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 Durham
Ethnic origin (247) Generation status (4)
Total - Generation status 1st generationFootnote 2 2nd generationFootnote 3 3rd generation or moreFootnote 4
Total - Ethnic originFootnote 5 442,285 111,565 99,820 230,895
British Isles origins 238,630 31,180 52,425 155,025
Cornish 15 0 10 10
English 147,280 17,555 31,535 98,190
Irish 91,150 8,540 16,720 65,890
Manx 145 15 15 120
Scottish 96,795 10,800 20,785 65,210
Welsh 9,115 1,095 2,085 5,935
British Isles, n.i.e.Footnote 6 9,750 1,695 2,705 5,350
French origins 41,465 2,280 5,180 34,000
Acadian 570 10 30 525
French 41,140 2,270 5,155 33,715
Aboriginal origins 11,110 195 1,255 9,650
Inuit 200 0 10 190
Métis 2,025 10 120 1,900
North American Indian 9,060 190 1,140 7,730
Other North American origins 117,500 2,740 19,140 95,620
American 4,105 955 1,300 1,850
Canadian 114,480 1,960 18,370 94,145
Newfoundlander 365 0 50 310
Nova Scotian 60 0 0 60
Ontarian 25 0 0 25
Québécois 120 0 25 95
Other provincial or regional groups 40 0 0 45
Caribbean origins 25,440 16,285 7,990 1,170
Antiguan 240 140 90 15
Bahamian 50 20 15 10
Barbadian 1,805 925 710 165
Bermudan 105 60 30 15
Carib 140 105 25 10
Cuban 370 285 90 0
Dominican, n.o.s.Footnote 7 305 205 85 15
Grenadian 580 400 170 10
Guyanese 3,510 2,020 1,310 180
Haitian 230 125 85 15
Jamaican 12,330 7,890 3,905 535
Kittitian/Nevisian 90 55 40 0
Martinican 0 10 0 0
Montserratan 15 10 0 0
Puerto Rican 40 15 25 0
St. Lucian 175 100 60 10
Trinidadian/Tobagonian 3,440 2,165 1,165 105
Vincentian/Grenadinian 505 360 125 25
West Indian 3,380 2,195 1,085 100
Caribbean, n.i.e.Footnote 8 400 185 160 55
Latin, Central and South American origins 3,085 2,420 590 70
Aboriginal from Central/South America 220 160 45 10
Argentinian 240 225 20 0
Belizean 0 10 0 0
Bolivian 10 10 0 0
Brazilian 260 195 60 0
Chilean 280 220 60 0
Colombian 180 150 25 0
Costa Rican 20 20 0 0
Ecuadorian 135 100 35 0
Guatemalan 125 120 0 0
Hispanic 30 30 0 0
Honduran 50 30 20 0
Maya 15 15 0 0
Mexican 320 215 70 35
Nicaraguan 80 75 0 0
Panamanian 100 80 25 0
Paraguayan 0 0 0 0
Peruvian 310 280 35 0
Salvadorean 275 200 65 10
Uruguayan 30 10 25 0
Venezuelan 220 170 50 0
Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.Footnote 9 250 160 80 10
European origins 138,190 37,930 46,080 54,175
Western European origins 56,955 10,920 17,655 28,385
Austrian 2,790 610 1,150 1,030
Belgian 1,305 270 420 610
Dutch (Netherlands) 19,295 4,015 7,195 8,090
Flemish 125 25 45 60
Frisian 90 45 35 15
German 35,830 6,405 9,650 19,775
Luxembourger 20 0 10 10
Swiss 1,500 325 360 810
Northern European origins 8,100 1,220 2,335 4,545
Finnish 2,190 430 715 1,035
Scandinavian origins 6,225 825 1,715 3,685
Danish 1,960 330 690 935
Icelandic 370 15 35 315
Norwegian 1,790 190 495 1,110
Swedish 2,110 300 510 1,300
Scandinavian, n.i.e.Footnote 10 180 20 40 120
Eastern European origins 37,995 10,185 11,740 16,065
Baltic origins 1,900 510 885 505
Estonian 715 165 380 165
Latvian 570 170 280 115
Lithuanian 640 170 240 225
Byelorussian 120 70 35 15
Czech and Slovak origins 2,540 815 1,000 730
Czech 1,225 485 460 280
Czechoslovakian 395 60 150 185
Slovak 1,020 290 425 305
Hungarian (Magyar) 4,955 1,755 1,935 1,265
Polish 14,845 4,645 4,340 5,855
Romanian 2,155 1,070 430 650
Russian 3,250 945 810 1,495
Ukrainian 13,145 1,450 3,805 7,890
Southern European origins 47,240 17,430 19,235 10,565
Albanian 210 120 85 0
Bosnian 65 55 10 10
Bulgarian 315 100 95 110
Croatian 1,165 510 515 140
Cypriot 120 70 45 0
Greek 5,025 1,920 2,320 785
Italian 22,010 5,340 9,790 6,880
Kosovar 0 0 0 0
Macedonian 2,305 1,010 935 360
Maltese 1,850 515 855 480
Montenegrin 0 0 0 0
Portuguese 8,635 4,835 3,155 645
Serbian 860 560 220 85
Sicilian 170 15 95 60
Slovenian 815 275 450 90
Spanish 5,025 2,910 1,230 885
Yugoslav, n.i.e.Footnote 11 1,180 275 535 365
Other European origins 2,625 775 795 1,060
Basque 10 0 0 0
Gypsy (Roma) 15 0 10 10
Jewish 2,000 555 625 820
Slav (European) 70 55 10 0
European, n.i.e.Footnote 12 535 165 150 225
