2021 Canadian census

Last updated

2021 Canadian census

  2016 May 11, 2021 (2021-05-11) 2026  

Canadian Census 2021 logo.svg
Statistics Canada's visual identifier for
its 2021 Census of Population
Statistics Canada logo.svg
General information
CountryCanada
Authority Statistics Canada
Website statcan.gc.ca/census
Results
Total population36,991,981 (Increase2.svg 5.2%)
Most populous province/territory Ontario (14,223,942)
Least populous province/territory Nunavut (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.

Contents

Planning

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

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

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

Data

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

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

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

Province or territoryPopulation as of
2021 census
Population as of
2016 census
ChangePercent
change
Ontario 14,223,94213,448,494775,448 Increase2.svg5.8 Increase2.svg
Quebec 8,501,8338,164,361337,472 Increase2.svg4.1 Increase2.svg
British Columbia 5,000,8794,648,055352,824 Increase2.svg7.6 Increase2.svg
Alberta 4,262,6354,067,175195,460 Increase2.svg4.8 Increase2.svg
Manitoba 1,342,1531,278,36563,788 Increase2.svg5.0 Increase2.svg
Saskatchewan 1,132,5051,098,35234,153 Increase2.svg3.1 Increase2.svg
Nova Scotia 969,383923,59845,785 Increase2.svg5.0 Increase2.svg
New Brunswick 775,610747,10128,509 Increase2.svg3.8 Increase2.svg
Newfoundland and Labrador 510,550519,716−9,166 Decrease2.svg−1.8 Decrease2.svg
Prince Edward Island 154,331142,90711,424 Increase2.svg8.0 Increase2.svg
Northwest Territories 41,07041,786−716 Decrease2.svg−1.7 Decrease2.svg
Yukon 40,23235,8744,358 Increase2.svg12.1 Increase2.svg
Nunavut 36,85835,944914 Increase2.svg2.5 Increase2.svg
Canada36,991,98135,151,7281,840,253 Increase2.svg5.2 Increase2.svg

Age, sex at birth, and gender

Province or TerritoryAgeGenderSex at birth
0–1415–6465+Men+ [lower-alpha 1] Women+ [lower-alpha 2] MaleFemale
Alberta809,6402,823,771629,2252,127,9352,134,7002,126,9252,135,710
British Columbia716,9003,267,6151,016,3602,457,5152,543,3652,456,4202,544,455
Manitoba252,935860,165229,050666,495675,660666,000676,155
New Brunswick111,130487,320177,160381,460394,150381,260394,350
Newfoundland and Labrador68,190321,750120,610250,075260,475249,985260,560
Northwest Territories8,47528,4854,10520,84520,22520,84520,220
Nova Scotia136,710617,345215,325471,735497,650471,180498,200
Nunavut12,08523,1701,60518,76518,09518,75518,105
Ontario2,251,7959,334,4402,637,7106,970,8507,253,0906,968,4257,255,515
Prince Edward Island23,64097,98532,71075,38578,94575,37078,965
Quebec1,391,3605,356,9401,753,5304,201,9604,299,8754,201,3604,300,475
Saskatchewan223,110711,410197,985563,125569,380562,905569,600
Yukon6,82527,3606,05020,10520,13020,08520,150
Canada6,012,79523,957,7557,021,43018,226,24018,765,74518,219,52018,772,465
Source: Statistics Canada [18] [19]

Ethnic origins

GroupPopulation % of total
population
Not a visible minority 26,689,27573.4
   White 24,493,09067.4
Indigenous 2,196,1856.0
Visible minority9,639,20526.6
   South Asian 2,571,4007.1
Chinese 1,715,7704.7
Black 1,547,8704.3
Filipino 957,3552.6
Arab 694,0151.9
Latin American 580,2351.6
Southeast Asian 390,3401.1
West Asian 360,4951.0
Korean 218,1400.6
Japanese 98,8900.3
Multiple visible minorities331,8050.9
Visible minority, n.i.e.172,8850.5
Total36,328,480100.0
Source: Statistics Canada [20]

See also

Notes

  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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Canada</span>

Statistics Canada conducts a country-wide census that collects demographic data every five years on the first and sixth year of each decade. The 2021 Canadian census enumerated a total population of 36,991,981, an increase of around 5.2 percent over the 2016 figure. It is estimated that Canada's population surpassed 40 million in 2023 and 41 million in 2024. Between 1990 and 2008, the population increased by 5.6 million, equivalent to 20.4 percent overall growth. The main driver of population growth is immigration, with 6.2% of the country's population being made up of temporary residents as of 2023, or about 2.5 million people. Between 2011 and May 2016, Canada's population grew by 1.7 million people, with immigrants accounting for two-thirds of the increase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moosonee</span> Town in Ontario, Canada

Moosonee is a town in northern Ontario, Canada, on the Moose River approximately 19 km (12 mi) south of James Bay. It is considered to be "the Gateway to the Arctic" and has Ontario's only saltwater port. Nearby on Moose Factory Island is the community of Moose Factory to which it is connected by water taxi in the summer and ice road in the winter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Canadian census</span> Censuses in Canada

The 2006 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The following census was the 2011 census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897. This count was lower than the official July 1, 2006 population estimate of 32,623,490 people. The previous census was the 2001 census and the following census was in 2011 census.

