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 Essex
Ethnic origin (247) Generation status (4)
Total - Generation status 1st generationFootnote 2 2nd generationFootnote 3 3rd generation or moreFootnote 4
Total - Ethnic originFootnote 5 314,630 86,385 62,915 165,325
British Isles origins 119,450 10,300 22,760 86,395
Cornish 0 10 0 0
English 72,045 6,275 13,955 51,810
Irish 46,280 3,080 7,350 35,845
Manx 55 10 25 15
Scottish 43,530 3,260 8,165 32,105
Welsh 3,250 350 695 2,200
British Isles, n.i.e.Footnote 6 3,160 430 810 1,920
French origins 73,065 1,960 7,240 63,860
Acadian 150 10 20 120
French 72,985 1,950 7,235 63,800
Aboriginal origins 10,300 400 1,020 8,885
Inuit 75 0 0 70
Métis 2,005 40 165 1,800
North American Indian 8,395 360 870 7,165
Other North American origins 81,350 3,240 11,400 66,710
American 3,925 1,315 1,460 1,145
Canadian 78,720 2,065 10,645 66,010
Newfoundlander 35 0 0 35
Nova Scotian 0 0 0 0
Ontarian 25 0 0 25
Québécois 80 0 10 75
Other provincial or regional groups 20 0 0 25
Caribbean origins 2,165 1,345 535 285
Antiguan 10 0 10 0
Bahamian 20 15 0 0
Barbadian 120 65 45 10
Bermudan 30 0 25 0
Carib 10 10 0 0
Cuban 75 60 10 0
Dominican, n.o.s.Footnote 7 20 15 0 0
Grenadian 30 25 0 0
Guyanese 100 40 50 10
Haitian 70 60 0 10
Jamaican 1,165 785 255 120
Kittitian/Nevisian 0 0 0 0
Martinican 0 0 0 0
Montserratan 0 0 0 0
Puerto Rican 25 20 0 0
St. Lucian 15 15 0 0
Trinidadian/Tobagonian 235 115 100 20
Vincentian/Grenadinian 0 0 0 0
West Indian 260 100 50 100
Caribbean, n.i.e.Footnote 8 65 25 15 20
Latin, Central and South American origins 4,975 4,255 605 115
Aboriginal from Central/South America 65 45 10 10
Argentinian 130 75 50 10
Belizean 20 10 10 10
Bolivian 0 0 0 0
Brazilian 185 120 60 10
Chilean 125 60 65 0
Colombian 295 285 10 0
Costa Rican 0 0 10 0
Ecuadorian 30 25 0 0
Guatemalan 155 145 0 10
Hispanic 280 260 10 10
Honduran 40 40 0 0
Maya 55 55 0 0
Mexican 2,425 2,075 295 50
Nicaraguan 120 115 0 0
Panamanian 30 30 0 0
Paraguayan 0 0 0 0
Peruvian 10 10 0 0
Salvadorean 695 630 60 0
Uruguayan 10 0 0 0
Venezuelan 40 40 0 0
Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.Footnote 9 335 305 25 0
European origins 126,320 42,040 38,220 46,060
Western European origins 46,650 10,260 11,740 24,650
Austrian 1,560 435 570 560
Belgian 2,550 230 700 1,615
Dutch (Netherlands) 9,460 1,745 2,815 4,905
Flemish 195 40 95 60
Frisian 20 0 10 0
German 35,475 8,340 8,270 18,865
Luxembourger 10 10 0 0
Swiss 540 125 135 280
Northern European origins 3,940 620 1,190 2,135
Finnish 950 160 275 510
Scandinavian origins 3,110 465 940 1,700
Danish 1,085 230 360 495
Icelandic 135 10 20 100
Norwegian 915 85 260 570
Swedish 945 115 290 540
Scandinavian, n.i.e.Footnote 10 145 40 50 55
Eastern European origins 36,445 10,390 10,460 15,590
Baltic origins 485 195 185 105
Estonian 10 0 0 0
Latvian 150 70 60 15
Lithuanian 375 140 150 85
Byelorussian 60 35 20 10
Czech and Slovak origins 4,235 1,160 1,545 1,525
Czech 1,135 280 300 560
Czechoslovakian 620 65 265 285
Slovak 2,570 855 1,020 695
Hungarian (Magyar) 6,440 1,615 2,305 2,515
Polish 11,625 3,955 3,160 4,510
Romanian 4,865 2,270 915 1,675
Russian 3,445 995 1,000 1,450
Ukrainian 9,565 875 2,640 6,050
Southern European origins 50,630 22,460 18,970 9,205
Albanian 1,085 1,050 25 10
Bosnian 535 500 30 0
Bulgarian 210 130 20 55
Croatian 3,305 1,825 1,130 355
Cypriot 10 0 0 0
Greek 2,470 1,080 1,100 290
