2001 Census Topic-based tabulations

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Topic-based tabulation: Household Income Groups (22) in Constant (2000) Dollars and Household Type (11) for Private Households, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 1995 and 2000 - 20% Sample Data

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General information

Catalogue number :97F0020XCB2001005
Release date :May 13, 2003
Topic :Income of Individuals, Families and Households
Data dimensions :

Note

Special Note: Data Quality - Relationship of Census Income Estimates to the National Accounts and Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics

Census income estimates of aggregate income in 2000 were compared to similar personal income estimates from the national accounts. After adjustments to the personal income estimates for differences in concepts and coverage, the census estimate of aggregate income in 2000 from comparable sources was 4.1% lower than the national accounts estimate. As in the past, census estimates for some income components and for some provinces compared more favourably than for others.

Census estimates of aggregate wages and salaries, the largest component of income, were almost identical to the national accounts estimates. Although there was a large difference between the two estimates of net income from farm self-employment (the smallest component of individual earnings), census estimates of aggregate income from both farm and non-farm self-employment were lower by 1%. Overall, estimates of total income from employment were nearly identical.

Census estimates of Old Age Security pensions and the Guaranteed Income Supplement were about 5% higher, while those for Canada/Quebec Pension Plan benefits were about 9% lower, than adjusted national accounts estimates. Employment Insurance benefits reported in the census were smaller by about 6%. Estimates of aggregate Canada Child Tax benefits were nearly identical in both estimates. Census estimates of other government transfer payments, which include such items as social welfare benefits, provincial income supplements to seniors, veterans' pensions and GST/HST/QST refunds, were significantly below the estimates from the national accounts. Overall, census estimates of aggregate income from all government transfer payments were lower by about 13%. As in previous census-year comparisons, the census estimate of investment income was significantly lower, by 32% in 2000, than the national accounts estimate.

Census income statistics were also compared with similar statistics from the annual Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID). SLID estimates reflect adjustments made for population undercoverage, while census estimates do not include such an adjustment. This adjustment contributes to census estimates showing fewer income recipients (by 3.4%) and earners (by 7.2%) than SLID estimates. Consequently, census estimates of aggregate earnings are 4% lower than the SLID estimate, while the census estimate of aggregate total income of individuals is lower by 3%. Most of the observed provincial differences were considered acceptable in the light of sampling errors in the Survey.

Special Note: Census Family

Refers to a married couple (with or without children of either or both spouses), a couple living common-law (with or without children of either or both partners) or a lone parent of any marital status, with at least one child living in the same dwelling. A couple living common-law may be of opposite or same sex. 'Children' in a census family include grandchildren living with their grandparent(s) but with no parents present. For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Changes to Family Concepts for the 2001 Census

For the 1996 Census, the definition of census family was as follows:

Refers to a now-married couple (with or without never-married sons and/or daughters of either or both spouses), a couple living common-law (with or without never-married sons and/or daughters of either or both partners) or a lone-parent of any marital status, with at least one never-married son or daughter living in the same dwelling.

This reflected a concept that had not changed since 1976. However, during the planning for the 2001 Census, it was decided that some changes were required, due to the following factors: (1) changes to federal and provincial legislation putting same-sex couples on an equal footing with opposite-sex common-law couples (most notably Bill C-23, the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, which was passed by the Government of Canada in 2000); (2) recommendations by the United Nations as part of a process of standardization of concepts for the 2000-2001 round of censuses in member countries; and (3) a significant number of persons less than 15 years of age classified as 'non-family persons' in previous censuses.

As a result, the census family concept for the 2001 Census reflects the following changes:

- Two persons living in a same-sex common-law relationship, along with any of their children residing in the household, are considered a census family.

- Children in a census family can have been previously married (as long as they are not currently living with a spouse or common-law partner). Previously, they had to be 'never-married'.

- A grandchild living in a three-generation household where the parent (middle generation) is never-married is, contrary to previous censuses, now considered as a child in the census family of his or her parent, provided the grandchild is not living with his or her own spouse, common-law partner, or child. Traditionally, the census family usually consisted of the two older generations.

- A grandchild of another household member, where a middle-generation parent is not present, is now considered as a child in the census family of his or her grandparent, provided the grandchild is not living with his or her own spouse, common-law partner, or child. Traditionally, such a grandchild would not be considered as a member of a census family.

The last three changes listed (definition of 'child'), together, result in a 1.5% increase in the total number of census families, and in a 10.1% increase in the number of lone-parent families. The inclusion of same-sex couples results in a 0.4% increase in the number of census families at the national level.

