2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

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Topic-based tabulation: Ethnic Origin (247), Generation Status (4), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) and Sex (3) for the Population 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

About this tabulation

General information

Catalogue number :97-562-XCB2006015
Release date :April 2, 2008
Topic :Ethnic origin and visible minorities
Data dimensions :

Note

Note: Ethnic origin

In 2006, the Ethnic origin question asked: 'What were the ethnic or cultural origins of this person's ancestors?' Respondents were asked to specify as many origins as applicable. Four write-in spaces were provided and up to six ethnic origins were retained.

Since 1981, when respondents were first permitted to report more than one ethnic origin in the census, a distinction has been made between single and multiple ethnic origin responses. A 'single' response is given when a respondent provides one ethnic origin only. A 'multiple' response is given when a respondent provides two or more ethnic origins. A 'total response' indicates the sum of single and multiple responses for each specific group.

It must be noted that the measurement of ethnicity is affected by changes in the social environment in which the question is asked, and changes in the respondent's understanding or views about the topic. Awareness of family background or length of time since immigration can affect responses to the ethnic origin question. Some respondents may confuse or combine the concept of ethnic origin with other concepts such as citizenship, nationality, language or cultural identity.

As well, some respondents may choose to provide very specific ethnic origins in the census, while others may choose to give more general responses. This means that two respondents with the same ethnic ancestry could have different response patterns and thus could be counted as having different ethnic origins. For example, one respondent may report 'East Indian' ethnic origin while another respondent, with a similar ancestral background, may report 'Punjabi' or 'South Asian' origins; one respondent may report 'Black' while another, similar respondent, may report 'Ghanaian' or 'African.' As a result, ethnic origin data are very fluid, and counts for certain origins, such as 'East Indian' and 'Black,' may seem lower than initially expected. Users who wish to obtain broader response counts may wish to combine data for two or more ethnic origins together or use counts for ethnic categories such as 'South Asian origins' or 'African origins.'

For additional information on issues related to the collection and dissemination of ethnic origin data, and on the comparability of ethnic origin data over time, refer to the Ethnic Origin Reference Guide, 2006 Census, Catalogue number 97-562-GWE2006025.

Note: Impact of municipal restructuring

The boundaries and names of municipalities (census subdivisions) can change from one census to the next because of annexations, dissolutions and incorporations. To bridge the impact of these municipal changes on data dissemination, the 2006 Census team is producing a profile for dissolved census subdivisions. For additional information, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, catalogue number 92-566-XWE or 92-566-XPE.

Note: Institutional residents

People in seniors' residences in the 2006 Census are classified as 'not living in an institution'. This is a change from the 2001 Census where they were classified as institutional residents, specifically, 'living in an institution, resident under care or custody'.

Note: Non-permanent residents and the census universe

In the 2006 Census, non-permanent residents are defined as people from another country who, at the time of the census, held a Work or Study Permit, or who were refugee claimants, as well as family members living in Canada with them. In the 1991, 1996 and 2001 censuses, non-permanent residents also included persons who held a Minister's permit; this was discontinued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada prior to the 2006 Census.

From 1991 on, the Census of Population has enumerated both permanent and non-permanent residents of Canada. Prior to 1991, only permanent residents of Canada were included in the census. (The only exception to this occurred in 1941.) Non-permanent residents were considered foreign residents and were not enumerated.

Total population counts, as well as counts for all variables, are affected by this change in the census universe. Users should be especially careful when comparing data from 1991, 1996, 2001 or 2006 with data from previous censuses in geographic areas where there is a concentration of non-permanent residents.

Today in Canada, non-permanent residents make up a significant segment of the population, especially in several census metropolitan areas. Their presence can affect the demand for such government services as health care, schooling, employment programs and language training. The inclusion of non-permanent residents in the census facilitates comparisons with provincial and territorial statistics (marriages, divorces, births and deaths) which include this population. In addition, this inclusion of non-permanent residents brings Canadian practice closer to the United Nations (UN) recommendation that long-term residents (persons living in a country for one year or longer) be enumerated in the census.

Although every attempt has been made to enumerate non-permanent residents, factors such as language difficulties, the reluctance to complete a government form or to understand the need to participate may have affected the enumeration of this population.

For additional information, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, catalogue number 92-566-XWE or 92-566-XPE.