African origins 7,065 4,795 1,705 565
Afrikaner 0 0 0 0
Akan 0 0 0 0
Amhara 0 0 0 0
Angolan 15 10 10 0
Ashanti 125 75 50 0
Bantu 0 0 0 0
Black 1,595 890 440 265
Burundian 15 15 0 0
Cameroonian 25 20 0 0
Chadian 0 0 0 0
Congolese (Zairian) 40 35 0 0
Congolese, n.o.s.Footnote 13 50 50 0 0
Dinka 0 0 0 0
East African 80 55 20 0
Eritrean 95 95 0 0
Ethiopian 75 65 10 0
Gabonese 0 0 0 0
Gambian 0 0 0 0
Ghanaian 280 200 80 0
Guinean, n.o.s.Footnote 14 10 0 0 0
Harari 0 0 0 0
Ibo 10 10 0 0
Ivorian 0 0 0 0
Kenyan 100 90 10 0
Malagasy 0 0 0 0
Malian 0 0 0 0
Mauritian 85 45 35 0
Nigerian 305 210 95 0
Oromo 0 0 0 0
Peulh 0 0 0 0
Rwandan 10 10 0 0
Senegalese 15 20 0 0
Seychellois 10 10 0 0
Sierra Leonean 15 15 0 0
Somali 70 70 0 0
South African 560 270 230 60
Sudanese 35 30 0 0
Tanzanian 25 10 10 10
Tigrian 0 0 0 0
Togolese 10 10 0 0
Ugandan 95 60 30 0
Yoruba 55 50 10 0
Zambian 15 15 0 0
Zimbabwean 0 0 0 0
Zulu 0 0 0 0
African, n.i.e.Footnote 15 3,415 2,480 705 230
Arab origins 3,775 2,660 770 345
Egyptian 755 610 120 25
Iraqi 140 120 15 0
Jordanian 65 55 10 0
Kuwaiti 10 10 0 0
Lebanese 1,415 875 260 285
Libyan 20 10 15 0
Maghrebi origins 125 90 25 10
Algerian 0 0 0 0
Berber 0 0 0 0
Moroccan 115 85 25 10
Tunisian 10 0 0 0
Maghrebi, n.i.e.Footnote 16 0 0 0 0
Palestinian 400 295 100 0
Saudi Arabian 20 15 10 0
Syrian 230 130 70 35
Yemeni 35 15 15 0
Arab, n.i.e.Footnote 17 705 560 135 10
West Asian origins 3,725 3,100 425 195
Afghan 1,400 1,315 50 25
Armenian 545 330 115 95
Assyrian 40 35 0 0
Azerbaijani 10 0 0 0
Georgian 90 20 65 0
Iranian 925 830 70 25
Israeli 105 80 15 10
Kurd 45 40 0 0
Pashtun 0 0 0 0
Tatar 0 0 0 0
Turk 565 460 65 30
West Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 18 155 120 30 0
South Asian origins 19,895 16,105 3,535 260
Bangladeshi 120 120 0 0
Bengali 0 10 0 0
East Indian 15,680 12,475 2,975 230
Goan 185 135 40 0
Gujarati 0 0 0 0
Kashmiri 35 30 0 0
Nepali 0 0 0 0
Pakistani 1,985 1,635 315 30
Punjabi 85 80 0 0
Sinhalese 145 115 25 0
Sri Lankan 1,580 1,430 150 0
Tamil 480 450 30 0
South Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 19 625 545 80 0
East and Southeast Asian origins 16,785 12,010 3,690 1,080
Burmese 55 35 10 10
Cambodian 45 45 0 0
Chinese 8,255 5,835 2,110 305
Filipino 5,865 4,720 1,105 40
Hmong 0 0 0 0
Indonesian 155 125 30 0
Japanese 1,205 170 305 730
Khmer 0 0 0 0
Korean 940 830 105 10
Laotian 100 60 30 10
Malaysian 160 125 35 0
Mongolian 20 0 15 0
Singaporean 20 15 0 10
Taiwanese 60 50 10 0
Thai 35 30 10 0
Tibetan 0 0 0 0
Vietnamese 600 540 55 0
East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 20 105 85 15 0
Asian, n.o.s.Footnote 21 0 0 0 0
Oceania origins 470 170 210 90
Australian 350 110 155 85
New Zealander 95 55 40 10
Pacific Islands origins 20 0 15 0
Fijian 15 0 15 0
Hawaiian 0 0 0 0
Maori 0 0 0 0
Polynesian 0 0 0 0
Samoan 0 0 0 0
Pacific Islander, n.i.e.Footnote 22 0 0 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

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 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

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

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Footnote 7

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

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Footnote 8

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

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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.o.s.' means 'not otherwise specified.'

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Footnote 14

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

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Footnote 15

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

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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.o.s.' means 'not otherwise specified.'

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Footnote 22

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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