2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

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Topic-based tabulation: Selected Language Characteristics (165), Aboriginal Identity (8), Age Groups (7), Sex (3) and Area of Residence (6) for the Population of Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

About this tabulation

General information

Catalogue number :97-558-XCB2006015
Release date :January 15, 2008
Topic :Aboriginal peoples
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: Data on knowledge of official languages

According to studies on data certification, the 2006 Census statistics on knowledge of official languages could underestimate the category 'English and French' and overestimate the category 'French only,' particularly for the francophone population, but also for the whole population in general. More information on the subject will be available in the Languages Reference Guide, to be published in 2008.

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 selected language characteristics , aboriginal identity , age groups , sex and area of residence for the population in CanadaFootnote 2
Selected language characteristics (165) Area of residence (6)
Total - Area of residenceFootnote 3 On reserveFootnote 4 Rural Total urban Urban non-census metropolitan area Urban census metropolitan area
Total population by detailed mother tongueFootnote 5 31,241,030 342,865 5,926,685 24,971,475 5,039,880 19,931,600
Total - Single responsesFootnote 6 30,848,270 336,795 5,892,340 24,619,135 5,007,915 19,611,215
English 17,882,780 193,715 3,814,775 13,874,285 3,339,510 10,534,775
French 6,817,655 5,300 1,636,685 5,175,670 1,335,510 3,840,160
Non-official languages 6,147,840 137,775 440,880 5,569,180 332,895 5,236,285
Aboriginal languages 210,080 132,880 40,265 36,930 22,145 14,785
Algonquian languages 144,655 109,095 13,155 22,410 10,620 11,785
Algonquin 1,920 1,600 80 235 175 65
Atikamekw 5,250 4,510 220 525 340 175
Blackfoot 3,085 2,430 65 590 320 265
Cree 78,855 56,735 8,950 13,170 7,250 5,920
Malecite 530 445 40 50 50 0
Mi'kmaq 7,365 6,815 245 305 135 165
Montagnais-Naskapi 10,970 8,505 1,485 985 665 320
Ojibway 24,190 17,390 1,390 5,410 1,405 4,010
Oji-Cree 11,690 10,590 190 910 160 745
Algonquian languages, n.i.e. 795 75 495 225 120 110
Athapaskan languages 19,015 13,070 3,355 2,590 1,930 660
Carrier 1,560 1,000 110 445 420 25
Chilcotin 1,070 760 75 230 230 0
Chipewyan 530 305 45 175 125 45
Dene 9,745 6,300 2,725 730 410 315
Dogrib 2,020 1,740 30 245 205 40
Kutchin-Gwich'in (Loucheux) 355 230 25 105 100 0
North Slave (Hare) 1,065 850 75 140 120 15
South Slave 1,605 1,230 80 295 190 110
Athapaskan languages, n.i.e. 1,065 645 190 225 125 105
Haida 115 75 15 25 15 10
Iroquoian languages 410 15 30 365 100 265
Mohawk 290 10 30 250 95 160
Iroquoian languages, n.i.e. 120 10 10 105 0 110
Kutenai 155 135 10 10 10 0
Salish languages 3,250 2,835 40 365 240 125
Shuswap 935 865 20 50 35 20
Thompson (Ntlakapamux) 500 465 0 30 25 10
Salish languages, n.i.e. 1,810 1,505 25 285 180 105
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) 5,585 5,045 120 425 95 330
Tlingit 80 50 15 10 0 0
Tsimshian languages 2,170 1,410 165 595 420 180
Gitksan 1,175 810 135 230 145 85
Nisga'a 680 510 10 165 85 75
Tsimshian 320 85 30 200 185 15
Wakashan languages 1,085 720 70 300 150 155
Nootka 375 260 10 100 80 20
Wakashan languages, n.i.e. 715 460 55 200 70 135
Inuktitut 32,380 175 23,155 9,050 8,295 755
Inuinnaqtun 365 10 225 130 125 0
Inuktitut, n.i.e. 32,010 170 22,925 8,920 8,170 750
Aboriginal languages, n.i.e. 1,165 255 130 780 270 510
Other single responses 5,937,760 4,895 400,615 5,532,250 310,750 5,221,500
Total multiple responsesFootnote 7 392,760 6,075 34,345 352,340 31,960 320,380
English and Aboriginal languageFootnote 8 11,035 5,350 1,380 4,300 2,150 2,145
French and Aboriginal languageFootnote 9 855 305 125 430 185 240
English, French and Aboriginal languageFootnote 10 240 25 75 135 85 55
Other multiple responses 380,625 390 32,765 347,470 29,535 317,935
Total population by detailed language spoken most often at homeFootnote 11 31,241,030 342,870 5,926,685 24,971,475 5,039,875 19,931,600
Total - Single responsesFootnote 12 30,665,025 336,040 5,895,760 24,433,235 5,010,805 19,422,425
English 20,584,775 238,795 4,150,620 16,195,360 3,625,315 12,570,040
French 6,608,120 5,675 1,566,390 5,036,055 1,270,560 3,765,500
Non-official languages 3,472,130 91,570 178,740 3,201,820 114,930 3,086,885
Aboriginal languages 129,340 89,295 28,080 11,960 9,035 2,920
Algonquian languages 87,515 76,320 6,260 4,935 2,755 2,175
