2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

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Topic-based tabulation: Ethnic Origin (247), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

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General information

Catalogue number :97-562-XCB2006006
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: 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 , single and multiple ethnic origin responses and sex for the population in CanadaFootnote 1
Ethnic origin (247) Single and multiple ethnic origin responses (3)
Total - Single and multiple ethnic origin responsesFootnote 2 Single ethnic origin responsesFootnote 3 Multiple ethnic origin responsesFootnote 4
Total - Ethnic originFootnote 5 31,241,030 18,319,580 12,921,445
British Isles origins 11,098,610 2,548,330 8,550,275
Cornish 1,550 65 1,485
English 6,570,015 1,367,125 5,202,890
Irish 4,354,155 491,030 3,863,125
Manx 4,635 345 4,295
Scottish 4,719,850 568,515 4,151,340
Welsh 440,960 27,110 413,850
British Isles, n.i.e.Footnote 6 403,915 94,145 309,770
French origins 5,000,350 1,256,905 3,743,440
Acadian 96,145 26,370 69,775
French 4,941,210 1,230,540 3,710,675
Aboriginal origins 1,678,235 630,425 1,047,815
Inuit 65,885 40,975 24,910
Métis 409,065 77,295 331,770
North American Indian 1,253,620 512,150 741,470
Other North American origins 10,408,735 5,881,285 4,527,450
American 316,350 28,785 287,565
Canadian 10,066,290 5,748,720 4,317,570
Newfoundlander 17,025 4,765 12,265
Nova Scotian 1,875 610 1,260
Ontarian 1,650 615 1,035
Québécois 146,590 96,835 49,750
Other provincial or regional groups 2,695 950 1,745
Caribbean origins 578,695 335,230 243,470
Antiguan 3,415 1,330 2,080
Bahamian 1,655 355 1,305
Barbadian 30,435 11,660 18,775
Bermudan 2,495 315 2,180
Carib 2,190 40 2,145
Cuban 14,110 4,130 9,975
Dominican, n.o.s.Footnote 7 12,200 5,465 6,730
Grenadian 12,190 5,890 6,295
Guyanese 61,080 28,565 32,515
Haitian 102,430 80,920 21,505
Jamaican 231,110 134,320 96,785
Kittitian/Nevisian 2,210 830 1,380
Martinican 890 140 755
Montserratan 815 315 500
Puerto Rican 2,020 310 1,710
St. Lucian 4,605 1,950 2,655
Trinidadian/Tobagonian 58,420 23,220 35,200
Vincentian/Grenadinian 10,145 4,715 5,425
West Indian 58,805 25,890 32,910
Caribbean, n.i.e.Footnote 8 12,735 4,845 7,890
Latin, Central and South American origins 360,235 196,670 163,565
Aboriginal from Central/South America 12,870 1,490 11,380
Argentinian 13,975 3,100 10,875
Belizean 870 135 735
Bolivian 3,035 1,460 1,570
Brazilian 15,755 4,220 11,535
Chilean 38,175 19,215 18,960
Colombian 44,100 31,145 12,960
Costa Rican 3,445 1,515 1,930
Ecuadorian 16,485 10,355 6,135
Guatemalan 18,205 10,405 7,800
Hispanic 4,900 2,705 2,195
Honduran 5,845 3,330 2,515
Maya 4,625 935 3,685
Mexican 61,505 26,080 35,425
Nicaraguan 11,150 6,460 4,695
Panamanian 3,575 1,055 2,525
Paraguayan 1,995 295 1,700
Peruvian 25,970 13,360 12,615
Salvadorean 59,145 42,145 16,995
Uruguayan 4,550 1,485 3,065
Venezuelan 10,475 3,195 7,280
Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.Footnote 9 22,470 12,575 9,895
European origins 9,919,790 3,726,655 6,193,135
Western European origins 4,372,750 1,063,690 3,309,060
Austrian 194,255 27,060 167,195
Belgian 168,915 33,675 135,240
Dutch (Netherlands) 1,035,965 303,400 732,560
Flemish 12,425 2,175 10,250
Frisian 4,145 1,030 3,115
German 3,179,425 670,640 2,508,785
Luxembourger 3,225 530 2,700
