2021 Canadian census

Further information: Census in Canada

2021 Canadian census
← 2016 May 11, 2021 (2021-05-11) 2026 →
Statistics Canada's visual identifier for
its 2021 Census of Population
General information
CountryCanada
AuthorityStatistics Canada
Websitestatcan.gc.ca/census
Results
Total population36,991,981 (Increase 5.2%)
Most populous ​province/territoryOntario (14,223,942)
Least populous ​province/territoryNunavut (36,858)

The 2021 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population with a reference date of May 11, 2021.[1] It follows the 2016 Canadian census, which recorded a population of 35,151,728.[2] The overall response rate was 98%, which is slightly lower than the response rate for the 2016 census.[3] It recorded a population of 36,991,981, a 5.2% increase from 2016.[4] It will be succeeded by Canada's 2026 census.

Planning

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Consultation on census program content was from September 11 to December 8, 2017.[5] The census was conducted by Statistics Canada, and was contactless as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[6] The agency had considered delaying the census until 2022.[7]

About 900 supervisors and 31,000 field enumerators were hired to conduct the door-to-door survey of individuals and households who had not completed the census questionnaire by late May or early June.[1] Canvassing agents wore masks and maintained a physical distance to comply with COVID-19 safety regulations.[8]

Questionnaire

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In early May 2021, Statistics Canada began sending mailings to households throughout Canada containing instructions for completing the census questionnaire.[9] The questionnaires could be completed by returning the paper questionnaire, or by phone or online by using an access code provided in the mailing.[9] Statistics Canada expected about 80% of households to complete the questionnaire online.[9] It was also available in large-print, braille, audio, and video formats.[10] The questionnaire questions were available in a number of languages (Arabic, simplified and traditional Chinese, Italian, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese) and indigenous languages (Atikamekw, Denesuline, Nunavik and Nunavut Inuktitut, Mohawk, Montagnais, Naskapi, Northern Quebec Cree, Ojibwe, Oji-Cree, Plains Cree, Swampy Cree, and Tłı̨chǫ), but the questionnaire had to be completed in either English or French.[10]

The standard short-form questionnaire was to be completed by 75% of households.[9] The other 25% completed a long-form questionnaire to collect data about the household's economic and social state, information about the occupied dwelling, and other data in addition to age, languages spoken, marital status, religious affiliation, and other basic data collected in the short-form questionnaire.[9]

Those who completed the census questionnaire online could listen to a number of soundtracks on Spotify and YouTube prepared by Statistics Canada.[9]

Completing the questionnaire is a legal requirement, and those who refuse to do so may be fined up to $500.[9] It must be completed by citizens of Canada, permanent residents, refugee claimants, and those with a study or work permit.[11]

Data release schedule

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The release dates for data by release topic from the 2021 census are:[12]

  • February 9, 2022, for population and dwelling counts;
  • April 27, 2022, for age, sex at birth, and gender, type of dwelling;
  • July 13, 2022, for families, households, and marital status, Canadian military experience, and income;
  • August 17, 2022, for language;
  • September 21, 2022, for indigenous peoples, and housing;
  • October 26, 2022, for immigration, place of birth, and citizenship, ethnocultural and religious diversity, and mobility and migration;
  • November 30, 2022, for education, labour, language of work, commuting and instruction in the official minority language.

Data

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Statistics Canada links income and related information obtained from the Canada Revenue Agency, and immigration status obtained from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, to the census responses.[13]

The 2021 Canadian census included new questions "critical to measuring equity, diversity and inclusivity".[9] For the first time, questions were asked about commuting methods and the census counted transgender people and people of non-binary gender. Canada has been noted in this instance to be the first country to provide census data on transgender and non-binary people.[14]

Results

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The 2021 census recorded a total federal population of 36,991,981, living in 14,978,941 of its 16,284,235 private dwellings. With a land area of 8,788,702.80 km2 (3,393,337.12 sq mi), its population density was 4.21/km2 (10.90/sq mi). Canada's most- and least-populated provinces were Ontario and Prince Edward Island, respectively. Amongst the three territories, the Northwest Territories was the largest in terms of population, while Nunavut once again became the smallest territory after briefly overtaking Yukon in 2016.[15]

The population of Canada rose by 5.2 per cent federally since the 2016 census, which recorded a population of 35,151,728. Three provinces' and one territory's population grew faster than Canada's overall population increase: Yukon – a 12.1 per cent increase, Prince Edward Island – an 8 per cent increase, British Columbia – a 7.6 per cent increase, and Ontario – a 5.8 per cent increase. The rapid growth in Yukon is largely credited to immigration and migration from within Canada.[16] At the other end of the spectrum, only one province and one territory saw a decrease in population since 2016: Newfoundland and Labrador – a 1.8 per cent decrease, and the Northwest Territories — a 1.7 per cent decrease.[15]

The majority of Canadians identified as female at 50.73%, while 49.27% of the population identified as male. The median age overall was 41.6 years – 40.4 years for males and 42.8 years for females.[17]

59,460 Canadians identify as transgender and 41,355 identify as non-binary.[14]

