2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

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 Waterloo, CYFootnote 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 78,980 22,565 15,195 41,215
British Isles origins 34,265 3,455 6,255 24,560
Cornish 10 0 0 0
English 19,950 2,040 3,895 14,015
Irish 13,540 1,070 1,970 10,500
Manx 25 0 15 10
Scottish 14,805 1,180 2,400 11,220
Welsh 1,310 190 240 870
British Isles, n.i.e.Footnote 7 1,630 210 420 1,000
French origins 7,075 465 975 5,635
Acadian 65 0 20 45
French 7,030 465 960 5,605
Aboriginal origins 1,310 15 205 1,090
Inuit 55 0 10 55
Métis 325 0 80 250
North American Indian 955 10 130 815
Other North American origins 15,865 430 2,270 13,160
American 820 175 335 305
Canadian 15,265 270 2,065 12,930
Newfoundlander 30 0 0 30
Nova Scotian 0 0 0 0
Ontarian 0 0 0 0
Québécois 10 0 10 0
Other provincial or regional groups 0 0 0 0
Caribbean origins 805 435 315 45
Antiguan 0 0 0 0
Bahamian 10 0 0 0
Barbadian 25 0 10 10
Bermudan 10 10 0 10
Carib 0 0 0 0
Cuban 20 15 0 0
Dominican, n.o.s.Footnote 8 0 0 0 0
Grenadian 10 10 0 0
Guyanese 210 110 100 0
Haitian 0 0 0 0
Jamaican 305 175 100 30
Kittitian/Nevisian 0 0 0 0
Martinican 0 0 0 0
Montserratan 0 0 0 0
Puerto Rican 15 15 0 0
St. Lucian 10 10 0 0
Trinidadian/Tobagonian 130 80 50 0
Vincentian/Grenadinian 10 0 0 0
West Indian 95 30 50 10
Caribbean, n.i.e.Footnote 9 0 0 0 0
Latin, Central and South American origins 815 665 140 0
Aboriginal from Central/South America 65 70 0 0
Argentinian 45 45 0 0
Belizean 0 0 0 0
Bolivian 0 0 0 0
Brazilian 75 50 25 0
Chilean 30 20 10 0
Colombian 55 50 10 0
Costa Rican 0 0 0 0
Ecuadorian 0 0 0 0
Guatemalan 40 35 10 0
Hispanic 0 0 0 0
Honduran 10 0 0 0
Maya 35 35 0 0
Mexican 135 70 50 10
Nicaraguan 20 20 0 0
Panamanian 0 0 0 0
Paraguayan 10 0 0 0
Peruvian 50 40 10 0
Salvadorean 205 190 15 0
Uruguayan 0 0 0 0
Venezuelan 25 25 0 0
Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.Footnote 10 40 45 0 0
European origins 37,875 8,920 9,385 19,575
Western European origins 25,605 3,745 5,920 15,940
Austrian 910 200 340 370
Belgian 330 35 140 155
Dutch (Netherlands) 3,475 690 1,410 1,370
Flemish 40 15 0 20
Frisian 25 10 0 15
German 21,705 2,955 4,335 14,415
Luxembourger 0 0 0 0
Swiss 1,130 90 180 860
Northern European origins 1,475 280 430 765
Finnish 205 45 90 70
Scandinavian origins 1,290 235 350 705
Danish 315 55 110 150
Icelandic 90 0 10 80
Norwegian 450 65 130 255
Swedish 460 115 115 230
Scandinavian, n.i.e.Footnote 11 25 0 0 25
Eastern European origins 9,680 2,950 2,630 4,100
Baltic origins 440 85 210 145
Estonian 90 15 60 15
Latvian 145 25 65 60
Lithuanian 200 50 80 75
Byelorussian 70 60 0 10
Czech and Slovak origins 815 330 225 260
Czech 430 160 145 120
Czechoslovakian 130 20 20 80
Slovak 280 155 70 60
Hungarian (Magyar) 1,200 405 455 340
Polish 4,250 1,150 1,030 2,075
Romanian 1,005 610 180 220
Russian 1,340 365 415 550
Ukrainian 1,880 255 480 1,145
Southern European origins 6,200 2,735 2,055 1,400
Albanian 30 20 15 0
Bosnian 105 95 0 0
Bulgarian 80 65 15 0
Croatian 645 375 210 55
Cypriot 95 55 20 10
Greek 760 350 300 110
Italian 2,155 365 885 910
Kosovar 0 0 0 0
Macedonian 120 30 55 30
Maltese 70 10 50 10
Montenegrin 15 20 0 0
Portuguese 795 385 355 50
Serbian 555 475 55 20
Sicilian 10 0 0 10
Slovenian 85 45 20 15
Spanish 675 490 95 95
Yugoslav, n.i.e.Footnote 12 480 190 160 130
Other European origins 615 200 175 240
Basque 0 0 0 0
Gypsy (Roma) 10 0 0 0
Jewish 520 170 135 220
Slav (European) 10 15 0 0
European, n.i.e.Footnote 13 80 15 45 25
African origins 635 540 65 25
Afrikaner 0 0 0 0
Akan 0 0 0 0
Amhara 0 0 0 0
Angolan 0 0 0 0
Ashanti 0 0 0 0
Bantu 0 0 0 0
Black 75 60 10 10
Burundian 20 15 0 0
Cameroonian 0 0 0 0
Chadian 0 0 0 0
Congolese (Zairian) 0 0 0 0
Congolese, n.o.s.Footnote 14 0 0 0 0
Dinka 0 0 0 0
East African 0 0 0 0
Eritrean 10 0 0 0
Ethiopian 25 25 0 0
Gabonese 0 0 0 0
Gambian 0 0 0 0
Ghanaian 65 65 0 0
Guinean, n.o.s.Footnote 15 0 0 0 0
Harari 25 25 0 0
Ibo 0 0 0 0
Ivorian 0 0 0 0
Kenyan 25 20 10 0
Malagasy 0 0 0 0
Malian 0 10 0 0
Mauritian 0 10 0 0
Nigerian 0 10 0 0
Oromo 0 0 0 0
Peulh 0 0 0 0
Rwandan 0 0 0 0
Senegalese 0 0 0 0
Seychellois 0 0 0 0
Sierra Leonean 0 0 0 0
Somali 135 125 0 0
South African 30 30 0 0
Sudanese 0 10 0 0
Tanzanian 0 0 0 0
Tigrian 0 0 0 0
Togolese 0 0 0 0
Ugandan 0 0 0 0
Yoruba 0 0 0 0
Zambian 0 0 0 0
Zimbabwean 0 10 0 0
Zulu 0 0 0 0
African, n.i.e.Footnote 16 220 150 45 20
Arab origins 830 630 140 55
Egyptian 175 150 20 0
Iraqi 60 45 15 0
Jordanian 0 0 0 0
Kuwaiti 0 0 0 0
Lebanese 215 105 75 35
Libyan 20 20 0 0
Maghrebi origins 70 60 10 10
Algerian 0 0 0 0
Berber 30 25 0 0
Moroccan 20 25 0 0
Tunisian 10 10 10 0
Maghrebi, n.i.e.Footnote 17 0 0 0 0
Palestinian 70 60 0 10
Saudi Arabian 30 30 0 0
Syrian 55 40 10 10
Yemeni 0 0 0 0
Arab, n.i.e.Footnote 18 220 185 35 10
West Asian origins 1,240 1,090 105 35
Afghan 170 170 0 0
Armenian 140 85 30 25
Assyrian 50 25 30 0
Azerbaijani 20 20 0 0
Georgian 20 20 0 0
Iranian 630 570 50 10
Israeli 20 15 0 0
Kurd 45 45 0 0
Pashtun 15 10 0 0
Tatar 10 15 0 0
Turk 135 120 10 0
West Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 19 25 25 0 0
South Asian origins 3,665 3,060 520 85
Bangladeshi 10 10 0 0
Bengali 45 45 0 0
East Indian 2,705 2,175 480 50
Goan 10 10 0 0
Gujarati 0 0 0 0
Kashmiri 25 10 15 0
Nepali 10 0 0 0
Pakistani 325 305 20 0
Punjabi 65 45 15 0
Sinhalese 70 45 0 25
Sri Lankan 310 290 20 0
Tamil 60 60 10 0
South Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 20 280 250 20 10
East and Southeast Asian origins 6,495 5,440 875 185
Burmese 10 10 0 0
Cambodian 10 0 10 0
Chinese 4,485 3,810 575 100
Filipino 295 265 35 0
Hmong 90 45 45 0
Indonesian 75 55 20 0
Japanese 250 135 30 80
Khmer 0 0 0 0
Korean 790 690 100 0
Laotian 195 165 30 0
Malaysian 30 25 0 0
Mongolian 30 30 0 0
Singaporean 0 0 0 0
Taiwanese 50 50 0 0
Thai 45 40 10 0
Tibetan 0 0 0 0
Vietnamese 400 320 75 0
East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 21 10 0 0 0
Asian, n.o.s.Footnote 22 0 0 0 0
Oceania origins 115 45 60 0
Australian 90 40 45 0
New Zealander 20 10 10 10
Pacific Islands origins 0 0 0 0
Fijian 0 0 0 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 23 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.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

