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 QuébecFootnote 2
Ethnic origin (247) Generation status (4)
Total - Generation status 1st generationFootnote 3 2nd generationFootnote 4 3rd generation or moreFootnote 5
Total - Ethnic originFootnote 6 442,485 22,095 10,615 409,775
British Isles origins 31,390 890 1,425 29,080
Cornish 0 0 0 0
English 6,180 460 600 5,120
Irish 20,300 320 635 19,340
Manx 10 10 0 0
Scottish 8,150 200 355 7,590
Welsh 40 15 10 20
British Isles, n.i.e.Footnote 7 425 45 70 305
French origins 161,545 5,400 4,490 151,660
Acadian 2,190 10 25 2,150
French 160,085 5,385 4,470 150,235
Aboriginal origins 9,505 20 205 9,275
Inuit 75 0 0 75
Métis 1,100 10 25 1,065
North American Indian 8,470 10 185 8,275
Other North American origins 314,265 1,810 5,440 307,015
American 1,695 235 445 1,010
Canadian 306,465 1,595 5,095 299,780
Newfoundlander 0 0 0 0
Nova Scotian 25 0 0 20
Ontarian 15 0 0 15
Québécois 8,105 50 215 7,840
Other provincial or regional groups 35 0 0 30
Caribbean origins 1,130 775 245 105
Antiguan 0 0 0 0
Bahamian 0 0 0 0
Barbadian 0 0 0 0
Bermudan 0 0 0 0
Carib 0 0 0 0
Cuban 155 130 15 0
Dominican, n.o.s.Footnote 8 80 70 10 0
Grenadian 0 0 0 0
Guyanese 60 50 10 0
Haitian 705 475 140 90
Jamaican 20 10 0 10
Kittitian/Nevisian 0 0 0 0
Martinican 45 30 15 0
Montserratan 0 0 0 0
Puerto Rican 0 0 0 0
St. Lucian 0 0 0 0
Trinidadian/Tobagonian 15 10 10 0
Vincentian/Grenadinian 0 0 0 10
West Indian 25 0 25 0
Caribbean, n.i.e.Footnote 9 30 10 20 10
Latin, Central and South American origins 2,635 2,105 310 220
Aboriginal from Central/South America 80 60 10 0
Argentinian 135 120 0 10
Belizean 0 0 0 0
Bolivian 20 20 0 0
Brazilian 120 105 10 0
Chilean 380 275 80 25
Colombian 835 790 25 20
Costa Rican 30 25 0 0
Ecuadorian 10 0 0 0
Guatemalan 25 25 0 0
Hispanic 0 0 0 0
Honduran 30 30 0 0
Maya 25 25 0 0
Mexican 400 260 75 65
Nicaraguan 25 0 10 20
Panamanian 15 10 0 0
Paraguayan 10 0 0 0
Peruvian 130 85 25 25
Salvadorean 360 250 65 45
Uruguayan 10 0 0 0
Venezuelan 25 20 10 0
Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.Footnote 10 70 50 0 20
European origins 21,655 7,525 3,255 10,870
Western European origins 8,520 1,795 1,135 5,590
Austrian 185 65 30 95
Belgian 2,020 495 435 1,085
Dutch (Netherlands) 510 180 90 245
Flemish 55 15 0 35
Frisian 10 0 0 0
German 5,125 880 500 3,745
Luxembourger 60 10 0 45
Swiss 840 260 140 440
Northern European origins 610 80 50 485
Finnish 40 10 10 25
Scandinavian origins 585 75 50 460
Danish 140 35 25 80
Icelandic 0 0 0 0
Norwegian 300 30 15 260
Swedish 135 25 20 90
Scandinavian, n.i.e.Footnote 11 30 10 0 25
Eastern European origins 2,950 1,605 490 850
Baltic origins 90 30 25 35
Estonian 0 0 0 0
Latvian 20 10 10 0
Lithuanian 75 20 20 35
Byelorussian 10 15 0 0
Czech and Slovak origins 275 130 50 100
Czech 120 75 10 35
Czechoslovakian 45 10 10 35
Slovak 120 45 30 40
Hungarian (Magyar) 425 225 155 45
Polish 910 405 185 320
Romanian 685 595 25 65
Russian 545 335 30 175
Ukrainian 385 125 85 170
Southern European origins 10,230 4,470 1,775 3,985
Albanian 115 105 0 10
Bosnian 735 685 15 35
Bulgarian 140 125 0 0
Croatian 140 105 25 10
Cypriot 0 0 0 0
Greek 520 200 185 135
Italian 4,670 1,240 845 2,580
Kosovar 25 25 0 0
Macedonian 10 0 0 0
Maltese 20 10 10 0
Montenegrin 30 30 0 0
Portuguese 1,605 625 330 645
Serbian 190 160 30 0
Sicilian 25 0 10 10
Slovenian 10 10 0 0
Spanish 2,395 1,400 345 650
Yugoslav, n.i.e.Footnote 12 210 160 30 20
Other European origins 680 270 65 345
Basque 210 75 25 110
Gypsy (Roma) 0 0 0 0
