Data tables, 1996 Census
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Top 25 Ethnic Origins in Canada by Age Groups (13), Showing Single and Multiple Responses (3), for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1996 Census (20% Sample Data)
About this tabulation
General information
Catalogue number : | 95F0220XDB96001 |
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Release date : | May 15, 1998 |
Topic : | Ethnic Origin and Population Group |
Data dimensions : |
Note
Special Note:
This table shows counts for the 25 most frequently reported ethnic origins in Canada, based on single response counts (persons who reported one ethnic origin only).
In this table, respondents who reported one ethnic origin are included in the single response column. Respondents who reported more than one ethnic origin are included in the multiple response column for each ethnic group they reported. The total response column indicates the number of respondents who reported each ethnic origin.
Users should be careful when interpreting multiple response counts because respondents who reported more than one ethnic origin are counted in the multiple response count for each ethnic origin they reported. For example, a respondent who reported 'English and Scottish' is included in the multiple response count for 'English' and the multiple response count for 'Scottish'.
This table cannot be used to calculate the ethnic distribution of the population. To calculate the ethnic distribution of the population, please refer to Table 95F0221XDB96001.
Comparability of ethnic origin data between the 1996 Census and previous censuses has been affected by several factors, including changes in the question format, wording, examples, instructions and data processing, as well as by the social environment at the time of the census. The 1996 census required that respondents write in their ethnic origin(s) on four write-in lines, whereas previous censuses provided the respondent with both mark-in categories and write-in lines. Caution should be used in comparing ethnic origin data from census to census.
For more information on ethnic origin, please refer to the 'User Guide: Ethnic Origin' in the electronic documentation supplied with this product. (C:\Rec96cen\Document\English\Other\Ethnic.txt)
Data table
Ethnic Origins (25) | Single and Multiple Responses (3) | ||
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Total responses | Single responses | Multiple responses | |
CanadianFootnote 2 | 8,806,275 | 5,326,995 | 3,479,280 |
French | 5,597,845 | 2,665,250 | 2,932,600 |
English | 6,832,095 | 2,048,275 | 4,783,820 |
Chinese | 921,585 | 800,470 | 121,115 |
Italian | 1,207,475 | 729,450 | 478,025 |
German | 2,757,140 | 726,145 | 2,030,995 |
Scottish | 4,260,840 | 642,970 | 3,617,870 |
South AsianFootnote 3 | 723,345 | 590,145 | 133,200 |
Irish | 3,767,610 | 504,030 | 3,263,580 |
AboriginalFootnote 4 | 1,101,955 | 477,630 | 624,325 |
Ukrainian | 1,026,470 | 331,685 | 694,790 |
Dutch (Netherlands) | 916,215 | 313,880 | 602,340 |
Polish | 786,735 | 265,930 | 520,805 |
Portuguese | 335,110 | 252,640 | 82,470 |
Filipino | 242,880 | 198,420 | 44,460 |
Jewish | 351,705 | 195,810 | 155,900 |
Greek | 203,345 | 144,940 | 58,405 |
Jamaican | 188,770 | 128,570 | 60,200 |
Vietnamese | 136,805 | 110,395 | 26,415 |
Hungarian (Magyar) | 250,520 | 94,185 | 156,335 |
Lebanese | 131,385 | 87,675 | 43,715 |
Spanish | 204,360 | 72,470 | 131,890 |
Haitian | 83,680 | 72,330 | 11,350 |
Korean | 66,660 | 63,060 | 3,595 |
Québécois | 80,400 | 55,635 | 24,765 |
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
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Excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements
- Footnote 2
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Caution should be used in comparing data for 'Canadian' ethnic origin between censuses.
The increase in the reporting of 'Canadian' is the result of a number of factors. The change in the format of the ethnic origin question between 1996 and 1991 has had an impact on counts for this group.
The 1991 Census question included 15 mark-in categories and two write-in spaces for the ethnic origin question. In 1996, respondents were required to write in their ethnic origin(s) in four write-in spaces. Twenty-four examples, including 'Canadian', were provided. 'Canadian' was included as one of the examples on the 1996 Census questionnaire because it was one of the most frequently reported ethnic origins in the 1991 Census.
As a result of the change in format of the ethnic origin question in 1996, many respondents who checked a mark-in category to indicate their ethnic origin in 1991 may have written in 'Canadian' as their ethnic origin in 1996.
Although the increase in the reporting of 'Canadian' ethnic origins may have impacted the reporting of single ethnic origins of many groups, English, Irish, Scottish and French origins appear to have been particularly affected. - Footnote 3
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South Asian includes Bangladeshi, Bengali, East Indian, Goan, Gujarati, Pakistani, Punjabi, Sinhalese, Sri Lankan, Tamil and South Asian, n.i.e. (n.i.e. means 'not included elsewhere'.)
- Footnote 4
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Aboriginal includes North American Indian, Métis and Inuit.
Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 95F0220XDB96001.
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Footnotes
- Footnote a
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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.
- Footnote b
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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.
- Footnote c
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