For counts of the non-permanent resident population in 1991, 2001 and 2006, please refer to the 2006 Census table 97-557-XCB2006006.


Note: Population universe

The population universe of the 2006 Census includes the following groups:
- Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants with a usual place of residence in Canada;
- Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants who are abroad, either on a military base or attached to a diplomatic mission;
- Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants at sea or in port aboard merchant vessels under Canadian registry;
- persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who are claiming refugee status and members of their families living with them;
- persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who hold Study Permits and members of their families living with them;
- persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who hold Work Permits and members of their families living with them.

For census purposes, the last three groups in this list are referred to as 'non-permanent residents'. For further information, refer to the variable Immigration: Non-permanent resident found in the 2006 Census Dictionary, catalogue number 92-566-XWE or 92-566-XPE.

Data table

Select data categories for this table


This table details ethnic origin , generation status , single and multiple ethnic origin responses and sex for the population 15 years and over in Nova Scotia / Nouvelle-ÉcosseFootnote 2
Ethnic origin (247) Generation status (4)
Total - Generation status 1st generationFootnote 3 2nd generationFootnote 4 3rd generation or moreFootnote 5
Total - Ethnic originFootnote 6 756,595 47,850 55,155 653,585
British Isles origins 455,185 20,395 36,845 397,945
Cornish 35 10 15 10
English 239,620 13,000 22,545 204,075
Irish 159,090 5,535 11,065 142,490
Manx 40 0 0 35
Scottish 235,240 7,360 17,070 210,805
Welsh 13,880 1,270 1,700 10,910
British Isles, n.i.e.Footnote 7 9,345 985 1,705 6,655
French origins 136,255 3,350 6,500 126,400
Acadian 11,315 160 365 10,795
French 129,940 3,235 6,295 120,410
Aboriginal origins 34,995 750 1,655 32,590
Inuit 1,080 0 40 1,040
Métis 7,150 50 210 6,890
North American Indian 27,370 710 1,420 25,240
Other North American origins 300,475 4,065 14,715 281,690
American 4,645 1,115 1,185 2,345
Canadian 296,395 3,160 14,090 279,140
Newfoundlander 1,280 10 80 1,185
Nova Scotian 305 25 30 250
Ontarian 10 0 0 0
Québécois 95 0 0 95
Other provincial or regional groups 75 0 10 60
Caribbean origins 2,600 750 670 1,175
Antiguan 35 10 15 0
Bahamian 65 40 0 15
Barbadian 325 90 60 180
Bermudan 160 55 25 80
Carib 10 0 0 10
Cuban 170 105 20 40
Dominican, n.o.s.Footnote 8 35 25 0 10
Grenadian 30 15 15 0
Guyanese 110 20 60 30
Haitian 25 20 10 0
Jamaican 695 160 175 365
Kittitian/Nevisian 0 0 0 0
Martinican 0 0 0 0
Montserratan 0 0 0 0
Puerto Rican 45 15 15 10
St. Lucian 20 15 0 10
Trinidadian/Tobagonian 130 75 50 0
Vincentian/Grenadinian 10 10 10 0
West Indian 705 115 190 400
Caribbean, n.i.e.Footnote 9 155 30 65 55
Latin, Central and South American origins 1,120 630 235 255
Aboriginal from Central/South America 140 95 10 30
Argentinian 30 10 15 10
Belizean 25 25 0 0
Bolivian 0 0 0 0
Brazilian 45 25 15 0
Chilean 30 25 10 0
Colombian 120 100 20 0
Costa Rican 0 0 0 0
Ecuadorian 15 0 0 10
Guatemalan 0 0 0 0
Hispanic 50 45 0 10
Honduran 25 20 10 0
Maya 45 20 10 15
Mexican 395 180 80 130
Nicaraguan 25 15 10 0
Panamanian 40 10 10 15
Paraguayan 10 0 0 0
Peruvian 55 45 10 0
Salvadorean 50 30 20 0
Uruguayan 0 0 0 0
Venezuelan 60 45 10 0
Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.Footnote 10 110 40 20 50
European origins 150,950 16,445 20,005 114,500
Western European origins 107,535 8,475 11,060 87,990
Austrian 1,515 340 385 790
Belgian 1,990 135 305 1,555
Dutch (Netherlands) 30,035 2,810 4,410 22,810
Flemish 285 35 55 185
Frisian 95 80 10 0
German 83,615 5,385 6,425 71,805
Luxembourger 15 10 0 0
Swiss 2,285 345 300 1,640
Northern European origins 10,785 1,300 1,800 7,685
Finnish 740 105 160 475
Scandinavian origins 10,110 1,215 1,645 7,245