Jewish 250 120 30 100
Slav (European) 0 0 0 0
European, n.i.e.Footnote 13 220 75 10 140
African origins 2,585 2,250 205 130
Afrikaner 10 10 0 0
Akan 0 0 0 0
Amhara 0 0 0 0
Angolan 45 45 0 0
Ashanti 0 0 0 0
Bantu 10 10 0 0
Black 115 75 0 35
Burundian 255 250 10 0
Cameroonian 110 100 0 10
Chadian 0 10 0 0
Congolese (Zairian) 230 215 10 10
Congolese, n.o.s.Footnote 14 130 120 10 0
Dinka 0 0 0 0
East African 0 0 0 0
Eritrean 0 10 0 0
Ethiopian 0 10 0 0
Gabonese 80 65 10 0
Gambian 0 0 0 0
Ghanaian 0 10 0 0
Guinean, n.o.s.Footnote 15 80 80 10 0
Harari 0 0 0 0
Ibo 0 0 0 0
Ivorian 90 75 10 10
Kenyan 0 10 0 0
Malagasy 65 45 15 0
Malian 25 15 10 0
Mauritian 20 15 10 0
Nigerian 10 10 10 0
Oromo 0 0 0 0
Peulh 70 70 0 0
Rwandan 310 285 20 10
Senegalese 225 200 25 0
Seychellois 0 0 0 0
Sierra Leonean 0 0 0 0
Somali 40 30 0 15
South African 15 15 0 0
Sudanese 0 0 0 0
Tanzanian 0 0 0 0
Tigrian 0 0 0 0
Togolese 85 70 0 0
Ugandan 20 20 0 0
Yoruba 0 0 0 0
Zambian 0 0 0 0
Zimbabwean 0 0 0 0
Zulu 0 0 0 0
African, n.i.e.Footnote 16 775 655 80 40
Arab origins 3,515 2,730 440 340
Egyptian 200 120 35 40
Iraqi 40 35 0 0
Jordanian 10 10 0 0
Kuwaiti 0 0 0 0
Lebanese 695 355 150 190
Libyan 20 10 0 0
Maghrebi origins 1,940 1,715 170 55
Algerian 680 610 55 15
Berber 270 230 25 15
Moroccan 690 620 45 20
Tunisian 410 345 50 10
Maghrebi, n.i.e.Footnote 17 25 20 0 0
Palestinian 50 50 0 0
Saudi Arabian 0 0 0 0
Syrian 130 65 40 30
Yemeni 25 20 0 0
Arab, n.i.e.Footnote 18 595 520 35 35
West Asian origins 785 605 135 50
Afghan 50 25 10 10
Armenian 235 145 60 30
Assyrian 0 0 0 0
Azerbaijani 10 10 0 0
Georgian 0 0 0 0
Iranian 215 195 25 0
Israeli 0 0 0 10
Kurd 125 120 0 0
Pashtun 0 0 0 0
Tatar 0 0 0 0
Turk 170 140 25 10
West Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 19 25 0 10 15
South Asian origins 500 290 145 65
Bangladeshi 15 15 10 0
Bengali 0 0 0 0
East Indian 350 200 90 60
Goan 0 0 0 0
Gujarati 0 0 0 0
Kashmiri 0 0 0 0
Nepali 0 0 0 0
Pakistani 115 55 50 10
Punjabi 0 0 0 0
Sinhalese 0 0 0 0
Sri Lankan 10 0 0 0
Tamil 0 0 0 0
South Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 20 10 10 0 0
East and Southeast Asian origins 2,245 1,680 385 180
Burmese 0 0 0 0
Cambodian 210 150 50 15
Chinese 995 755 130 110
Filipino 70 60 10 0
Hmong 10 0 0 10
Indonesian 15 10 0 0
Japanese 155 120 15 20
Khmer 20 10 0 10
Korean 75 75 0 0
Laotian 105 100 10 0
Malaysian 0 0 0 0
Mongolian 15 15 0 0
Singaporean 0 0 0 0
Taiwanese 20 20 0 0
Thai 45 40 0 0
Tibetan 10 0 0 0
Vietnamese 705 485 195 25
East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 21 0 0 0 0
Asian, n.o.s.Footnote 22 0 0 0 0
Oceania origins 45 40 0 0
Australian 10 10 0 0
New Zealander 10 10 0 0
Pacific Islands origins 35 25 0 0
Fijian 0 0 0 0
Hawaiian 10 0 0 0
Maori 0 0 0 0
Polynesian 10 10 0 0
Samoan 0 0 0 0
Pacific Islander, n.i.e.Footnote 23 15 15 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

Excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements.

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%.

Data quality index showing, for the long census questionnaire (20% sample data), a global non response rate higher than or equal to 5% but lower than 10%.

2001 adjusted count; most of these are the result of boundary changes.

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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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Footnotes

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Footnote d

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