Geography Division set out to determine a north-south divide that would differentiate the north from the south independent of any standard geographic area boundaries.

This working paper describes the methodology used to define a continuous line across Canada to separate the north from the south, as well as lines marking transition zones on both sides of the north-south line. It also describes the indicators selected to derive the north-south line and makes comparisons to alternative definitions of the north. The resulting classification of the north complements the MIZ classification. Together, census metropolitan areas, census agglomerations, MIZ and the North form a new Statistical Area Classification (SAC) for Canada.

Two related Geography working papers (catalogue no. 92F0138MPE) provide further details about the MIZ classification. Working paper no. 2000-1 (92F0138MPE00001) briefly describes MIZ and includes tables of selected socio-economic characteristics from the 1991 Census tabulated by the MIZ categories, and working paper no. 2000-2 (92F0138MPE00002) describes the methodology used to define the MIZ classification.

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: From November 2022 to March 2023 Statistics Canada undertook a series of discussions to obtain feedback on the questions used to identify First Nations people, Métis and Inuit on the Census of Population and on other Statistics Canada surveys. This report summarizes the feedback received during these discussions.

Description: Engagement on the questions used to identify First Nations people, Métis and Inuit that are included on the Census of Population and on other Statistics Canada surveys is an important part of ensuring high quality and meaningful data are collected. The feedback received during these discussions are presented in these reports.

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

Description: This document presents a complete list of the social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada that are available on the homepage of our Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub. The information provided for each indicator includes a short description of the corresponding derivation, available data sources, reference years and accessible levels of geographical and disaggregation. Each indicator has a corresponding products number (data tables, visualization tools and analytical documents). This document has been updated to reflect the social inclusion indicators and associated products that are available in 2024.

Description: This report presents the results of a study on the estimated number of children eligible for instruction in the minority official language, pursuant to section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, who were classified as ineligible in the 2021 Census because relationships between family members living at different addresses could not be established within this data source. Using other data sources, including previous censuses and administrative data (such as vital statistics and tax data), we were able to establish these family relationships within the 2021 Census. This report presents the methods and data sources used first, then the results by selected regions and age groups.

Description:

This report deals with Indigenous identity, Indigenous ancestry, Indigenous group, Registered or Treaty Indian status, Membership in a First Nation or Indian band, Membership in a Métis organization or Settlement, and Enrollment under an Inuit land claims agreement, and contains explanations of concepts, data quality, historical comparability and comparability with other sources, as well as information on data collection, processing and dissemination.

Description:

This report describes sampling, weighting and estimation procedures used in the Census of Population. It provides operational and theoretical justifications for them, and presents the results of the evaluations of these procedures.

Description: The Census Subdivision Boundary File contains the boundaries of all census subdivisions which combined cover all of Canada. A census subdivision is a municipality or an area treated as an equivalent to a municipality for statistical purposes (for example, Indian reserves and unorganized territories). The file provides a framework for mapping and spatial analysis using commercially available geographic information systems (GIS) or other mapping software.

The Census Subdivision Boundary File is portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection and is based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). A reference guide is available (92-162-G).

Description: The Road Network File (RNF) is a digital representation of Canada's national road network, containing information such as street names, types, directions and address ranges. The information comes from the National Geographic Database (NGD).

A reference guide is available (92-500-G).