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 TorontoFootnote 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 2,067,445 1,221,020 417,450 428,975
British Isles origins 498,730 89,625 129,475 279,625
Cornish 150 40 20 90
English 294,315 51,875 75,720 166,725
Irish 201,485 26,365 44,740 130,375
Manx 275 55 70 150
Scottish 208,625 28,110 50,685 129,825
Welsh 21,315 3,865 5,965 11,480
British Isles, n.i.e.Footnote 7 27,590 5,440 8,450 13,705
French origins 91,520 12,930 15,770 62,820
Acadian 1,505 70 255 1,180
French 90,515 12,880 15,560 62,080
Aboriginal origins 20,885 685 3,165 17,030
Inuit 365 10 35 315
Métis 3,575 35 490 3,045
North American Indian 17,370 640 2,675 14,055
Other North American origins 214,385 15,720 49,130 149,530
American 15,950 5,330 5,575 5,040
Canadian 201,715 10,815 45,220 145,680
Newfoundlander 975 15 150 815
Nova Scotian 210 15 50 145
Ontarian 75 0 30 40
Québécois 415 25 75 315
Other provincial or regional groups 140 0 45 95
Caribbean origins 121,635 87,165 30,905 3,560
Antiguan 810 450 350 10
Bahamian 225 125 85 10
Barbadian 5,770 3,260 2,115 390
Bermudan 340 130 185 25
Carib 590 435 115 40
Cuban 2,130 1,765 315 50
Dominican, n.o.s.Footnote 8 1,545 1,215 315 20
Grenadian 3,530 2,695 785 45
Guyanese 18,840 13,610 4,820 415
Haitian 1,070 640 390 40
Jamaican 58,635 41,930 14,990 1,710
Kittitian/Nevisian 730 465 245 25
Martinican 65 50 15 0
Montserratan 145 70 70 0
Puerto Rican 165 105 55 10
St. Lucian 1,170 900 240 35
Trinidadian/Tobagonian 13,540 8,645 4,530 365
Vincentian/Grenadinian 2,890 1,985 805 100
West Indian 15,120 10,995 3,685 440
Caribbean, n.i.e.Footnote 9 3,055 2,115 835 105
Latin, Central and South American origins 50,830 42,820 7,640 370
Aboriginal from Central/South America 2,325 1,870 425 35
Argentinian 2,415 1,830 560 20
Belizean 110 50 70 0
Bolivian 550 430 115 10
Brazilian 3,195 2,750 410 35
Chilean 4,245 3,450 760 30
Colombian 5,575 4,860 715 10
Costa Rican 455 430 25 0
Ecuadorian 6,385 5,015 1,375 0
Guatemalan 2,150 1,775 360 10
Hispanic 875 755 110 10
Honduran 445 415 30 0
Maya 605 540 70 0
Mexican 5,085 4,410 645 30
Nicaraguan 1,990 1,820 165 10
Panamanian 595 500 85 0
Paraguayan 65 55 10 0
Peruvian 2,740 2,180 545 20
Salvadorean 7,255 6,340 880 40
Uruguayan 1,120 860 255 0
Venezuelan 1,275 1,110 155 10
Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.Footnote 10 4,220 3,430 685 100
European origins 735,200 381,415 219,725 134,050
Western European origins 134,180 41,045 40,685 52,445
Austrian 11,520 4,515 4,275 2,730
Belgian 3,005 880 1,065 1,060
Dutch (Netherlands) 28,115 7,310 9,925 10,880
Flemish 340 120 70 150
Frisian 135 40 90 10
German 94,695 28,955 26,400 39,340
Luxembourger 115 50 45 25
Swiss 5,025 1,670 1,600 1,750
Northern European origins 25,995 5,690 8,210 12,095
Finnish 6,520 1,620 2,565 2,330
Scandinavian origins 20,315 4,335 5,970 10,010
Danish 5,720 1,580 2,025 2,115
Icelandic 1,405 80 285 1,040
Norwegian 6,120 1,095 1,590 3,430
Swedish 7,400 1,775 2,140 3,485
Scandinavian, n.i.e.Footnote 11 935 175 255 505
Eastern European origins 216,385 110,215 58,430 47,740
Baltic origins 16,160 7,360 6,325 2,475
Estonian 4,850 2,250 2,115 485
Latvian 4,470 2,150 1,780 545
Lithuanian 7,230 3,105 2,610 1,510
Byelorussian 1,920 1,640 185 100
Czech and Slovak origins 13,385 6,665 4,335 2,380
Czech 7,360 4,080 2,210 1,070
Czechoslovakian 1,765 600 765 395
Slovak 4,860 2,350 1,550 960
Hungarian (Magyar) 23,485 13,060 7,165 3,260
Polish 82,035 36,270 24,845 20,930
Romanian 19,170 14,075 2,545 2,550
Russian 48,375 27,120 9,505 11,750
Ukrainian 52,205 20,270 14,520 17,415
Southern European origins 366,570 223,955 117,315 25,310
Albanian 6,175 5,830 305 35
Bosnian 1,665 1,565 95 0
Bulgarian 4,995 4,370 410 215
Croatian 10,040 6,130 3,400 510
Cypriot 665 390 270 0
Greek 46,480 24,770 19,845 1,860
Italian 153,605 75,730 60,015 17,855
Kosovar 45 50 0 0
Macedonian 11,500 6,375 4,050 1,070
Maltese 5,240 2,240 2,440 560
Montenegrin 390 335 45 10
Portuguese 76,665 55,660 19,925 1,080
Serbian 12,560 10,720 1,625 210
