Social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada: Health and well-being

Additional information

The Data visualization tool — Social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada: Health and well-being 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In 2021 Census analytical and communications products, the term "visible minority" has been replaced by the terms "racialized population" or "racialized groups," reflecting the increased use of these terms in the public sphere.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

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. For more information on the "Gender" concept, please consult the Age, Sex at Birth and Gender reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Definitions

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

Perceived health (very good or excellent; fair or poor) (2)

Perceived health refers to a person’s perception of their health in general. Health refers not only to the absence of disease or injury, but also physical, mental and social well-being.

Very good or excellent perceived health measures the proportion of individuals aged 18 and over who described their health as being generally very good or excellent. The other possible answers were “good,” “fair” or “poor.”

Conversely, fair or poor perceived health measures the proportion of individuals aged 18 and over who described their health as being generally fair or poor. The other possible answers were “good,” “very good” or “excellent.”

Perceived mental health (very good or excellent; fair or poor) (2)

Perceived mental health refers to a person’s perception of their mental health in general. Perceived mental health provides a general indication of the population with some form of mental disorder, mental or emotional problems, or distress, which is not necessarily reflected in perceived health.

Very good or excellent perceived mental health measures the proportion of individuals aged 18 and over who described their mental health as being generally either very good or excellent. The other possible answers were “good,” “fair” or “poor.”

Conversely, fair or poor perceived mental health measures the proportion of individuals aged 18 and over who described their mental health as being generally either fair or poor. The other possible answers were “good,” “very good” or “excellent.”

Perceived life stress (2)

These two indicators include the population aged 18 and over who described, when thinking about the amount of stress in their life, either "most of their days as being quite a bit or extremely stressful" or "not very stressful or not at all stressful," depending on the indicator. The other possible answer was "a bit stressful."

Life satisfaction (satisfied or very satisfied)

Measures the proportion of individuals aged 18 and over who reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their life in general. Life satisfaction is based on a self-reported score from 0 to 10 of how respondents feel about their life as a whole at the time of the survey. “Satisfied or very satisfied” represents those who ranked life satisfaction 6 or higher out of 10.

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