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%.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

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).

Return to footnote 3 referrer

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).

Return to footnote 4 referrer

Footnote 5

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

Return to footnote 5 referrer

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.

Return to footnote 6 referrer

Footnote 7

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

Return to footnote 7 referrer

Footnote 8

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

Return to footnote 8 referrer

Footnote 9

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

Return to footnote 9 referrer

Footnote 10

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

Return to footnote 10 referrer

Footnote 11

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

Return to footnote 11 referrer

Footnote 12

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

Return to footnote 12 referrer

Footnote 13

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

Return to footnote 13 referrer

Footnote 14

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

Return to footnote 14 referrer

Footnote 15

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

Return to footnote 15 referrer

Footnote 16

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

Return to footnote 16 referrer

Footnote 17

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

Return to footnote 17 referrer

Footnote 18

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

Return to footnote 18 referrer

Footnote 19

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

Return to footnote 19 referrer

Footnote 20

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

Return to footnote 20 referrer

Footnote 21

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

Return to footnote 21 referrer

Footnote 22

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

Return to footnote 22 referrer

Footnote 23

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

Return to footnote 23 referrer

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

Download

Download data as displayed in the Data table tab

Download entire table

Footnotes

Footnote a

To access the comma separated values (CSV) file, use the conversion features available in most spreadsheet software, or use a free viewer, for example csview.

Return to footnote a referrer

Footnote b

To access the tab separated values (TAB) file, use the conversion features available in most spreadsheet software, or use a free viewer, for example AscToTab.

Return to footnote b referrer

Footnote c

To access the Beyond 20/20 (IVT) version, you need the Beyond 20/20 Table Browser, which may be downloaded below. These links download files directly from an external site and are not the responsibility of Statistics Canada.

Beyond 20/20 Browser for Windows operating systems (18.9 MB)
To install this product, run 'ProBrowser.exe'.

Return to footnote c referrer

Footnote d

XML (SDMX - ML) - Is a statistical data and metadata exchange standard for the electronic exchange of statistical information. Two extensible mark-up language (XML) files are provided in a compressed bundle.

Return to footnote d referrer