Dictionary, Census of Population, 2016
Age at immigrationDictionary, Census of Population, 2016
Age at immigration

Definition

'Age at immigration' refers to the age at which an immigrant first obtained landed immigrant or permanent resident status.

Statistical unit(s)

Immigrant

Classification(s)

Age categories by five-year age groups

Reported in

2016 (25% sample); 2011^{Note 1} (30% sample); 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986 and 1981 (20% sample).

Reported for

Persons in private households who are, or who have ever been, landed immigrants or permanent residents

Question number(s)

Derived variable: Questions 3 and 15

Responses

Individual years of age, ranging from 0 (less than one year) to the maximum age on the Census of Population.

Remarks

Age at immigration is derived from the immigrant's date of birth and year of immigration.

Respondents who answered 'Yes' to the landed immigrant status question (Question 14) were asked to answer the year of immigration question (Question 15). For more information on questions 14 and 15, please refer to the definitions for immigrant status and year of immigration.

Some immigrants have resided in Canada for a number of years, while others have arrived recently. In the 2016 Census of Population, 'Immigrants' includes immigrants who landed in Canada on or prior to May 10, 2016, the reference date for the 2016 Census of Population.

To better understand the relationship between the concepts of immigration and place of birth, please refer to Figure 5.1.

To better understand the relationship between the concepts of immigration and citizenship, please refer to Figure 5.2.

For more information on immigration variables, including information on their classifications, the questions from which they are derived, data quality and their comparability with other sources of data, please refer to the Place of Birth, Generation Status, Citizenship and Immigration Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2016.

Note