Swiss 137,775 25,180 112,600
Northern European origins 1,120,805 151,840 968,960
Finnish 131,045 30,190 100,845
Scandinavian origins 1,009,735 121,650 888,085
Danish 200,035 33,770 166,265
Icelandic 88,875 9,950 78,925
Norwegian 432,515 44,785 387,725
Swedish 334,765 28,440 306,325
Scandinavian, n.i.e.Footnote 10 36,140 4,700 31,440
Eastern European origins 2,998,220 917,665 2,080,550
Baltic origins 96,460 27,590 68,870
Estonian 23,930 8,440 15,485
Latvian 27,870 7,720 20,150
Lithuanian 46,690 11,425 35,260
Byelorussian 10,505 2,620 7,885
Czech and Slovak origins 193,950 50,900 143,055
Czech 98,090 23,570 74,520
Czechoslovakian 36,970 6,355 30,615
Slovak 64,150 20,965 43,180
Hungarian (Magyar) 315,510 88,690 226,825
Polish 984,565 269,380 715,190
Romanian 192,170 79,655 112,515
Russian 500,600 98,245 402,360
Ukrainian 1,209,090 300,590 908,495
Southern European origins 2,723,675 1,439,445 1,284,240
Albanian 22,395 18,480 3,915
Bosnian 21,040 14,815 6,225
Bulgarian 27,260 16,480 10,775
Croatian 110,880 56,405 54,475
Cypriot 3,400 830 2,570
Greek 242,685 145,250 97,435
Italian 1,445,330 741,045 704,285
Kosovar 1,530 1,065 465
Macedonian 37,050 18,510 18,535
Maltese 37,125 13,085 24,035
Montenegrin 2,370 670 1,700
Portuguese 410,850 262,230 148,620
Serbian 72,690 46,035 26,650
Sicilian 4,360 795 3,565
Slovenian 35,940 15,160 20,775
Spanish 325,730 67,475 258,255
Yugoslav, n.i.e.Footnote 11 65,305 21,095 44,200
Other European origins 360,960 154,010 206,950
Basque 4,970 715 4,260
Gypsy (Roma) 2,900 320 2,580
Jewish 315,120 134,050 181,075
Slav (European) 5,475 1,915 3,565
European, n.i.e.Footnote 12 35,800 17,010 18,785
African origins 421,185 251,060 170,125
Afrikaner 1,865 350 1,515
Akan 660 470 185
Amhara 1,065 625 440
Angolan 2,160 1,060 1,100
Ashanti 1,555 1,185 370
Bantu 1,595 820 775
Black 61,430 32,510 28,915
Burundian 4,650 4,050 600
Cameroonian 4,440 3,540 895
Chadian 775 625 150
Congolese (Zairian) 8,690 7,050 1,640
Congolese, n.o.s.Footnote 13 8,415 6,400 2,015
Dinka 500 325 165
East African 2,935 840 2,100
Eritrean 10,475 8,760 1,715
Ethiopian 23,400 18,870 4,530
Gabonese 790 440 345
Gambian 625 410 215
Ghanaian 23,220 18,610 4,610
Guinean, n.o.s.Footnote 14 2,470 1,525 945
Harari 755 470 280
Ibo 715 490 225
Ivorian 2,045 1,220 825
Kenyan 4,955 2,320 2,640
Malagasy 1,505 730 775
Malian 1,370 610 760
Mauritian 4,860 1,595 3,270
Nigerian 19,520 13,615 5,900
Oromo 1,885 1,250 635
Peulh 985 535 450
Rwandan 5,670 4,385 1,285
Senegalese 3,160 1,735 1,425
Seychellois 910 500 405
Sierra Leonean 1,990 1,285 705
Somali 37,790 34,020 3,765
South African 25,855 5,710 20,145
Sudanese 12,640 9,995 2,640
Tanzanian 2,220 875 1,340
Tigrian 665 315 345
Togolese 1,750 835 915
Ugandan 3,310 2,025 1,285
Yoruba 3,315 2,120 1,195
Zambian 945 520 420
Zimbabwean 3,570 2,430 1,140
Zulu 625 215 410
African, n.i.e.Footnote 15 138,750 52,745 86,000
Arab origins 470,580 315,995 154,585
Egyptian 54,875 33,225 21,650
Iraqi 29,950 22,055 7,900
Jordanian 6,905 4,250 2,655
Kuwaiti 1,575 900 675
Lebanese 165,150 103,855 61,290
Libyan 2,720 1,805 915
Maghrebi origins 94,445 63,830 30,615
Algerian 28,070 19,750 8,315
Berber 14,625 9,370 5,255
Moroccan 44,630 28,110 16,520
Tunisian 9,525 6,090 3,430
Maghrebi, n.i.e.Footnote 16 1,800 505 1,295
Palestinian 23,975 14,615 9,360
Saudi Arabian 2,730 1,495 1,240
Syrian 31,370 13,310 18,060
Yemeni 2,300 1,090 1,210
Arab, n.i.e.Footnote 17 86,135 55,565 30,570