Italian 28,945 9,975 12,250 6,720
Kosovar 40 35 0 0
Macedonian 1,780 1,100 595 80
Maltese 1,000 320 460 215
Montenegrin 60 45 15 0
Portuguese 4,105 2,280 1,555 275
Serbian 3,070 2,070 785 220
Sicilian 135 55 65 15
Slovenian 610 210 280 120
Spanish 2,465 1,745 365 350
Yugoslav, n.i.e.Footnote 11 2,530 945 975 610
Other European origins 1,840 690 495 650
Basque 0 0 0 0
Gypsy (Roma) 20 15 0 0
Jewish 1,445 520 405 520
Slav (European) 85 35 30 15
European, n.i.e.Footnote 12 290 115 60 110
African origins 4,885 2,970 725 1,190
Afrikaner 10 10 0 0
Akan 0 0 0 0
Amhara 15 10 10 0
Angolan 10 10 0 0
Ashanti 0 0 0 0
Bantu 0 0 0 0
Black 1,210 355 305 545
Burundian 30 30 0 0
Cameroonian 0 0 0 0
Chadian 0 0 0 0
Congolese (Zairian) 0 10 0 0
Congolese, n.o.s.Footnote 13 45 40 0 0
Dinka 15 10 0 0
East African 0 0 0 0
Eritrean 60 55 0 0
Ethiopian 255 225 30 0
Gabonese 10 0 0 10
Gambian 0 0 0 0
Ghanaian 190 160 25 10
Guinean, n.o.s.Footnote 14 0 0 0 0
Harari 0 0 0 0
Ibo 30 30 0 0
Ivorian 0 0 0 0
Kenyan 20 20 0 0
Malagasy 0 0 0 0
Malian 0 0 0 0
Mauritian 45 30 10 0
Nigerian 480 395 75 10
Oromo 10 0 10 0
Peulh 0 0 0 0
Rwandan 105 100 0 0
Senegalese 10 0 0 0
Seychellois 0 10 0 0
Sierra Leonean 0 0 0 0
Somali 360 305 50 10
South African 200 145 45 15
Sudanese 375 375 0 0
Tanzanian 0 0 0 0
Tigrian 0 0 0 0
Togolese 0 0 0 0
Ugandan 0 0 0 0
Yoruba 70 70 0 0
Zambian 0 0 0 0
Zimbabwean 25 25 0 0
Zulu 10 0 0 0
African, n.i.e.Footnote 15 1,475 680 195 600
Arab origins 13,720 9,780 2,530 1,410
Egyptian 325 265 60 0
Iraqi 2,565 2,415 105 45
Jordanian 265 190 60 10
Kuwaiti 0 0 0 0
Lebanese 7,765 4,470 2,080 1,215
Libyan 25 20 0 0
Maghrebi origins 165 150 15 0
Algerian 85 80 10 0
Berber 0 0 0 0
Moroccan 55 40 10 0
Tunisian 25 20 0 0
Maghrebi, n.i.e.Footnote 16 10 10 0 0
Palestinian 640 590 50 0
Saudi Arabian 35 35 0 0
Syrian 460 325 70 65
Yemeni 35 35 0 0
Arab, n.i.e.Footnote 17 1,975 1,710 175 85
West Asian origins 2,360 1,820 455 90
Afghan 150 150 0 0
Armenian 490 210 215 60
Assyrian 330 280 50 0
Azerbaijani 0 0 0 0
Georgian 10 0 10 0
Iranian 575 530 45 0
Israeli 40 20 20 10
Kurd 120 105 15 0
Pashtun 10 0 0 0
Tatar 0 10 0 0
Turk 700 565 110 25
West Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 18 145 125 25 0
South Asian origins 7,655 6,575 870 205
Bangladeshi 250 245 0 10
Bengali 75 75 0 0
East Indian 5,470 4,545 750 175
Goan 60 20 35 0
Gujarati 115 120 0 0
Kashmiri 20 20 0 0
Nepali 25 25 0 0
Pakistani 1,210 1,120 75 10
Punjabi 365 355 10 0
Sinhalese 50 45 0 0
Sri Lankan 190 175 0 0
Tamil 30 35 0 0
South Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 19 295 275 10 0
East and Southeast Asian origins 12,735 10,600 1,820 315
Burmese 15 15 0 0
Cambodian 515 405 110 0
Chinese 7,175 6,080 910 180
Filipino 2,725 2,180 525 15
Hmong 0 0 0 0
Indonesian 80 70 10 0
Japanese 205 105 40 60
Khmer 10 10 0 0
Korean 500 420 55 20
Laotian 280 210 70 0
Malaysian 40 40 0 0
Mongolian 35 15 10 10
Singaporean 20 0 15 0
Taiwanese 35 35 0 0
Thai 140 120 15 0
Tibetan 0 0 0 0
Vietnamese 1,565 1,330 225 15
East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 20 120 105 0 20
Asian, n.o.s.Footnote 21 0 0 0 0
Oceania origins 180 75 70 35
Australian 150 55 60 35
New Zealander 10 0 10 0
Pacific Islands origins 25 15 10 0
Fijian 0 0 0 0
Hawaiian 15 0 10 0
Maori 15 10 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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