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 British Columbia / Colombie-BritanniqueFootnote 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 3,394,910 1,121,545 754,830 1,518,535
British Isles origins 1,552,225 208,060 379,825 964,340
Cornish 480 135 170 180
English 1,004,865 140,660 253,780 610,420
Irish 503,155 51,260 102,930 348,965
Manx 1,170 180 310 675
Scottish 674,040 62,535 148,945 462,560
Welsh 86,520 13,265 21,545 51,710
British Isles, n.i.e.Footnote 7 59,360 11,565 16,695 31,100
French origins 286,610 23,325 44,260 219,025
Acadian 2,505 135 265 2,105
French 285,005 23,235 44,035 217,735
Aboriginal origins 180,150 4,405 17,865 157,880
Inuit 1,550 30 230 1,290
Métis 44,595 345 4,925 39,330
North American Indian 138,965 4,065 13,200 121,700
Other North American origins 583,315 27,485 117,985 437,850
American 53,640 11,455 19,440 22,745
Canadian 544,195 17,305 104,590 422,305
Newfoundlander 1,040 50 140 850
Nova Scotian 145 0 55 85
Ontarian 75 0 25 55
Québécois 775 50 145 575
Other provincial or regional groups 265 10 30 235
Caribbean origins 12,390 6,425 4,420 1,540
Antiguan 90 50 25 10
Bahamian 85 35 45 10
Barbadian 985 470 350 160
Bermudan 175 90 65 25
Carib 130 70 60 0
Cuban 550 440 95 15
Dominican, n.o.s.Footnote 8 170 100 70 0
Grenadian 150 75 65 10
Guyanese 895 460 355 75
Haitian 360 280 50 30
Jamaican 4,745 2,390 1,570 785
Kittitian/Nevisian 30 10 15 0
Martinican 10 10 0 0
Montserratan 10 0 10 0
Puerto Rican 290 175 60 55
St. Lucian 110 75 35 10
Trinidadian/Tobagonian 2,195 980 1,035 185
Vincentian/Grenadinian 120 70 45 0
West Indian 1,355 705 495 155
Caribbean, n.i.e.Footnote 9 620 325 235 60
Latin, Central and South American origins 29,820 22,310 5,605 1,905
Aboriginal from Central/South America 1,195 965 125 105
Argentinian 845 545 240 60
Belizean 90 55 30 10
Bolivian 155 95 50 10
Brazilian 1,150 825 240 80
Chilean 3,285 1,980 860 440
Colombian 2,175 1,815 305 55
Costa Rican 380 290 85 10
Ecuadorian 295 210 90 0
Guatemalan 1,145 990 145 10
Hispanic 540 430 105 10
Honduran 495 445 55 0
Maya 605 500 70 30
Mexican 8,550 5,955 1,710 885
Nicaraguan 800 695 95 10
Panamanian 205 120 75 10
Paraguayan 320 110 185 20
Peruvian 1,860 1,425 405 30
Salvadorean 5,110 4,440 620 45
Uruguayan 100 50 30 15
Venezuelan 535 420 80 40
Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.Footnote 10 1,360 1,030 245 80
European origins 1,296,530 298,100 363,585 634,845
Western European origins 625,535 125,870 181,485 318,180
Austrian 38,595 7,385 12,290 18,920
Belgian 14,210 2,150 3,755 8,305
Dutch (Netherlands) 152,000 35,295 53,410 63,290
Flemish 1,795 435 480 875
Frisian 825 385 290 155
German 447,265 82,865 119,985 244,415
Luxembourger 460 120 195 140
Swiss 22,415 6,380 7,225 8,815
Northern European origins 256,410 28,335 67,375 160,705
Finnish 24,060 4,445 7,450 12,160
Scandinavian origins 236,980 24,535 61,450 150,995
Danish 44,080 9,170 14,645 20,260
Icelandic 17,325 545 3,000 13,780
Norwegian 102,525 7,845 25,810 68,875
Swedish 83,520 7,735 21,090 54,695
Scandinavian, n.i.e.Footnote 11 8,040 1,170 1,610 5,255
Eastern European origins 393,580 72,185 98,580 222,820
Baltic origins 11,765 3,455 4,340 3,965
Estonian 3,705 1,205 1,295 1,205
Latvian 3,380 915 1,340 1,130
Lithuanian 4,960 1,435 1,790 1,735
Byelorussian 1,045 565 195 285
Czech and Slovak origins 29,985 10,570 8,365 11,050
Czech 17,040 6,790 4,470 5,785
Czechoslovakian 6,210 915 2,110 3,185
Slovak 7,590 3,260 2,050 2,280
Hungarian (Magyar) 39,255 11,410 12,430 15,410
Polish 103,605 22,755 28,100 52,750
Romanian 20,480 6,575 4,520 9,380
Russian 90,485 16,750 19,705 54,025
Ukrainian 154,835 9,480 34,985 110,370
Southern European origins 226,585 92,860 70,170 63,565
Albanian 780 710 35 30
Bosnian 2,190 2,020 150 20
Bulgarian 2,230 1,575 270 385
Croatian 14,775 7,070 5,390 2,310
Cypriot 225 125 100 0
Greek 16,790 6,275 6,470 4,045
Italian 109,190 28,900 37,410 42,875
Kosovar 90 90 0 0
Macedonian 675 420 110 135
Maltese 1,720 460 650 610
Montenegrin 380 265 115 0