West Asian origins 302,555 223,030 79,520
Afghan 48,090 41,590 6,500
Armenian 50,500 32,530 17,970
Assyrian 8,650 6,145 2,505
Azerbaijani 3,465 1,480 1,985
Georgian 2,200 695 1,505
Iranian 121,505 99,225 22,280
Israeli 10,755 2,520 8,235
Kurd 9,205 6,465 2,740
Pashtun 1,690 870 820
Tatar 2,300 580 1,720
Turk 43,700 23,355 20,340
West Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 18 12,075 7,575 4,505
South Asian origins 1,316,770 1,089,100 227,665
Bangladeshi 24,595 20,915 3,680
Bengali 12,130 9,455 2,670
East Indian 962,670 780,175 182,495
Goan 4,815 1,465 3,350
Gujarati 2,975 1,625 1,350
Kashmiri 1,685 700 980
Nepali 3,780 2,975 800
Pakistani 124,730 89,605 35,130
Punjabi 53,515 32,065 21,455
Sinhalese 5,825 3,775 2,050
Sri Lankan 103,625 79,520 24,110
Tamil 34,590 18,010 16,585
South Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 19 60,895 48,815 12,080
East and Southeast Asian origins 2,212,340 1,854,090 358,250
Burmese 4,590 2,095 2,495
Cambodian 25,245 15,905 9,340
Chinese 1,346,510 1,135,370 211,145
Filipino 436,195 321,395 114,800
Hmong 815 530 285
Indonesian 14,325 3,220 11,100
Japanese 98,905 56,470 42,435
Khmer 1,185 670 520
Korean 146,545 137,795 8,755
Laotian 20,110 13,745 6,365
Malaysian 12,165 1,820 10,345
Mongolian 3,960 1,015 2,950
Singaporean 1,390 305 1,085
Taiwanese 17,705 11,955 5,750
Thai 10,020 4,205 5,810
Tibetan 4,275 3,750 530
Vietnamese 180,130 136,445 43,680
East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.Footnote 20 8,990 7,270 1,720
Asian, n.o.s.Footnote 21 555 145 410
Oceania origins 58,500 10,800 47,690
Australian 30,635 2,975 27,660
New Zealander 10,465 1,135 9,335
Pacific Islands origins 18,490 6,695 11,795
Fijian 12,560 6,240 6,325
Hawaiian 2,390 75 2,310
Maori 1,555 120 1,430
Polynesian 1,100 65 1,030
Samoan 560 45 515
Pacific Islander, n.i.e.Footnote 22 770 145 625

Footnotes

Footnote 1

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

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Footnote 2

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 3

A single ethnic origin response occurs when a respondent provides one ethnic origin only.

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Footnote 4

A multiple ethnic origin response occurs when a respondent provides two or more ethnic origins.

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Footnote 5

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 6

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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Footnote 7

The abbreviation 'n.o.s.' means 'not otherwise specified.'

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Footnote 8

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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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.o.s.' means 'not otherwise specified.'

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Footnote 14

The abbreviation 'n.o.s.' means 'not otherwise specified.'

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Footnote 15

The abbreviation 'n.i.e.' means 'not included elsewhere.'

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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.o.s.' means 'not otherwise specified.'

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Footnote 22

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-XCB2006006.

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