Statistics Canada conducts a national census of population and census of agriculture every five years and releases the data with a two-year lag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of British Columbia</span>

British Columbia is a Canadian province with a population of about 5.6 million people. The province represents about 13.2% of the population of the Canadian population. Most of the population is between the ages of 15 and 49. About 60 percent of British Columbians have European descent with significant Asian and Aboriginal minorities. Just under 30% of British Columbians are immigrants. Over half of the population is irreligious, with Christianity and Sikhism being the most followed religions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Division No. 2, Saskatchewan</span> Census division of Saskatchewan, Canada

Division No. 2 is one of eighteen census divisions in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, as defined by Statistics Canada. It is located in the south-southeastern part of the province, on the United States border. The most populous community in this division is Weyburn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Division No. 6, Saskatchewan</span> Census division of Saskatchewan, Canada

Division No. 6 is one of eighteen census divisions in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, as defined by Statistics Canada. It is located in the south-central part of the province. The most populous community in this division is Regina, the provincial capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Division No. 12, Saskatchewan</span> Census division of Saskatchewan, Canada

Division No. 12 is one of the eighteen census divisions in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, as defined by Statistics Canada. It is located in the west-central part of the province. The most populous community in this division is Battleford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Ontario</span>

Ontario, one of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada, is located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province by a large margin, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all Canadians, and is the second-largest province in total area. Ontario is fourth-largest in total area when the territories of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are included. It is home to the nation's capital city, Ottawa, and the nation's most populous city, Toronto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Alberta</span>

Alberta has experienced a relatively high rate of growth in recent years, due in large part to its economy. Between 2003 and 2004, the province saw high birthrates, relatively high immigration, and a high rate of interprovincial migration when compared to other provinces. Approximately 81% of the population live in urban areas and only about 19% live in rural areas. The Calgary–Edmonton Corridor is the most urbanized area in Alberta and is one of Canada's four most urban regions. Many of Alberta's cities and towns have also experienced high rates of growth in recent history. From a population of 73,022 in 1901, Alberta has grown to 4,262,635 in 2021 and in the process has gone from less than 1.5% of Canada's population to 11.5%. It is the fourth most populated province in Canada. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the Alberta population grew by 4.8%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Prince Edward Island</span> Demographics of region

Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province. According to the 2011 National Household Survey, the largest ethnic group consists of people of Scottish descent (39.2%), followed by English (31.1%), Irish (30.4%), French (21.1%), German (5.2%), and Dutch (3.1%) descent. Prince Edward Island is mostly a white community and there are few visible minorities. Chinese people are the largest visible minority group of Prince Edward Island, comprising 1.3% of the province's population. Almost half of respondents identified their ethnicity as "Canadian." Prince Edward Island is by a strong margin the most Celtic and specifically the most Scottish province in Canada and perhaps the most Scottish place (ethnically) in the world, outside Scotland. 38% of islanders claim Scottish ancestry, but this is an underestimate and it is thought that almost 50% of islanders have Scottish roots. When combined with Irish and Welsh, almost 80% of islanders are of some Celtic stock, albeit most families have resided in PEI for at least two centuries. Few places outside Europe can claim such a homogeneous Celtic ethnic background. The only other jurisdiction in North America with such a high percentage of British Isles heritage is Newfoundland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Manitoba</span>

Manitoba is one of Canada's 10 provinces. It is the easternmost of the three Prairie provinces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Newfoundland and Labrador</span>

Newfoundland and Labrador is a province of Canada on the country's Atlantic coast in northeastern North America. The province has an area of 405,212 square kilometres and a population in 2024 of 545,247, with approximately 95% of the provincial population residing on the Island of Newfoundland, with more than half of the population residing on the Avalon Peninsula. People from Newfoundland and Labrador are called "Newfoundlanders," "Labradorians", or "Newfoundlanders and Labradorians".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Nova Scotia</span> Demographics of region

Nova Scotia is a Canadian province located on the country's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada, and its capital, Halifax, is a major economic centre of the region. Geographically, Nova Scotia is the second smallest province in Canada, with an area of 52,824.71 km2 (20,395.73 sq mi). As of 2021, it has a population of 969,383 people.

The Northwest Territories is a territory of Canada. It has an area of 1,171,918 square kilometres and a population of 41,786 as of the 2016 Canadian census.

Yukon is the westernmost of Canada's three northern territories. Its capital is Whitehorse. People from Yukon are known as Yukoners. Unlike in other Canadian provinces and territories, Statistics Canada uses the entire territory as a single at-large census division.

According to the 2021 census, the City of Edmonton had a population of 1,010,899 residents, compared to 4,262,635 for all of Alberta, Canada. The total population of the Edmonton census metropolitan area (CMA) was 1,418,118, making it the sixth-largest CMA in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Calgary</span>

In the 2021 Census, the City of Calgary had a population of 1,306,784 residents, representing 30.7% of the 4,262,635 residents in all of Alberta, and 3.5% compared to a population of 36,991,981 in all of Canada. The total population of the Calgary census metropolitan area (CMA) was 1,481,806. Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, and the third-largest municipality and fifth-largest metropolitan area in Canada, as of 2021.

The demographics of Winnipeg reveal the city to be a typically Canadian one: multicultural and multilingual. Winnipeg is also prominent in the size and ratio of its First Nations population, which plays an important part in the city's makeup. About 12.4% of Winnipeggers are of Indigenous descent, which vastly exceeds the national average of 5.0%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Canadian census</span> Detailed enumeration of Canadians taken May 10, 2016

The 2016 Canadian census was an enumeration of Canadian residents, which counted a population of 35,151,728, a 5% change from its 2011 population of 33,476,688. The census, conducted by Statistics Canada, was Canada's seventh quinquennial census. The official census day was May 10, 2016. Census web access codes began arriving in the mail on May 2, 2016. The 2016 census marked the reinstatement of the mandatory long-form census, which had been dropped in favour of the voluntary National Household Survey for the 2011 census. With a response rate of 98.4%, this census is said to be the best one ever recorded since the 1666 census of New France. This census was succeeded by Canada's 2021 census.

References

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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.