Portuguese 26,620 14,905 8,945 2,775
Serbian 7,450 5,790 970 685
Sicilian 305 70 85 150
Slovenian 3,615 1,495 1,590 530
Spanish 41,580 26,030 8,110 7,435
Yugoslav, n.i.e.Footnote 12 8,585 2,550 3,235 2,800
Other European origins 33,385 11,540 8,725 13,115
Basque 685 250 165 270
Gypsy (Roma) 770 255 225 295
Jewish 24,780 9,090 6,830 8,865
Slav (European) 1,195 600 245 350
European, n.i.e.Footnote 13 6,455 1,550 1,340 3,565
African origins 23,085 15,380 4,255 3,455
Afrikaner 525 495 30 0
Akan 35 35 0 0
Amhara 55 55 0 0
Angolan 75 50 20 0
Ashanti 50 45 10 0
Bantu 120 115 0 0
Black 3,480 1,300 775 1,410
Burundian 55 45 0 0
Cameroonian 0 0 0 0
Chadian 10 10 0 10
Congolese (Zairian) 90 80 0 0
Congolese, n.o.s.Footnote 14 65 60 0 0
Dinka 55 50 0 0
East African 580 385 160 35
Eritrean 355 325 30 10
Ethiopian 1,245 1,200 30 15
Gabonese 0 10 0 0
Gambian 15 0 0 10
Ghanaian 940 710 175 50
Guinean, n.o.s.Footnote 15 60 50 10 0
Harari 0 0 0 0
Ibo 20 15 0 0
Ivorian 15 10 0 0
Kenyan 650 510 140 0
Malagasy 45 35 0 0
Malian 0 0 0 0
Mauritian 400 260 105 40
Nigerian 635 565 70 0
Oromo 120 125 0 0
Peulh 0 0 0 0
Rwandan 170 165 0 0
Senegalese 25 20 0 0
Seychellois 25 25 0 0
Sierra Leonean 90 90 10 0
Somali 725 680 30 15
South African 5,285 3,525 1,245 515
Sudanese 400 395 0 10
Tanzanian 135 100 40 0
Tigrian 65 60 0 0
Togolese 15 15 0 0
Ugandan 390 260 110 25
Yoruba 85 55 10 25
Zambian 65 50 0 15
Zimbabwean 195 155 35 0
Zulu 65 40 10 10
African, n.i.e.Footnote 16 6,790 4,135 1,340 1,310
Arab origins 13,430 9,065 2,430 1,930
Egyptian 1,860 1,375 375 110
Iraqi 1,475 1,315 135 20
Jordanian 235 215 20 0
Kuwaiti 55 50 10 0
Lebanese 4,285 2,020 955 1,315
Libyan 25 25 0 0
Maghrebi origins 1,210 910 235 65
Algerian 325 270 45 0
Berber 130 120 0 0
Moroccan 560 420 110 30
Tunisian 100 50 50 0
Maghrebi, n.i.e.Footnote 17 145 80 35 30
Palestinian 960 810 135 20
Saudi Arabian 205 175 20 10
Syrian 1,035 485 220 325
Yemeni 85 65 15 0
Arab, n.i.e.Footnote 18 2,815 2,280 400 130
West Asian origins 35,945 32,255 2,730 965
Afghan 3,345 3,155 175 15
Armenian 2,080 1,315 580 185
Assyrian 370 285 25 55
Azerbaijani 355 345 0 0
Georgian 295 170 20 100
Iranian 24,285 22,980 1,135 170
Israeli 715 380 235 95
Kurd 830 775 50 10
Pashtun 120 120 0 0
Tatar 275 235 30 0
Turk 3,435 2,615 515 305
West Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 19 1,140 1,050 45 35
South Asian origins 204,440 159,460 41,940 3,045
Bangladeshi 620 565 50 0
Bengali 375 350 25 0
East Indian 180,190 139,935 37,540 2,710
Goan 265 205 50 10
Gujarati 430 360 70 0
Kashmiri 75 60 15 0
Nepali 410 375 35 0
Pakistani 5,640 4,725 795 120
Punjabi 13,895 10,705 3,115 75
Sinhalese 500 435 60 0
Sri Lankan 3,030 2,635 310 80
Tamil 660 570 70 15
South Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 20 5,620 4,415 1,095 110
East and Southeast Asian origins 529,870 439,155 71,570 19,145
Burmese 865 685 130 50
Cambodian 1,685 1,340 345 0
Chinese 360,025 300,425 50,120 9,480
Filipino 72,080 63,025 8,485 565
Hmong 60 35 30 0
Indonesian 3,410 2,350 845 215
Japanese 32,450 15,705 8,485 8,260
Khmer 105 95 10 0
Korean 41,065 38,660 2,130 270
Laotian 1,225 1,020 200 0
Malaysian 3,190 2,480 570 140
Mongolian 865 430 175 255
Singaporean 485 390 85 10
Taiwanese 9,165 8,835 300 30
Thai 1,820 1,625 185 10
Tibetan 100 90 0 0
Vietnamese 23,000 19,670 3,155 175
East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 21 935 745 135 50
Asian, n.o.s.Footnote 22 110 45 30 35
Oceania origins 20,680 10,280 6,890 3,510
Australian 8,220 3,350 3,080 1,790
New Zealander 3,275 1,345 1,385 540
Pacific Islands origins 9,495 5,750 2,505 1,235
Fijian 7,150 4,905 2,100 145
Hawaiian 1,155 155 150 850
Maori 540 325 145 70
Polynesian 425 190 80 155
Samoan 185 115 50 10
Pacific Islander, n.i.e.Footnote 23 260 180 75 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

Excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements.

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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