Danish 2,800 395 595 1,815
Icelandic 335 50 15 270
Norwegian 3,610 365 565 2,685
Swedish 2,925 360 460 2,100
Scandinavian, n.i.e.Footnote 11 720 115 70 535
Eastern European origins 19,720 3,550 4,305 11,865
Baltic origins 995 235 295 460
Estonian 210 65 60 85
Latvian 270 85 100 80
Lithuanian 510 85 135 295
Byelorussian 40 25 0 0
Czech and Slovak origins 1,460 395 365 695
Czech 760 260 185 315
Czechoslovakian 450 75 95 280
Slovak 300 85 100 115
Hungarian (Magyar) 1,920 365 655 900
Polish 8,565 1,770 1,750 5,055
Romanian 775 180 125 470
Russian 2,560 750 460 1,345
Ukrainian 5,900 365 1,225 4,305
Southern European origins 19,355 4,185 4,170 10,995
Albanian 105 85 10 15
Bosnian 125 115 10 0
Bulgarian 275 65 50 165
Croatian 505 255 120 125
Cypriot 55 35 15 0
Greek 2,310 695 855 760
Italian 10,005 1,365 2,185 6,455
Kosovar 0 0 0 0
Macedonian 20 0 25 0
Maltese 245 75 50 120
Montenegrin 0 0 0 0
Portuguese 2,405 520 415 1,465
Serbian 130 125 10 0
Sicilian 40 20 0 20
Slovenian 80 35 35 10
Spanish 3,085 880 405 1,800
Yugoslav, n.i.e.Footnote 12 535 205 145 180
Other European origins 3,580 730 795 2,055
Basque 185 10 10 165
Gypsy (Roma) 40 10 10 30
Jewish 2,785 620 735 1,430
Slav (European) 65 25 10 30
European, n.i.e.Footnote 13 560 75 60 430
African origins 7,890 1,220 660 6,015
Afrikaner 15 10 10 0
Akan 0 0 0 0
Amhara 10 10 0 0
Angolan 0 0 0 0
Ashanti 0 0 0 0
Bantu 0 10 0 0
Black 3,255 115 160 2,975
Burundian 0 0 0 0
Cameroonian 15 10 0 0
Chadian 0 0 0 0
Congolese (Zairian) 10 0 0 0
Congolese, n.o.s.Footnote 14 0 0 0 0
Dinka 0 0 0 0
East African 10 0 0 0
Eritrean 40 35 0 0
Ethiopian 75 70 10 0
Gabonese 0 0 0 0
Gambian 10 0 0 0
Ghanaian 100 70 30 0
Guinean, n.o.s.Footnote 15 0 0 0 0
Harari 0 0 0 0
Ibo 0 0 0 0
Ivorian 0 0 0 0
Kenyan 15 15 0 0
Malagasy 0 0 0 0
Malian 10 0 0 0
Mauritian 10 10 10 0
Nigerian 205 160 35 0
Oromo 25 25 0 0
Peulh 0 0 0 0
Rwandan 0 0 0 0
Senegalese 0 0 0 0
Seychellois 0 0 0 0
Sierra Leonean 10 10 0 0
Somali 35 20 10 10
South African 255 70 120 70
Sudanese 35 30 0 0
Tanzanian 0 10 0 0
Tigrian 0 0 0 0
Togolese 35 35 0 0
Ugandan 40 30 10 0
Yoruba 15 10 0 0
Zambian 45 40 0 0
Zimbabwean 30 25 0 10
Zulu 0 10 0 0
African, n.i.e.Footnote 16 3,625 405 275 2,945
Arab origins 7,800 3,660 1,270 2,875
Egyptian 680 600 50 30
Iraqi 215 205 0 10
Jordanian 90 90 0 0
Kuwaiti 145 140 0 0
Lebanese 4,740 1,205 1,030 2,500
Libyan 90 90 0 0
Maghrebi origins 100 75 25 0
Algerian 10 10 10 0
Berber 10 0 0 0
Moroccan 60 60 0 0
Tunisian 10 0 10 0
Maghrebi, n.i.e.Footnote 17 10 0 10 0
Palestinian 460 385 45 25
Saudi Arabian 15 15 0 0
Syrian 525 110 50 365
Yemeni 120 120 0 0
Arab, n.i.e.Footnote 18 990 875 70 50
West Asian origins 1,375 1,105 140 130
Afghan 80 55 15 10
Armenian 105 50 20 30
Assyrian 10 10 0 0
Azerbaijani 25 30 0 0
Georgian 0 0 0 0
Iranian 605 515 60 25
Israeli 40 10 10 20
Kurd 75 60 0 10
Pashtun 30 30 0 0
Tatar 20 20 0 0
Turk 335 280 30 25
West Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 19 135 125 10 10
South Asian origins 3,800 2,645 645 505
Bangladeshi 70 65 0 0
Bengali 45 45 0 0
East Indian 3,050 2,065 535 445
Goan 15 15 0 0
Gujarati 0 0 0 0
Kashmiri 0 0 0 0
Nepali 0 0 0 0
Pakistani 385 285 55 45
Punjabi 45 40 0 0
Sinhalese 30 30 0 0
Sri Lankan 105 75 15 15
Tamil 15 0 0 10
South Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 20 105 65 35 0
East and Southeast Asian origins 6,160 4,350 985 825
Burmese 35 10 25 0
Cambodian 10 10 0 0
Chinese 3,815 2,620 670 530
Filipino 570 410 135 20
Hmong 0 0 0 0
Indonesian 85 55 20 10
Japanese 430 280 55 100
Khmer 0 0 0 0
Korean 745 635 35 70
Laotian 0 0 0 0
Malaysian 35 15 10 0
Mongolian 40 30 0 0
Singaporean 0 10 0 0
Taiwanese 35 30 0 0
Thai 40 35 0 0
Tibetan 0 0 0 0
Vietnamese 455 330 75 50
East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 21 25 0 25 0
Asian, n.o.s.Footnote 22 25 10 0 20
Oceania origins 530 180 150 200
Australian 400 135 115 150
New Zealander 95 30 40 30
Pacific Islands origins 40 25 10 15
Fijian 0 10 0 0
Hawaiian 10 0 0 0
Maori 15 10 10 0
Polynesian 10 0 0 15
Samoan 0 0 0 0
Pacific Islander, n.i.e.Footnote 23 0 10 0 0

