2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

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Topic-based tabulation: Population Groups (28) and Sex (3) 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 :97-562-XCB2006007
Release date :April 2, 2008
Topic :Ethnic origin and visible minorities
Data dimensions :

Note

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

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This table details population groups and sex for the population in CanadaFootnote 1
Population groups (28) Sex (3)
Total - Sex Male Female
Total - Population groupsFootnote 2 31,241,030 15,326,265 15,914,760
Single responsesFootnote 3 29,636,765 14,538,100 15,098,660
White 24,920,465 12,248,075 12,672,390
Chinese 1,168,485 559,605 608,880
South AsianFootnote 4 1,233,275 622,220 611,050
Black 696,800 333,535 363,265
Filipino 389,550 165,180 224,375
Latin American 304,245 147,900 156,345
Southeast AsianFootnote 5 231,425 112,415 119,010
Arab 265,550 142,580 122,970
West AsianFootnote 6 156,700 80,700 76,000
Korean 138,425 66,790 71,640
Japanese 60,415 25,270 35,145
Visible minority, n.i.e.Footnote 7 71,420 33,840 37,580
Multiple responsesFootnote 8 458,240 227,905 230,335
White and Chinese 48,080 24,655 23,425
White and South Asian 29,595 14,970 14,625
White and Black 86,995 42,155 44,845
White and Filipino 21,145 10,460 10,685
White and Latin American 50,395 24,620 25,780
White and Southeast Asian 8,510 4,010 4,500
White and Arab 46,345 24,375 21,970
White and West Asian 9,705 4,915 4,790
White and Korean 3,460 1,805 1,655
White and Japanese 20,890 10,890 10,000
White and multiple visible minorityFootnote 9 28,905 13,915 14,990
Multiple visible minorityFootnote 10 104,215 51,135 53,080
Aboriginal self-reportingFootnote 11 1,146,025 560,265 585,760

Footnotes

Footnote 1

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

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Footnote 2

Refers to the population group or groups to which the respondent belongs. The population group question on the census is used to derive counts for the visible minority population, as defined by the Employment Equity Act. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as 'persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour'.

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Footnote 3

Includes respondents who provided one population group only.

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Footnote 4

For example, 'East Indian', 'Pakistani', 'Sri Lankan', etc.

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Footnote 5

For example, 'Vietnamese', 'Cambodian', 'Malaysian', 'Laotian', etc.

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Footnote 6

For example, 'Iranian', 'Afghan', etc.

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Footnote 7

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere'. Includes respondents who reported a write-in response such as 'Guyanese', 'West Indian', 'Kurd', 'Tibetan', 'Polynesian', 'Pacific Islander', etc.

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Footnote 8

Includes respondents who provided two or more population groups.

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Footnote 9

Includes respondents who reported more than one visible minority group by checking two or more mark-in circles, e.g., 'Black' and 'South Asian'.

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Footnote 10

Includes respondents who reported more than one visible minority group by checking two or more mark-in circles, e.g., 'Black' and 'South Asian'.

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Footnote 11

Includes respondents who reported 'Yes' to the Aboriginal identity question (Question 18). These respondents were not required to answer the Population group question (Question 19).

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Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-562-XCB2006007.

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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.

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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.

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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'.

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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.

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