Algonquin 390 325 0 65 50 10
Atikamekw 4,750 4,355 75 315 205 110
Blackfoot 1,575 1,500 10 70 60 10
Cree 47,190 40,165 4,350 2,675 1,715 960
Malecite 140 125 0 10 10 0
Mi'kmaq 3,985 3,870 55 55 35 20
Montagnais-Naskapi 9,720 7,935 1,200 585 410 175
Ojibway 11,115 9,845 420 855 240 615
Oji-Cree 8,480 8,170 0 305 30 270
Algonquian languages, n.i.e. 180 25 145 10 0 0
Athapaskan languages 11,220 8,090 2,390 745 545 205
Carrier 605 395 45 170 165 10
Chilcotin 430 345 20 65 65 0
Chipewyan 120 115 10 0 0 0
Dene 7,490 4,965 2,230 295 185 110
Dogrib 1,110 1,055 0 55 55 0
Kutchin-Gwich'in (Loucheux) 25 20 0 0 0 0
North Slave (Hare) 650 585 50 15 15 0
South Slave 605 515 25 60 45 20
Athapaskan languages, n.i.e. 185 95 15 70 10 65
Haida 0 10 0 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages 30 0 0 30 0 20
Mohawk 20 0 0 20 10 10
Iroquoian languages, n.i.e. 10 0 0 10 0 10
Kutenai 15 10 0 0 10 0
Salish languages 515 500 0 0 0 10
Shuswap 250 240 0 10 0 10
Thompson (Ntlakapamux) 55 55 0 0 0 0
Salish languages, n.i.e. 205 205 0 0 0 0
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) 3,785 3,645 55 85 0 80
Tlingit 10 0 0 0 0 0
Tsimshian languages 565 510 10 45 45 0
Gitksan 320 305 0 0 0 0
Nisga'a 180 145 0 35 35 0
Tsimshian 65 55 0 10 10 0
Wakashan languages 115 100 10 0 0 0
Nootka 10 10 0 0 0 0
Wakashan languages, n.i.e. 105 90 15 0 0 0
Inuktitut 25,355 95 19,300 5,965 5,665 310
Inuinnaqtun 70 0 45 20 20 0
Inuktitut, n.i.e. 25,290 85 19,255 5,950 5,640 305
Aboriginal languages, n.i.e. 215 15 55 140 20 125
Other single responses 3,342,790 2,270 150,660 3,189,860 105,895 3,083,965
Total multiple responsesFootnote 13 576,005 6,830 30,930 538,245 29,070 509,175
English and Aboriginal languageFootnote 14 9,680 6,005 1,330 2,345 1,390 950
French and Aboriginal languageFootnote 15 695 470 40 185 110 75
English, French and Aboriginal languageFootnote 16 75 25 10 40 25 15
Other multiple responses 565,550 330 29,550 535,670 27,540 508,130
Total population by knowledge of Aboriginal languagesFootnote 17 31,241,030 342,865 5,926,685 24,971,475 5,039,880 19,931,595
Total - Single responsesFootnote 18 20,015,415 183,880 4,592,495 15,239,040 3,989,450 11,249,590
English 15,697,470 174,155 3,514,575 12,008,745 3,089,755 8,918,990
French 3,851,775 2,340 1,057,385 2,792,050 885,760 1,906,290
Non-official languages 466,165 7,390 20,535 438,240 13,935 424,310
Aboriginal languages 12,730 7,140 4,440 1,140 920 220
Algonquian languages 7,180 6,470 435 270 130 140
Algonquin 60 55 0 10 10 0
Atikamekw 865 795 20 50 30 15
Blackfoot 25 25 0 0 0 0
Cree 3,495 3,155 220 125 75 55
Malecite 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mi'kmaq 80 80 0 0 0 0
Montagnais-Naskapi 1,070 845 190 40 15 25
Ojibway 700 655 10 40 10 30
Oji-Cree 880 865 0 15 0 15
Algonquian languages, n.i.e. 0 0 0 0 0 0
Athapaskan languages 745 585 145 20 20 0
Carrier 10 10 10 0 0 0
Chilcotin 25 15 0 10 0 0
Chipewyan 10 10 0 0 0 0
Dene 465 340 120 10 10 0
Dogrib 105 105 0 0 0 0
Kutchin-Gwich'in (Loucheux) 0 0 0 0 0 0
North Slave (Hare) 50 40 10 0 0 0
South Slave 75 65 10 0 0 0
Athapaskan languages, n.i.e. 0 10 0 0 0 0
Haida 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mohawk 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages, n.i.e. 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kutenai 0 0 0 0 0 0
Salish languages 10 15 0 0 0 0
Shuswap 10 10 0 0 0 0
Thompson (Ntlakapamux) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Salish languages, n.i.e. 0 0 0 0 0 0
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) 60 60 0 0 0 0
Tlingit 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tsimshian languages 10 0 0 0 0 0
Gitksan 10 0 0 0 0 0
Nisga'a 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tsimshian 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wakashan languages 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nootka 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wakashan languages, n.i.e. 0 0 0 0 0 0
Inuktitut 4,710 10 3,865 845 775 75
Inuinnaqtun 15 0 10 10 0 0
Inuktitut, n.i.e. 4,695 10 3,850 835 765 70
Aboriginal languages, n.i.e. 0 0 0 0 0 10
Other single responses 453,440 245 16,095 437,100 13,015 424,090
Total multiple responsesFootnote 19 11,225,615 158,990 1,334,190 9,732,435 1,050,430 8,682,010
English and Aboriginal language(s)Footnote 20 217,295 130,295 39,765 47,235 27,645 19,590
French and Aboriginal language(s)Footnote 21 14,515 11,595 1,275 1,640 1,055 585
English, French and Aboriginal language(s)Footnote 22 11,825 5,595 2,605 3,620 1,675 1,945
Other multiple responses 10,981,980 11,505 1,290,535 9,679,940 1,020,050 8,659,890