The term economic family refers to a group of two or more persons who live in the same dwelling and are related to each other by blood, marriage, common-law or adoption. This definition has not changed for 2001. The only effect of conceptual changes on economic families is that same-sex partners are now considered to be common-law partners. Thus they are considered related and members of the same economic family.

Outside of the 'family universe', there are two related concepts that are affected by the change in the census family definition: common-law status and household type. Prior to 2001, two people living together as husband and wife without being legally married to each other were considered to be living common-law. For 2001, this has been expanded to include persons living in a same-sex partnership. The concept of household type refers to the basic division of private households into family and non-family households. Since it is based on the census family concept, the household type (whether a household is 'family' or 'non-family') is affected by the change. Also, the detailed classification of this variable is affected, since married couples and common-law couples were broken down into those 'without never-married sons or daughters' and 'with never-married sons or daughters'. For 2001 this reads 'without children' and 'with children', with the attendant change in meaning.

For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Common-law Status

Refers to two people of the opposite sex or of the same sex who live together as a couple, but who are not legally married to each other. For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Constant Dollars Income

Refers to the presentation of income statistics from two or more censuses in terms of the value of the dollar in one of those censuses.

To convert the 1995 incomes into 2000 dollars, the 1995 values are revised upwards by the change in the Consumer Price Index between 1995 and 2000.

For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Historical Comparison of Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 1996 and 2001

A few census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs) have different geographical boundaries in 2001 as compared to 1996. In order to facilitate data comparisons, the 1996 CMA and CA data have been adjusted to reflect as closely as possible the 2001 CMA and CA boundaries. In the following cases, there was not an exact match. Therefore care should be taken when looking at the 1996 Census data for these CAs:

Cobourg, Ontario
Courtenay, British Columbia
Lachute, Quebec
Guelph, Ontario
Val d'Or, Quebec
Williams Lake, British Columbia
Woodstock, Ontario

For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Household Universe

The Household Universe pertains to the person or the group of persons (other than temporary or foreign residents) who occupy a dwelling. Household variables are distinct from dwelling variables, in that the latter ones pertain to dwelling characteristics, not to persons occupying dwellings. For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Income Reference Period

Canadian censuses were conducted in 1996 and 2001. Income data from these censuses relate to the calendar year prior to the census year, i.e. 1995 and 2000 respectively. For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Income Suppression

Area suppression is the deletion of all characteristic data for geographic areas with populations below a specified size. Income distributions and related statistics are suppressed if the population in the area, excluding institutional residents, is less than 250 from either the 100% or the 20% database, or if the number of private households is less than 40 from the 20% database.

Tables with Income/Employment Income Distributions

Income/earnings distributions have been suppressed where the estimated total number of units (persons, families or households) in the reference year is less than 250. All suppressed data cells and associated averages, medians and standard errors of average income/earnings have been replaced with zeroes or symbols.

In all cases, suppressed data are included in the appropriate higher aggregate subtotals and totals.

Tables with Number and Average Employment Income only

Statistics have been suppressed if the estimated total number of persons (males, females or both sexes) with employment income in the reference year is less than 250. All suppressed data cells and associated averages have been replaced by zeroes or symbols.

In all cases, suppressed data are included in the appropriate higher aggregate subtotals and totals.

Special Note: Nunavut (1)

Data from the 2001 Census are available for Nunavut, the new territory that came into effect on April 1, 1999.

Standard data products released only at the Canada/Province/Territory geographic levels will not contain data for Nunavut for the census years prior to 2001.

Standard data products released at the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and Census Agglomeration (CA) geographic levels will contain data for Nunavut for the 2001, 1996 and/or 1991 Censuses.

The 1996 and 1991 CMA/CA data have been adjusted to reflect as closely as possible the 2001 CMA/CA geographic boundaries. This has been done to facilitate data comparisons using the 2001 geographic boundaries.

For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Private Household

Refers to a person or a group of persons (other than foreign residents) who occupy a private dwelling and do not have a usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada. For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Data table

