Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Visible minority

Release date: November 17, 2021Updated on: October 26, 2022
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Definition

Visible minority refers to whether a person is a visible minority or not, as defined by the Employment Equity Act. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non‑Caucasian in race or non‑white in colour." The visible minority population consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.

Statistical unit(s)

Classification(s)

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (25% sample); 2011Footnote 1 (30% sample); 2006, 2001 and 1996 (20% sample).

Reported for

Population in private households

Question number(s)

Derived variable: Questions 25 and 24.

Responses

The visible minority variable is derived from information collected in Question 25, on population group, and Question 24, on Indigenous group. Persons who reported "Yes, First Nations (North American Indian)," "Yes, Métis" or "Yes, Inuk (Inuit)" to Question 24 (Indigenous group) were not asked the population group question but are included in the "Not a visible minority" category in the visible minority variable, along with persons reporting other selected groups such as "White." All other respondents are classified according to their population group as reported in Question 25.

In Question 25, on population group, respondents were asked to use one or more of the mark‑in circles provided to indicate their population groups. Mark‑in circles for the following population groups were provided on the questionnaire: White, South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, 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 this list.

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, 2021.

Remarks

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

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, 2021.

Note(s)

Related 2021 data products

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2022

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 98-301-X

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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