Footnotes

Footnote 1

This is a grouping of the total population into non-Aboriginal or Aboriginal population, with Aboriginal persons further divided into Aboriginal groups, based on their responses to three questions on the 2006 Census form.

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Footnote 2

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

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Footnote 3

'Area of residence' refers to the following geographic areas: on reserve, urban census metropolitan area, urban non-census metropolitan area and rural area. These geographic areas can be used to show where the Aboriginal population is residing.

'On reserve' includes eight census subdivision (CSD) types legally affiliated with First Nations or Indian bands, i.e., Indian reserve (IRI), Indian settlement (S-E), Indian government district (IGD), terres réservées aux Cris (TC), terres réservées aux Naskapis (TK), Nisga'a village (NVL), Nisga'a land (NL) and Teslin land (TL), as well as 35 additional CSDs of various other types that are generally northern communities in Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory, which have large concentrations of Registered Indians.

An urban area has a minimum population concentration of 1,000 persons and a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometre, based on the current census population count. All territory outside urban areas is classified as rural. On-reserve CSDs are excluded from this category.

A census metropolitan area (CMA) is a large urban area and has a population of at least 100,000.

Urban non-census metropolitan areas are smaller urban areas with a population of less than 100,000.

Rural areas include remote and wilderness areas and agricultural lands, as well as small towns, villages and other populated places with a population of less than 1,000. On-reserve CSDs are excluded from this category.

Additional information on the geographic units can be obtained from the 2006 Census Dictionary.

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Footnote 4

Users should be aware that the counts for this item are more affected than most by the incomplete enumeration of certain Indian reserves and Indian settlements. The extent of the impact will depend on the geographic area under study. In 2006, a total of 22 Indian reserves and Indian settlements were incompletely enumerated by the census. The populations of these 22 communities are not included in the census counts.

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Footnote 5

Mother tongue refers to the first language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the individual at the time of the census.

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Footnote 6

Indicates the number of persons who reported only one language as their mother tongue.

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Footnote 7

Indicates the number of persons who reported more than one language as their mother tongue.

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Footnote 8

Indicates the number of persons who reported English and one Aboriginal language as their mother tongue.

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Footnote 9

Indicates the number of persons who reported French and one Aboriginal language as their mother tongue.

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Footnote 10

Indicates the number of persons who reported English, French and one Aboriginal language as their mother tongue.

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Footnote 11

Refers to the language spoken most often at home by the individual at the time of the census. The data on home language shown in this table are not comparable to data found in similar tables produced for the 2001 Census when home language referred to the language spoken most often at home and the language spoken on a regular basis at home.

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Footnote 12

Indicates the number of persons who reported only one language spoken most often at home.

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Footnote 13

Indicates the number of persons who reported more than one language spoken most often at home.

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Footnote 14

Indicates the number of persons who reported English and one Aboriginal language spoken most often at home.

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Footnote 15

Indicates the number of persons who reported French and one Aboriginal language spoken most often at home.

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Footnote 16

Indicates the number of persons who reported English, French and one Aboriginal language spoken most often at home.

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Footnote 17

Refers to the ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language.

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Footnote 18

Indicates the number of persons who reported knowledge of only one language, either as an official or a non-official language. For example, the category 'English' includes persons who reported knowledge of English only without reporting knowledge of any non-official language(s).

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Footnote 19

Indicates the number of persons who reported multiple official and/or non-official languages.

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Footnote 20

Indicates the number of persons who reported knowledge of English and at least one Aboriginal language.

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Footnote 21

Indicates the number of persons who reported knowledge of French and at least one Aboriginal language.

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Footnote 22

Indicates the number of persons who reported knowledge of English, French and at least one Aboriginal language.

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Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-558-XCB2006015.

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Footnotes

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Footnote d

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