Select data categories for this table


This table details household income groups in constant dollars and household type for private households in CanadaFootnote 1
Household Income Groups (22) Years (2)
1995 2000
Total - Household income groupsFootnote 2 10,820,055 11,562,980
Under $5,000 399,845 352,525
$ 5,000 - $ 9,999 391,935 391,355
$ 10,000 - $ 14,999 795,045 751,355
$ 15,000 - $ 19,999 755,055 717,660
$ 20,000 - $ 24,999 704,120 702,385
$ 25,000 - $ 29,999 670,160 668,025
$ 30,000 - $ 34,999 639,500 677,830
$ 35,000 - $ 39,999 621,840 657,280
$ 40,000 - $ 44,999 590,655 643,195
$ 45,000 - $ 49,999 568,015 577,310
$ 50,000 - $ 59,999 1,047,765 1,076,220
$ 60,000 - $ 69,999 876,495 944,230
$ 70,000 - $ 79,999 699,365 764,495
$ 80,000 - $ 89,999 543,230 611,065
$ 90,000 - $ 99,999 394,240 470,730
$100,000 - $124,999 581,260 748,640
$125,000 - $149,999 252,050 351,130
$150,000 and over 289,475 457,545
Average household income $ 52,888.0 58,360.0
Median household income $ 43,796.0 46,752.0
Standard error of average household income $ 31.0 41.0

Footnotes

Footnote 1

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

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

The total income of a household is the sum of the total incomes of all members of that household.

Total income refers to the total money income received from the following sources during calendar year 2000 by persons 15 years of age and over:

- wages and salaries (total);
- net farm income;
- net non-farm income from unincorporated business and/or professional practice;
- Canada Child Tax benefits;
- Old Age Security pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement;
- benefits from Canada or Quebec Pension Plan;
- benefits from Employment Insurance;
- other income from government sources;
- dividends, interest on bonds, deposits and savings certificates, and other investment income;
- retirement pensions, superannuation and annuities, including those from RRSPs and RRIFs;
- other money income.

Receipts Not Counted as Income - The income concept excluded gambling gains and losses, lottery prizes, money inherited during the year in a lump sum, capital gains or losses, receipts from the sale of property, income tax refunds, loan payments received, lump-sum settlements of insurance policies, rebates received on property taxes, refunds of pension contributions, as well as all income 'in kind', such as free meals, living accommodations, or agricultural products produced and consumed on the farm.

Average Income of Households - Average household income refers to the weighted mean total income of households in 2000. Average income is calculated from unrounded data by dividing the aggregate income of a specified group of households (e.g. two-person households) by the number of households in that respective group, whether or not they reported income.
Median Income of Households - The median income of a specified group of households is that amount which divides their income size distribution into two halves. That is, the incomes of the first half of households are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. Median incomes of households are normally calculated for all units in the specified group, whether or not they reported income.
Standard Error of Average Income - Refers to the estimated standard error of average income for an income size distribution. If interpreted as shown below, it serves as a rough indicator of the precision of the corresponding estimate of average income. For about 68% of the samples which could be selected from the sample frame, the difference between the sample estimate of average income and the corresponding figure based on complete enumeration would be less than one standard error. For about 95% of the possible samples, the difference would be less than two standard errors and, in about 99% of the samples, the difference would be approximately two and one half standard errors.

Household - Refers to a person or a group of persons (other than foreign residents), who occupy the same dwelling and do not have a usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada. It may consist of a family group (census family) with or without other non-family persons, of two or more families sharing a dwelling, of a group of unrelated persons, or of one person living alone. Household members who are temporarily absent on Census Day (e.g. temporary residents elsewhere) are considered as part of their usual household. For census purposes, every person is a member of one and only one household. Unless otherwise specified, all data in household reports are for private households only.

Households are classified into three groups: private households, collective households and households outside Canada.

Household, Private - Refers to a person or a group of persons (other than foreign residents) who occupy a private dwelling and do not have a usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada.

Household Type - Refers to the basic division of private households into family and non-family households. 'Family household' refers to a household that contains at least one census family, that is, a married couple with or without children, or a couple living common-law with or without children, or a lone parent living with one or more children (lone-parent family). 'One-family household' refers to a single census family (with or without other non-family persons) that occupies a private dwelling. 'Multiple-family household' refers to a household in which two or more census families (with or without additional non-family persons) occupy the same private dwelling.

Non-family household refers to either one person living alone in a private dwelling or to a group of two or more people who share a private dwelling, but who do not constitute a census family.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97F0020XCB2001005.

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Footnotes

Footnote a

To access the comma separated values (CSV) file, use the conversion features available in most spreadsheet software, or use a free viewer, for example csview.

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Footnote b

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Footnote c

To access the Beyond 20/20 (IVT) version, you need the Beyond 20/20 Table Browser, which may be downloaded below. These links download files directly from an external site and are not the responsibility of Statistics Canada.

Beyond 20/20 Browser for Windows operating systems (18.9 MB)
To install this product, run 'ProBrowser.exe'.

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Footnote d

XML (SDMX - ML) - Is a statistical data and metadata exchange standard for the electronic exchange of statistical information. Two extensible mark-up language (XML) files are provided in a compressed bundle.

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