2024 Census Test

Statistics Canada conducts a census test to evaluate the new and modified questions in the questionnaire, as well as the collection procedures and tools, in preparation for the 2026 Census of Population and the 2026 Census of Agriculture.

Why do we have a census test?

Testing ensures that quality data are available in 2026 to support decision-making across a wide range of services and programs in areas such as

• employment
• education
• public transportation
• health care.

Is the 2024 Census Test mandatory and why?

Census of Population Test

A sample of dwellings in specific locations across Canada has been selected to participate in this census test. Participation in the 2024 Census of Population Test is mandatory.

Since accuracy depends on complete information, each household selected to participate in this test must, by law, provide the information. Answers are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act and are kept strictly confidential. They will not be shared publicly or stored for future access.

Census of Agriculture Test

A sample of farms or agricultural operations across Canada has been selected to participate in the test. The 2024 Census of Agriculture Test is conducted on a voluntary basis.

It relies on your responses and those of other farmers across Canada to assess respondents’ understanding of the questionnaire content. The information provided will be carefully reviewed and will help Statistics Canada ensure that the 2026 Census of Agriculture questionnaire is easily understood by and beneficial to all data users.

What about privacy and confidentiality?

Statistics Canada takes great care to ensure that information collected from the census test is in the public’s interest, cannot be obtained effectively from other sources, and can be collected efficiently to meet information requirements.

The Statistics Act specifically requires that information about individuals be protected and kept strictly confidential. The federal Privacy Act also protects personal information held by the agency.

How does Statistics Canada prepare for the test?

Statistics Canada consulted with the public and stakeholders between the fall of 2022 and the spring of 2023. The feedback that was received was used to update and improve the Census of Population questionnaire; these changes were then evaluated through cognitive and one-on-one interviews in the spring and summer of 2023. Information on this process can be found on the 2026 Census of Population Content Consultation web page.

The report “2026 Census of Population Content Consultation Results: What we heard from Canadians,” which was published on April 17, 2024, outlines the consultation findings on data relevancy, uses and gaps for the Census of Population.

The 2024 Census Test beginning in early May 2024 is another step in assessing the proposed changes to the census questionnaire. An estimated 198,000 households are expected to participate.

Following the 2024 Census Test, Statistics Canada will evaluate all results and provide recommendations to the federal government for the content of the 2026 Census of Population questionnaire.

What will be tested during the 2024 Census Test?

The most notable changes for the 2024 Census Test include the following:

• Household composition and marital status: Modifications have been made to the format of the household composition and marital status module including new questions, as well as changes to the response options and wording of the questions to reduce respondent burden, use inclusive language, and to better reflect changes in Canada’s social context.
• General health: A new question on general health status has been added to the census test questionnaire to collect information on the health status of people in Canada.
• Homelessness: A set of three new questions have been added to capture Canadians’ experiences with homelessness and other housing challenges over the past 12 months, as well as to identify people currently in precarious housing situations.
• Second address: A two-part question has been added to identify persons who live or stay at more than one address including children in joint custody or students who live elsewhere while studying, to improve measures of family dynamics and living arrangements, and to better enumerate fluctuating populations.
• Population group (visible minority): The wording of the question and the response categories have been modified to improve the accessibility of the question and to encourage respondents to report as being part of multiple groups, if applicable. A new “First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit)” response category is now included. Changes were also made to the logic of the questionnaire to allow respondents to self-identify as being part of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous population groups, if applicable.
• Canadian military experience: The question on Canadian military experience was revised to be more inclusive of all branches, such as COATS and Rangers, and respondents will have additional options to select all types of service that apply in addition to a write-in field to specify other details.
• Labour market activities: The removal of three fields as well as changes to the logic of the questionnaire have been implemented with the aim of reducing burden on a large portion of respondents, including retirees and those not working full time.
• Commuting: A new question has been included to collect more detailed data about which days workers typically commute to work, to better understand changes in commuting frequencies with the shift to hybrid models or remote work.
• Child care expenses: The question has been restructured to ask about the amount of child care paid per child under 12 in the household, and to identify any unpaid child care. The scope of the question now includes child care use for reasons beyond enabling parents or guardians to work.

Do we publish the 2024 Census Test results?

The information collected as part of the 2024 Census Test is only used to prepare for the 2026 Census. Data, results and analyses will not be released or published. Once they are analyzed, test records will be destroyed.