Social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada: Income and wealth

Additional information

The Data visualization tool — Social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada: Income and wealth 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In 2021 Census analytical and communications products, the term "visible minority" has been replaced by the terms "racialized population" or "racialized groups," reflecting the increased use of these terms in the public sphere.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 for the data from the 2021 Canadian Housing Survey 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.

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

For more information on each indicator linked to income from the Census, please consult the Income Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Average employment income ($)

Includes persons aged 15 years old and over who reported employment income during the calendar year preceding the census. Employment income includes income from a salary, wages, tips and/or commissions, as well as income from self-employment.

Median employment income ($)

Includes persons aged 15 years old and over who reported employment income during the calendar year preceding the census. Employment income includes income from a salary, wages, tips and/or commissions, as well as income from self-employment.

The median employment income of a specified group is the amount that divides the employment income distribution of that group into two halves, i.e., the employment incomes of half of the units in that group are below the median, while those of the other half are above the median.

Ability to meet household’s financial needs (difficulty and ease) (2)

These two indicators refer to the population living in housing where the reference person, aged 15 years old and over, reported that it was, in the 12 past months, "very difficult" or "difficult" or; "very easy" or "easy" for their household to meet its financial needs in terms of transportation, housing, food, clothing and necessary expenses.

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

Poverty rate (MBM)

Refers to the proportion of individuals living in private households whose income falls below the Market Basket Measure (MBM) poverty line. The MBM is Canada's official measure of poverty based on the cost of a specific basket of goods and services representing a modest, basic standard of living developed by Employment and Social Development Canada. For more information on the measure of the MBM, please consult the definition of "Market Basket Measure (MBM)" from the Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021.

Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT)

Includes the proportion of individuals living in private households whose income falls below a specified low-income line. Refers to the income situation of a person in relation to the Low-income measure, after-tax (LIM-AT). Persons with income that is below this low-income line are considered to be in low income.

Prevalence of low income (LIM-BT)

Includes persons living in private households whose income falls below a specified low-income line. Refers to the income situation of a person in relation to the Low-income measure, before-tax (LIM-BT). Refers to the income situation of a person in relation to the Low-income measure, before-tax (LIM-BT). Persons with income that is below this low-income line are considered to be in low income.

Average total household income, adjusted for the number of persons

"Adjusted total income" refers to total income of the household that is adjusted for the number of persons in the household. The average income is calculated by dividing the aggregate income of the household members by the number of persons in that group.

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

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