Dictionary, Census of Population, 2016
Population groupDictionary, Census of Population, 2016
Population group

Definition

'Population group' refers to the population group or groups to which the person belongs, for example, White, South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean or Japanese. These population groups are the groups used on questionnaires which collect data on the visible minority population for Employment Equity purposes. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour".

Statistical unit(s)

Person

Classification(s)

Population group

Reported in

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

Reported for

Population in private households

Question number(s)

Derived variable: Questions 19 and 18

Responses

The population group variable is derived from information collected in Question 19: population group and Question 18: Aboriginal group. Persons who reported 'Yes, First Nations (North American Indian),' 'Yes, Métis' or 'Yes, Inuk (Inuit)' to Question 18 (Aboriginal group) were not asked the population group question but are included in the 'Aboriginal peoples' category. All other persons are classified according to their population group as reported in Question 19.

In Question 19: population group, respondents were asked to use one or more of the mark-in circles provided to indicate their population group(s). The following mark-in circles were provided on the questionnaire: White, South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese. A write-in space was also provided for respondents who wanted to specify a population group not included in the list of mark-in circles.

For more information on the population group variable, including information on its classification, the questions from which it is derived, data quality and its comparability with other sources of data, refer to the Visible Minority and Population Group Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2016.

Remarks

The population group question is also used to derive the visible minority variable. For information on the visible minority variable, refer to the definition 'visible minority.'

For more information on the visible minority variable, including information on its classification, the questions from which it is derived, data quality and its comparability with other sources of data, refer to the Visible Minority and Population Group Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2016.

Note