2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

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Topic-based tabulation: Detailed Mother Tongue (103), Language Spoken Most Often at Home (8), Other Language Spoken Regularly at Home (9) and Age Groups (17A) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

About this tabulation

General information

Catalogue number :97-555-XCB2006028
Release date :December 4, 2007
Topic :Language
Data dimensions :

Note

Note: Data quality - Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux)

When comparing the census results to those of the 2001 Census, it appears that there is some overestimation of persons reporting Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) in British Columbia and, as a result, also at the Canada level. Although it affects a relatively small population, it is best to apply caution when analysing the census data for Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) in these geographies.

For more information on factors that may explain such variances in census data, such as response errors and processing errors, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, Appendix B Data quality, sampling and weighting, confidentiality and random rounding.

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 detailed mother tongue , language spoken most often at home , other language spoken regularly at home and age groups for the population in CanadaFootnote 1
Detailed mother tongue (103) Language spoken most often at home (8)
Total - Language spoken most often at home English French Non-official language English and French English and non-official language French and non-official language English, French and non-official language
Total - Detailed mother tongue 31,241,030 20,584,770 6,608,125 3,472,130 94,060 406,455 58,885 16,600
Single responses 30,848,270 20,396,045 6,566,125 3,424,940 68,710 333,745 47,195 11,515
English 17,882,775 17,675,595 71,145 85,010 17,130 33,005 220 665
French 6,817,655 432,230 6,317,475 16,085 42,935 575 7,075 1,275
Non-official languages 6,147,840 2,288,220 177,505 3,323,845 8,640 300,165 39,895 9,580
Algonquin 1,920 360 1,020 385 15 60 75 10
Atikamekw 5,245 10 390 4,680 0 10 160 0
Blackfoot 3,085 1,655 0 1,305 0 125 0 0
Carrier 1,560 990 0 475 0 95 0 0
Chilcotin 1,070 525 0 430 0 110 0 0
Chipewyan 525 400 0 120 0 10 0 0
Cree 78,855 30,255 205 45,260 25 3,045 45 15
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) 5,585 1,620 0 3,710 0 240 0 0
Dene 9,745 2,330 10 7,125 0 290 0 0
Dogrib 2,020 925 0 1,045 0 50 0 0
Gitksan 1,175 875 0 275 0 25 0 0
Inuinnaqtun 370 300 0 70 0 0 0 0
Inuktitut, n.i.e. 32,015 6,565 95 24,875 10 445 30 0
Kutchin-Gwich'in (Loucheux) 355 335 0 25 0 0 0 0
Malecite 535 370 0 155 0 10 0 0
Mi'kmaq 7,365 3,270 10 3,840 0 240 0 0
Mohawk 290 260 15 10 0 0 0 0
Montagnais-Naskapi 10,970 180 1,085 9,440 15 40 205 10
Nisga'a 675 490 0 160 0 30 0 0
North Slave (Hare) 1,065 420 0 620 0 15 0 0
Ojibway 24,190 13,325 10 10,365 0 480 10 0
Oji-Cree 11,690 3,185 0 8,335 0 165 0 0
Shuswap 935 725 0 180 0 35 0 0
South Slave 1,605 1,030 0 555 0 20 10 0
Tlingit 80 80 0 0 0 0 0 0
Italian 455,040 252,520 17,160 165,075 1,575 15,325 1,655 1,735
Portuguese 219,275 97,755 10,490 100,305 330 8,295 1,835 270
Romanian 78,500 19,715 4,010 49,395 215 3,755 1,060 345
Spanish 345,350 95,590 25,165 197,930 765 16,875 7,875 1,155
Danish 18,730 17,065 80 1,365 30 165 10 15
Dutch 128,900 111,525 1,205 13,855 130 2,130 25 30
Flemish 5,660 4,670 535 360 25 75 0 10
Frisian 2,890 2,430 0 360 0 95 0 0
German 450,570 309,310 4,805 125,900 520 9,720 160 150
Norwegian 7,225 6,610 60 455 0 70 0 15
Swedish 8,220 6,935 150 930 10 185 0 0
Yiddish 16,295 10,325 105 5,555 45 265 0 0
Bosnian 12,790 3,530 405 8,035 0 730 65 15
Bulgarian 16,790 3,780 570 11,545 35 665 150 45
Croatian 55,330 30,150 320 21,800 65 2,920 55 20
Czech 24,450 16,205 395 6,755 15 1,055 10 15
Macedonian 18,440 8,840 30 8,485 0 1,070 0 0
Polish 211,175 95,255 2,755 100,055 240 12,235 420 210
Russian 133,580 35,905 2,170 89,010 100 5,540 655 195
Serbian 51,665 14,955 245 33,335 30 2,935 115 50
