Social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada: Basic needs and housing

Additional information

The Data visualization tool — Social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada: Basic needs and housing is part of a conceptual framework on social inclusion and covers a total of 11 themes. Each theme has a similar interactive visualization tool that is accessible on the page Data visualization tools — Social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada.

These themes are participation in the labour market, representation in decision-making positions, civic engagement and political participation, basic needs and housing, health and well-being, education and skills development, income and wealth, social connections and personal networks, institutions and public services, local community, and discrimination and victimization.

The framework, the indicators and the visualization tools are products released by the Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics that aim to support Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy by providing evidence. Over 120 indicators can be used to examine various socioeconomic facets of visible minorities which are being referred to as "racialized population" in analytical and communication products at Statistics Canada.

Visible minority

In 2021 Census analytical and communications products, the term "visible minority" has been replaced by the terms "racialized population" or "racialized groups," reflecting the increased use of these terms in the public sphere. For technical reasons the term "visible minority" is used in this data visualization tool. The data displayed in this visualization tool are measured from the standard census variable of visible minority.

Visible minority refers to whether a person is a visible minority or not, as defined by the Employment Equity Act. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour." The visible minority population consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.

For data quality reasons or to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act, the category of "West Asian," "Korean," "Japanese," "Visible minority not included elsewhere," and "Not specified" are included in "Total — Visible minority" and "Total visible minority population," but not available as an option of selection in the drop-down menu of this data visualization tool.

Gender and sex

Gender refers to an individual’s personal and social identity as a man, woman or non-binary person (a person who is not exclusively a man or a woman).

Given that the non-binary population is small and to protect the confidentiality of responses provided, individuals in the category "non-binary persons" are distributed into the other two gender categories and are denoted by the "+" symbol.

The sex variable in census years prior to 2021 and the two-category gender variable in the 2021 Census are included together in this data visualization tool. Although sex and gender refer to two different concepts, the introduction of gender is not expected to have a significant impact on data analysis and historical comparability, given the small size of the transgender and non-binary populations. For more information on the "Gender" variable and information on changes of concepts over time, please consult the Age, Sex at Birth and Gender Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Definitions

Household food security and insecurity (5)

This series of five indicators is based on a set of 18 questions that aims to measure the levels of household food security. The indicators indicate whether households both with and without children were able to afford the food they needed in the previous 12 months of the survey. The levels of food security are defined as: 1- Food secure: No indication of difficulty with income-related food access; 2- Marginally food insecure: Exactly one indication of difficulty with income-related food access; 3- Moderately or severely food secure; 4- Moderately food insecure: Indication of compromise in quality and/or quantity of food consumed; 5- Severely food insecure: Indication of reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns.

Includes the population aged 18 years and older.

The percentages of the indicators are calculated excluding non-response records or missing data in the denominator.

Population living in a dwelling owned by one or some members of the household

Refers to a person who lives in a dwelling owned by one or some members of the household.

Population living in core housing need

Includes persons living in a private household whose housing does not meet at least one of the indicator thresholds for housing adequacy, affordability or suitability, and have to spend 30% or more of its total before-tax income to pay the median rent of alternative local housing that is acceptable (attains all three housing indicator thresholds). For more information on the measure of each indicator, please consult the definition of "Core housing need" from the Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021.

Population living in suitable housing

Includes persons living in a private household whose housing is a suitable according to the National Occupancy Standard (NOS); that is, whether the dwelling has enough bedrooms for the size and composition of the household. A dwelling is deemed suitable if it has enough bedrooms, as calculated using the NOS. For more information on the measure of each indicator, please consult the definition of "Core housing need" from the Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021.

Population living in affordable housing

Includes persons living in a household that dedicates less than 30% of its budget to housing costs.

Related products

Social Inclusion Framework for Ethnocultural Groups in Canada, Infosheet

Reference guide on the social indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada 2024, Ethnicity, Language and Immigration Thematic Series, March 2024

Perceived health and well-being indicators among racialized groups, 2023, Ethnicity, Language and Immigration Thematic Series, February 2025

The Daily – Social inclusion for ethnocultural groups in Canada: New tables

The Daily – Statistics on social inclusion for ethnocultural groups in Canada: New products and selected results on the evolution of education among racialized groups, 2006 to 2021

The Daily – Housing conditions among racialized groups: a brief overview

The Daily – Portraits of the social, political and economic participation of racialized groups