Sicilian 410 130 155 120
Slovenian 4,525 2,135 1,975 415
Spanish 43,595 34,685 6,980 1,930
Yugoslav, n.i.e.Footnote 12 4,630 2,735 1,475 420
Other European origins 74,245 29,725 23,935 20,590
Basque 255 165 45 45
Gypsy (Roma) 275 145 50 80
Jewish 70,040 27,630 22,940 19,470
Slav (European) 530 430 65 30
European, n.i.e.Footnote 13 4,045 1,660 1,110 1,270
African origins 75,135 62,595 10,030 2,510
Afrikaner 140 125 10 10
Akan 235 205 30 0
Amhara 240 235 10 0
Angolan 395 385 10 0
Ashanti 515 500 15 0
Bantu 230 215 10 0
Black 10,835 7,365 2,390 1,080
Burundian 225 225 0 0
Cameroonian 290 260 25 0
Chadian 35 35 0 0
Congolese (Zairian) 660 635 10 15
Congolese, n.o.s.Footnote 14 350 325 20 10
Dinka 20 25 0 0
East African 625 475 135 20
Eritrean 3,190 3,010 180 0
Ethiopian 6,505 6,180 300 25
Gabonese 10 10 0 0
Gambian 105 110 0 0
Ghanaian 6,280 5,370 845 55
Guinean, n.o.s.Footnote 15 70 70 0 0
Harari 290 275 15 0
Ibo 130 130 0 0
Ivorian 95 90 0 0
Kenyan 705 660 45 0
Malagasy 40 40 0 0
Malian 30 25 10 0
Mauritian 455 350 100 0
Nigerian 3,950 3,375 535 35
Oromo 630 600 30 0
Peulh 15 20 0 0
Rwandan 260 255 0 0
Senegalese 50 50 10 0
Seychellois 45 30 15 0
Sierra Leonean 275 250 20 0
Somali 9,225 8,835 360 30
South African 2,825 1,800 805 220
Sudanese 1,235 1,205 20 10
Tanzanian 625 475 150 0
Tigrian 140 140 0 0
Togolese 65 50 10 0
Ugandan 550 520 25 0
Yoruba 830 700 130 0
Zambian 65 65 0 0
Zimbabwean 740 685 50 0
Zulu 105 105 0 0
African, n.i.e.Footnote 16 24,330 19,225 4,095 1,005
Arab origins 30,135 24,285 4,485 1,370
Egyptian 5,935 4,860 1,050 25
Iraqi 3,750 3,540 190 20
Jordanian 835 680 160 0
Kuwaiti 160 145 10 0
Lebanese 6,945 4,730 1,185 1,025
Libyan 100 100 0 0
Maghrebi origins 2,500 1,770 655 70
Algerian 365 305 55 10
Berber 115 110 10 0
Moroccan 1,660 1,095 505 55
Tunisian 230 160 60 15
Maghrebi, n.i.e.Footnote 17 225 175 45 0
Palestinian 2,045 1,715 315 10
Saudi Arabian 300 275 25 0
Syrian 2,175 1,660 325 190
Yemeni 330 305 30 0
Arab, n.i.e.Footnote 18 7,110 6,230 825 60
West Asian origins 58,400 53,785 4,130 485
Afghan 10,495 10,205 285 10
Armenian 8,020 6,520 1,370 130
Assyrian 1,655 1,535 120 0
Azerbaijani 1,050 1,035 15 0
Georgian 620 590 15 20
Iranian 25,050 24,150 845 60
Israeli 1,940 1,170 610 155
Kurd 1,355 1,320 25 0
Pashtun 235 235 0 0
Tatar 550 530 15 0
Turk 7,470 6,550 850 70
West Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 19 2,445 2,335 70 40
South Asian origins 238,425 213,475 23,585 1,360
Bangladeshi 7,570 7,430 135 10
Bengali 3,815 3,670 140 10
East Indian 148,775 128,280 19,290 1,205
Goan 1,135 980 135 15
Gujarati 775 705 75 0
Kashmiri 395 360 35 0
Nepali 615 570 25 10
Pakistani 21,380 19,735 1,605 45
Punjabi 3,535 3,185 340 0
Sinhalese 1,275 1,215 55 0
Sri Lankan 38,800 37,310 1,460 35
Tamil 14,155 13,690 445 20
South Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 20 13,095 12,170 880 45
East and Southeast Asian origins 407,005 352,840 48,335 5,830
Burmese 775 630 125 15
Cambodian 1,640 1,420 220 0
Chinese 259,885 225,685 32,065 2,135
Filipino 83,910 76,115 7,400 390
Hmong 25 25 0 0
Indonesian 1,435 1,045 365 20
Japanese 12,270 5,050 4,095 3,125
Khmer 70 65 0 0
Korean 30,230 26,880 3,265 85
Laotian 880 705 170 10
Malaysian 1,830 1,490 320 20
Mongolian 560 440 90 30
Singaporean 215 160 50 0
Taiwanese 2,065 1,750 305 0
Thai 900 820 75 0
Tibetan 2,500 2,470 30 0
Vietnamese 23,885 20,910 2,855 125
East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 21 1,435 1,285 130 20
Asian, n.o.s.Footnote 22 65 55 10 0
Oceania origins 2,980 1,320 1,285 370
Australian 1,995 755 955 280
New Zealander 555 275 210 65
Pacific Islands origins 480 320 135 20
Fijian 200 130 70 0
Hawaiian 80 45 35 0
Maori 40 25 10 10
Polynesian 40 25 15 0
Samoan 40 35 0 0
Pacific Islander, n.i.e.Footnote 23 105 85 15 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%.

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%.

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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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