Footnotes

Footnote 1

The category 'Total - Single and multiple ethnic origin responses' indicates the number of respondents who reported each ethnic origin, either as their only response or in addition to one or more other ethnic origins. Total responses represent the sum of single responses and multiple responses received in the census.

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Footnote 2

Data quality index showing, for the short census questionnaire (100% data), a global non response rate higher than or equal to 5% but lower than 10%.

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Footnote 3

Persons born outside Canada. For the most part, these are people who are now, or have ever been, landed immigrants in Canada. Also included in the first generation are a small number of people born outside Canada to parents who are Canadian citizens by birth. In addition, the first generation includes people who are non-permanent residents (defined as people from another country living in Canada on Work or Study Permits or as refugee claimants, and any family members living with them in Canada).

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Footnote 4

Persons born inside Canada with at least one parent born outside Canada. This includes (a) persons born in Canada with both parents born outside Canada and (b) persons born in Canada with one parent born in Canada and one parent born outside Canada (these persons may have grandparents born inside or outside Canada as well).

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Footnote 5

Persons born inside Canada with both parents born inside Canada (these persons may have grandparents born inside or outside Canada as well).

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Footnote 6

This is a total population count. The sum of the ethnic groups in this table is greater than the total population count because a person may report more than one ethnic origin in the census.

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Footnote 7

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 8

The abbreviation 'n.o.s.' means 'not otherwise specified.'

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Footnote 9

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 10

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 11

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 12

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 13

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 14

The abbreviation 'n.o.s.' means 'not otherwise specified.'

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Footnote 15

The abbreviation 'n.o.s.' means 'not otherwise specified.'

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Footnote 16

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 17

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 18

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 19

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 20

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 21

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 22

The abbreviation 'n.o.s.' means 'not otherwise specified.'

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Footnote 23

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-562-XCB2006015.

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