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

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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 York
Ethnic origin (247) Generation status (4)
Total - Generation status 1st generationFootnote 2 2nd generationFootnote 3 3rd generation or moreFootnote 4
Total - Ethnic originFootnote 5 709,550 370,400 173,370 165,780
British Isles origins 168,310 24,560 40,175 103,575
Cornish 25 0 0 20
English 105,745 15,030 24,760 65,960
Irish 62,295 6,105 13,080 43,105
Manx 45 0 10 25
Scottish 68,295 7,110 15,520 45,665
Welsh 6,545 1,095 1,555 3,890
British Isles, n.i.e.Footnote 6 9,475 1,760 2,790 4,930
French origins 26,870 2,985 4,580 19,305
Acadian 270 0 30 240
French 26,745 2,985 4,570 19,185
Aboriginal origins 5,720 110 845 4,770
Inuit 25 10 0 15
Métis 1,160 0 170 985
North American Indian 4,645 100 700 3,850
Other North American origins 82,175 4,460 17,590 60,115
American 4,325 1,140 1,465 1,720
Canadian 79,120 3,445 16,640 59,030
Newfoundlander 225 0 45 180
Nova Scotian 10 0 0 10
Ontarian 45 0 10 35
Québécois 25 0 10 20
Other provincial or regional groups 15 0 0 10
Caribbean origins 19,010 12,940 5,480 590
Antiguan 265 130 125 10
Bahamian 40 10 25 0
Barbadian 1,180 725 395 60
Bermudan 85 35 40 10
Carib 40 35 10 0
Cuban 280 225 55 0
Dominican, n.o.s.Footnote 7 245 170 75 0
Grenadian 375 265 95 10
Guyanese 2,900 1,780 1,035 85
Haitian 170 100 70 0
Jamaican 9,655 6,710 2,645 300
Kittitian/Nevisian 90 50 45 0
Martinican 10 0 10 0
Montserratan 20 0 10 0
Puerto Rican 0 0 0 0
St. Lucian 105 65 35 0
Trinidadian/Tobagonian 1,915 1,160 715 40
Vincentian/Grenadinian 250 145 95 10
West Indian 2,605 1,810 710 85
Caribbean, n.i.e.Footnote 8 260 185 70 10
Latin, Central and South American origins 7,280 5,800 1,435 50
Aboriginal from Central/South America 150 145 0 0
Argentinian 730 530 200 0
Belizean 10 10 0 0
Bolivian 30 25 0 10
Brazilian 440 280 155 10
Chilean 675 510 160 0
Colombian 805 735 70 0
Costa Rican 25 20 10 0
Ecuadorian 1,105 770 330 0
Guatemalan 170 125 40 0
Hispanic 230 180 55 0
Honduran 35 30 0 0
Maya 0 0 0 0
Mexican 550 450 80 20
Nicaraguan 210 175 35 0
Panamanian 65 55 10 0
Paraguayan 20 10 0 0
Peruvian 700 575 115 10
Salvadorean 695 525 170 0
Uruguayan 205 135 65 0
Venezuelan 260 185 75 0
Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.Footnote 9 500 440 55 0
European origins 291,510 124,155 109,740 57,615
Western European origins 49,270 12,405 15,860 21,005
Austrian 4,135 1,185 1,760 1,185
Belgian 920 200 275 445
Dutch (Netherlands) 12,490 2,730 4,565 5,190
Flemish 80 20 40 20
Frisian 25 15 0 0
German 32,985 8,425 9,695 14,865
Luxembourger 30 0 15 15
Swiss 1,840 560 600 675
Northern European origins 7,850 1,775 2,485 3,585
Finnish 2,400 630 900 865
Scandinavian origins 5,770 1,210 1,740 2,815
Danish 1,860 560 665 635
Icelandic 270 10 50 215
Norwegian 1,650 160 480 1,015
Swedish 2,010 450 585 970
Scandinavian, n.i.e.Footnote 10 205 45 50 105
Eastern European origins 70,770 35,725 17,415 17,625
Baltic origins 4,005 1,750 1,420 835
Estonian 1,130 420 500 205
Latvian 1,025 430 420 175
Lithuanian 1,935 935 530 470
Byelorussian 845 785 30 30
Czech and Slovak origins 3,525 1,390 1,365 770
Czech 1,645 720 615 305
Czechoslovakian 710 220 340 150
Slovak 1,275 465 450 355
Hungarian (Magyar) 7,450 3,490 2,680 1,285
Polish 24,765 7,750 8,170 8,840
Romanian 7,410 5,140 1,160 1,115
Russian 24,395 15,730 3,745 4,915
Ukrainian 14,660 6,145 2,960 5,555
Southern European origins 157,425 67,155 75,600 14,670
Albanian 665 510 110 45
Bosnian 190 165 25 0
Bulgarian 1,090 795 145 145
Croatian 2,240 1,125 955 150
Cypriot 335 180 145 10
Greek 13,155 5,590 6,890 675
Italian 114,300 43,040 59,275 11,980