Serbo-Croatian 12,510 4,035 595 7,120 0 535 150 65
Slovak 18,820 12,005 260 5,735 25 790 0 0
Slovenian 13,135 9,480 160 2,790 10 685 10 0
Ukrainian 134,500 101,055 520 29,905 105 2,810 70 30
Latvian 6,995 4,675 20 1,995 10 295 0 0
Lithuanian 8,335 5,345 135 2,625 10 190 15 10
Estonian 8,240 5,730 15 2,185 10 295 10 10
Finnish 21,030 16,305 95 4,160 0 450 10 0
Hungarian 73,335 46,550 1,020 22,465 135 2,930 120 125
Greek 117,285 55,295 1,590 53,280 320 6,310 210 290
Armenian 30,130 6,535 885 20,935 85 1,180 270 245
Turkish 24,745 6,895 700 15,490 20 1,200 330 95
Amharic 14,555 5,700 70 7,625 10 1,095 25 25
Arabic 261,640 64,850 36,390 133,010 1,075 13,550 11,150 1,615
Hebrew 17,630 9,850 410 6,450 40 790 45 45
Maltese 6,405 5,105 10 995 0 280 10 0
Somali 27,320 8,190 585 16,215 35 2,080 125 100
Tigrigna 7,105 2,785 60 3,590 20 610 15 20
Bengali 45,685 9,855 235 32,005 115 3,150 95 230
Gujarati 81,470 24,020 215 50,535 45 6,495 50 100
Hindi 78,235 31,665 130 39,015 115 7,300 0 10
Kurdish 7,660 1,610 185 5,255 10 535 70 0
Panjabi (Punjabi) 367,505 67,415 270 272,195 180 26,995 210 240
Pashto 9,030 1,375 45 6,940 10 605 55 0
Persian (Farsi) 134,080 29,405 1,640 93,200 140 8,795 640 260
Sindhi 10,355 4,575 60 4,640 0 1,070 0 0
Sinhala (Sinhalese) 10,180 5,010 25 4,440 10 685 0 10
Urdu 145,805 33,920 260 94,610 100 16,590 160 160
Malayalam 11,925 5,740 0 5,455 0 725 0 0
Tamil 115,875 20,990 330 86,545 50 7,710 200 45
Telugu 6,630 2,200 0 3,705 0 715 0 0
Japanese 40,200 19,740 340 18,660 35 1,405 10 0
Korean 125,575 22,890 245 98,540 40 3,735 90 30
Cantonese 361,450 76,125 750 271,145 70 13,145 170 35
Chinese, n.o.s.Footnote 2 456,705 89,800 3,155 346,555 195 16,050 645 295
Mandarin 170,955 26,355 625 138,315 30 5,490 75 60
Taiwanese 9,615 1,545 10 7,405 15 635 10 0
Lao 13,940 3,685 1,645 7,620 40 720 195 25
Khmer (Cambodian) 19,100 3,930 2,350 11,120 45 945 625 70
Vietnamese 141,630 26,215 5,030 103,350 170 5,860 750 245
Bisayan languages 11,245 4,005 10 5,670 0 1,535 10 10
Ilocano 13,450 3,675 50 7,555 0 2,165 0 0
Malay 9,495 5,095 20 3,865 0 480 20 10
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 235,620 104,675 185 101,355 100 29,130 65 115
Akan (Twi) 12,780 5,670 45 6,130 20 850 0 65
Swahili 7,935 2,920 1,385 2,800 75 355 305 90
Creoles 53,515 4,415 25,370 18,050 400 400 4,615 265
Other languagesFootnote 3 172,650 65,735 15,845 76,645 485 10,100 3,625 210
Multiple responses 392,760 188,735 42,000 47,190 25,350 72,710 11,695 5,085
English and French 98,630 49,610 23,860 1,255 22,805 335 205 555
English and non-official language 240,005 129,555 970 37,900 505 70,045 120 920
French and non-official language 43,335 6,275 16,090 6,455 940 1,070 10,955 1,545
English, French and non-official language 10,790 3,295 1,075 1,580 1,100 1,260 410 2,060

Footnotes

Footnote 1

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

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Footnote 2

The 2006 category 'Chinese, n.o.s.' includes responses of 'Chinese' as well as all Chinese languages other than Cantonese, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Chaochow (Teochow), Fukien, Hakka and Shanghainese. Data for the 'Chinese, n.o.s.' category in 2001 and 2006 are not directly comparable. The 2001 category 'Chinese, n.o.s.' is equivalent to the sum of the 2006 categories 'Chinese, n.o.s.' and 'Chaochow (Teochow),' 'Fukien,' 'Shanghainese' and Taiwanese.'

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Footnote 3

This is a subtotal of all languages collected by the census that are not displayed separately here. For a full list of languages collected in the census, please refer to Appendix G in the 2006 Census Dictionary.

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Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-555-XCB2006028.

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Footnotes

Footnote a

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Footnote b

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Footnote c

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Footnote d

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