Population

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Province or territory Population as of
2021 census 		Population as of
2016 census 		Change Percent
change
Ontario 14,223,942 13,448,494 775,448 Increase 5.8 Increase
Quebec 8,501,833 8,164,361 337,472 Increase 4.1 Increase
British Columbia 5,000,879 4,648,055 352,824 Increase 7.6 Increase
Alberta 4,262,635 4,067,175 195,460 Increase 4.8 Increase
Manitoba 1,342,153 1,278,365 63,788 Increase 5.0 Increase
Saskatchewan 1,132,505 1,098,352 34,153 Increase 3.1 Increase
Nova Scotia 969,383 923,598 45,785 Increase 5.0 Increase
New Brunswick 775,610 747,101 28,509 Increase 3.8 Increase
Newfoundland and Labrador 510,550 519,716 −9,166 Decrease −1.8 Decrease
Prince Edward Island 154,331 142,907 11,424 Increase 8.0 Increase
Northwest Territories 41,070 41,786 −716 Decrease −1.7 Decrease
Yukon 40,232 35,874 4,358 Increase 12.1 Increase
Nunavut 36,858 35,944 914 Increase 2.5 Increase
Canada 36,991,981 35,151,728 1,840,253 Increase 5.2 Increase

Age, sex at birth, and gender

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Province or Territory Age Gender Sex at birth
0–14 15–64 65+ Men+[a] Women+[b] Male Female
Alberta 809,640 2,823,771 629,225 2,127,935 2,134,700 2,126,925 2,135,710
British Columbia 716,900 3,267,615 1,016,360 2,457,515 2,543,365 2,456,420 2,544,455
Manitoba 252,935 860,165 229,050 666,495 675,660 666,000 676,155
New Brunswick 111,130 487,320 177,160 381,460 394,150 381,260 394,350
Newfoundland and Labrador 68,190 321,750 120,610 250,075 260,475 249,985 260,560
Northwest Territories 8,475 28,485 4,105 20,845 20,225 20,845 20,220
Nova Scotia 136,710 617,345 215,325 471,735 497,650 471,180 498,200
Nunavut 12,085 23,170 1,605 18,765 18,095 18,755 18,105
Ontario 2,251,795 9,334,440 2,637,710 6,970,850 7,253,090 6,968,425 7,255,515
Prince Edward Island 23,640 97,985 32,710 75,385 78,945 75,370 78,965
Quebec 1,391,360 5,356,940 1,753,530 4,201,960 4,299,875 4,201,360 4,300,475
Saskatchewan 223,110 711,410 197,985 563,125 569,380 562,905 569,600
Yukon 6,825 27,360 6,050 20,105 20,130 20,085 20,150
Canada 6,012,795 23,957,755 7,021,430 18,226,240 18,765,745 18,219,520 18,772,465
Source: Statistics Canada[18][19]

Ethnic origins

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Group Population % of total
population
Not a visible minority 26,689,275 73.4
    White 24,493,090 67.4
Indigenous 2,196,185 6.0
Visible minority 9,639,205 26.6
    South Asian 2,571,400 7.1
Chinese 1,715,770 4.7
Black 1,547,870 4.3
Filipino 957,355 2.6
Arab 694,015 1.9
Latin American 580,235 1.6
Southeast Asian 390,340 1.1
West Asian 360,495 1.0
Korean 218,140 0.6
Japanese 98,890 0.3
Multiple visible minorities 331,805 0.9
Visible minority, n.i.e. 172,885 0.5
Total 36,328,480 100.0
Source: Statistics Canada[20]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ This category includes men and boys, as well as some non-binary persons.
  2. ^ This category includes women and girls, as well as some non-binary persons.

References

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  1. ^ a b Jones, Ryan (April 4, 2021). "StatsCan says it's ready to conduct census despite pandemic's resurgence". CBC News. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Canada". Statistics Canada. August 25, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  3. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (November 17, 2021). "2021 Census of Population collection response rates". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  4. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (February 9, 2022). "Download". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  5. ^ "2021 Census of Population Content Consultation". Statistics Canada. September 6, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  6. ^ Rabson, Mia (July 17, 2020). "StatsCan plans 'contactless' census for 2021 in response to COVID-19". CBC News. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  7. ^ Press, Jordan (March 8, 2021). "Statistics Canada considered delaying 2021 census over pandemic concerns". Global News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "2021 census arriving amid pandemic". CBC News. May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Sandri, Emma (April 29, 2021). "'A sense of civic pride': People across Canada look forward to the 2021 census". National Post. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Frequently asked questions—Accessibility, alternate formats and non-official languages". Statistics Canada. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  11. ^ Desjardins, Lynn (May 3, 2021). "In pandemic, Canadians urged to complete census online". Radio Canada International. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  12. ^ "2021 Census Program release schedule". Statistics Canada. February 23, 2016. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  13. ^ Feagan, Sean (February 4, 2021). "2021 census a few months away". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Canada is the first country to provide census data on transgender and non-binary people". Statistics Canada. April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Table 98-10-0001-01 — Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  16. ^ Canadian Press, The (February 9, 2022). "Census 2021: A snapshot of the North's population and dwelling data". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  17. ^ "Table 98-10-0020-01 — Age (in single years), average age and median age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts". Statistics Canada. April 27, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  18. ^ "Table 98-10-0023-01 — Age (in single years), average age and median age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions, census subdivisions and dissemination areas". Statistics Canada. April 27, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  19. ^ "Table 98-10-0034-01 — Broad age groups and sex: Canada, provinces and territories". Statistics Canada. April 27, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  20. ^ "Census Profile". Statistics Canada. March 29, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
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