Kosovar 0 10 0 0
Macedonian 4,325 1,880 2,040 405
Maltese 1,775 515 955 310
Montenegrin 95 95 0 0
Portuguese 11,855 7,220 4,305 330
Serbian 1,540 1,250 240 50
Sicilian 125 30 45 45
Slovenian 1,165 440 590 145
Spanish 8,735 6,085 2,110 540
Yugoslav, n.i.e.Footnote 11 1,545 540 685 315
Other European origins 39,085 18,715 9,955 10,415
Basque 30 15 10 0
Gypsy (Roma) 25 10 0 10
Jewish 38,340 18,475 9,760 10,105
Slav (European) 60 35 15 10
European, n.i.e.Footnote 12 830 235 220 375
African origins 7,740 5,695 1,700 345
Afrikaner 20 25 0 0
Akan 0 0 0 0
Amhara 15 15 0 0
Angolan 0 10 0 0
Ashanti 75 45 25 0
Bantu 20 20 0 0
Black 995 615 250 135
Burundian 0 0 0 0
Cameroonian 0 10 0 0
Chadian 0 0 0 0
Congolese (Zairian) 80 70 10 0
Congolese, n.o.s.Footnote 13 25 15 10 0
Dinka 0 0 0 0
East African 245 175 65 0
Eritrean 105 95 15 0
Ethiopian 295 270 25 0
Gabonese 0 0 0 0
Gambian 0 0 0 0
Ghanaian 330 235 90 0
Guinean, n.o.s.Footnote 14 0 0 0 0
Harari 0 0 0 0
Ibo 15 10 0 0
Ivorian 15 10 0 0
Kenyan 105 85 15 0
Malagasy 0 0 0 0
Malian 0 0 0 0
Mauritian 125 100 20 0
Nigerian 420 360 55 0
Oromo 45 35 10 0
Peulh 0 0 0 0
Rwandan 35 35 0 0
Senegalese 0 10 0 0
Seychellois 0 0 0 0
Sierra Leonean 20 20 0 0
Somali 205 175 25 10
South African 1,290 955 295 40
Sudanese 290 270 25 0
Tanzanian 90 60 35 0
Tigrian 10 0 0 0
Togolese 0 0 0 0
Ugandan 110 80 20 10
Yoruba 80 75 10 0
Zambian 0 0 0 0
Zimbabwean 90 85 0 0
Zulu 0 10 0 0
African, n.i.e.Footnote 15 2,925 2,010 760 155
Arab origins 11,275 8,765 2,125 385
Egyptian 2,690 2,160 510 20
Iraqi 2,030 1,805 220 0
Jordanian 350 280 60 10
Kuwaiti 10 10 0 0
Lebanese 2,185 1,530 400 255
Libyan 25 10 10 0
Maghrebi origins 1,360 865 465 30
Algerian 30 25 10 0
Berber 10 0 0 0
Moroccan 1,105 680 395 30
Tunisian 175 130 45 0
Maghrebi, n.i.e.Footnote 16 60 40 20 0
Palestinian 660 545 110 10
Saudi Arabian 65 50 10 0
Syrian 550 405 90 50
Yemeni 105 75 35 0
Arab, n.i.e.Footnote 17 2,035 1,635 375 20
West Asian origins 27,050 24,830 2,015 205
Afghan 1,620 1,550 65 10
Armenian 3,445 2,765 635 45
Assyrian 945 860 60 20
Azerbaijani 350 350 10 0
Georgian 110 105 0 0
Iranian 16,540 16,000 530 10
Israeli 1,610 1,095 420 95
Kurd 245 245 0 0
Pashtun 20 20 0 0
Tatar 165 160 0 0
Turk 1,775 1,460 280 35
West Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 18 895 835 60 0
South Asian origins 64,520 54,160 10,120 235
Bangladeshi 300 285 0 0
Bengali 150 145 0 0
East Indian 45,665 36,665 8,800 195
Goan 375 275 80 25
Gujarati 130 110 15 0
Kashmiri 55 25 30 0
Nepali 35 35 10 0
Pakistani 4,785 4,170 610 10
Punjabi 1,415 1,210 200 0
Sinhalese 290 255 35 0
Sri Lankan 9,705 9,235 465 0
Tamil 3,520 3,365 155 0
South Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 19 2,485 2,280 190 15
East and Southeast Asian origins 149,760 131,000 17,485 1,275
Burmese 90 90 0 0
Cambodian 1,260 1,060 200 0
Chinese 119,425 105,035 13,850 535
Filipino 14,310 12,375 1,850 80
Hmong 0 0 0 0
Indonesian 365 290 75 0
Japanese 2,015 775 585 655
Khmer 90 80 10 0
Korean 8,615 7,755 850 0
Laotian 1,085 915 160 10
Malaysian 490 415 75 0
Mongolian 15 20 0 0
Singaporean 55 55 0 0
Taiwanese 800 705 90 0
Thai 430 365 65 0
Tibetan 55 35 15 0
Vietnamese 5,555 4,815 725 15
East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 20 300 250 30 15
Asian, n.o.s.Footnote 21 0 0 0 0
Oceania origins 605 255 220 125
Australian 360 115 145 100
New Zealander 105 45 25 30
Pacific Islands origins 145 105 45 0
Fijian 115 75 45 0
Hawaiian 0 0 0 0
Maori 0 0 0 0
Polynesian 15 15 0 0
Samoan 0 0 0 0
Pacific Islander, n.i.e.Footnote 22 15 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

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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