Canadian Demographics at a Glance

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Demography Division, Statistics Canada

Introduction

Canadian Demographics at a Glance is designed to present a maximum of demographic information, giving users an up-to-date picture of the various aspects of the Canadian population. Each page of the document contains a chart or table, accompanied by a brief analytical commentary. Most of the charts contain both historical statistics and the most recent projections, so that phenomena can be analysed within a fairly broad timeframe. It is intended for a variety of users, including those working in government, educational institutions, businesses and the media, as well as any other organization or individual interested in Canadian demography.

For the most part, Canadian Demographics at a Glance is a compendium produced from data, analyses and text taken from other Statistics Canada products, most of them from Demography Division or the Canadian censuses, updated where possible. Major publications from which the information presented in this document are gathered include:

  • Report on the demographic situation
  • Annual demographic statistics
  • Population projections for Canada, provinces and territories
  • Projections of visible minority groups
  • Analytical series, 2001 and 2006 censuses

The source of the data and analysis presented in this publication can be found on each page, at the bottom of each figure and table. The interested reader can obtain more information by referring to these sources.

This publication begins by examining aspects of the demographic situation that relate to Canada's total population growth. To provide a good grasp of the mechanisms that underlie population growth, the document then analyses the three components of population change over time, namely fertility, mortality and migratory movements. It then analyses some effects of demographic dynamics on the composition of the population. The final part of the document is devoted to the demographic situation for the provinces, territories and metropolitan areas. A glossary, placed at the end of the document, defines terms and expressions useful for a better understanding of the text.

Finally, the reader will be aware that Canadian Demographics at a Glance should be updated at regular intervals. Its content could also be extended to other characteristics of the Canadian population in subsequent editions.

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