2021 Canadian census explained

2021 Canadian census
Previous Census:2016 Canadian census
Previous Year:2016
Next Census:2026 Canadian census
Next Year:2026
Country:Canada
Region Type:province/territory
Authority:Statistics Canada
Population:36,991,981
Percent Change: 5.2%
Most Populous:Ontario (14,223,942)
Least Populous: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.

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. 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. Statistics Canada expected about 80% of households to complete the questionnaire online. 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.

The standard short-form questionnaire was to be completed by 75% of households. 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.

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

Completing the questionnaire is a legal requirement, and those who refuse to do so may be fined up to $500. 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". 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 8788702.8km2, its population density was . 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.

Population

RankProvince or territoryPopulation as of
2021 census
Population as of
2016 census
ChangePercent
change
1Ontario14,223,94213,448,494775,448 5.8
2Quebec8,501,8338,164,361337,472 4.1
3British Columbia5,000,8794,648,055352,824 7.6
4Alberta4,262,6354,067,175195,460 4.8
5Manitoba1,342,1531,278,36563,788 5.0
6Saskatchewan1,132,5051,098,35234,153 3.1
7Nova Scotia969,383923,59845,785 5.0
8New Brunswick775,610747,10128,509 3.8
9Newfoundland and Labrador510,550519,716−9,166 −1.8
10Prince Edward Island154,331142,90711,424 8.0
11Northwest Territories41,07041,786−716 −1.7
12Yukon40,23235,8744,358 12.1
13Nunavut36,85835,944914 2.5
Canada36,991,98135,151,7281,840,253 5.2

Age, sex at birth, and gender

Province or TerritoryAgeGenderSex at birth
0–1415–6465+Men+Women+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 minority26,689,275 73.5
    White25,364,140 69.8
Indigenous1,807,250 5.0
Visible minority9,639,205 26.5
    South Asian2,571,400 7.1
Chinese1,715,770 4.7
Black1,547,870 4.3
Filipino957,355 2.6
Arab694,015 1.9
Latin American580,235 1.6
Southeast Asian390,340 1.1
West Asian360,495 1.0
Korean218,140 0.6
Japanese98,890 0.3
Multiple visible minorities331,805 0.9
Visible minority, 172,885 0.5
Total36,328,480100.0
Source: Statistics Canada[20]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: StatsCan says it's ready to conduct census despite pandemic's resurgence. Jones. Ryan. CBC News. April 4, 2021. April 4, 2021.
  2. Web site: Census Profile, 2016 Census: Canada . . August 25, 2017 . October 14, 2017.
  3. Web site: Government of Canada. Statistics Canada. November 17, 2021. 2021 Census of Population collection response rates. December 1, 2021. www12.statcan.gc.ca.
  4. Web site: Government of Canada. Statistics Canada. 2022-02-09. Download. 2022-02-09. www12.statcan.gc.ca.
  5. Web site: 2021 Census of Population Content Consultation . . September 6, 2017 . October 14, 2017.
  6. News: StatsCan plans 'contactless' census for 2021 in response to COVID-19. Rabson. Mia. CBC News. July 17, 2020. April 4, 2021.
  7. News: Statistics Canada considered delaying 2021 census over pandemic concerns. Press. Jordan. The Canadian Press. Global News. March 8, 2021. April 4, 2021.
  8. News: 2021 census arriving amid pandemic. CBC News. May 4, 2021. May 4, 2021.
  9. News: 'A sense of civic pride': People across Canada look forward to the 2021 census . Sandri. Emma. National Post. April 29, 2021. May 4, 2021.
  10. Web site: Frequently asked questions—Accessibility, alternate formats and non-official languages. Statistics Canada. May 4, 2021.
  11. News: In pandemic, Canadians urged to complete census online. Desjardins. Lynn. Radio Canada International. May 3, 2021. May 4, 2021.
  12. Web site: February 23, 2016. 2021 Census Program release schedule. live. May 12, 2021. Statistics Canada. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512221326/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/ref/prodserv/release-diffusion-eng.cfm . May 12, 2021 .
  13. News: 2021 census a few months away. Feagan. Sean. Toronto Star. February 4, 2021. April 4, 2021.
  14. Web site: Canada is the first country to provide census data on transgender and non-binary people . 27 April 2022 . Statistics Canada . 29 April 2022.
  15. Web site: February 9, 2022 . Table 98-10-0001-01 — Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories . August 25, 2022 . Statistics Canada.
  16. News: Canadian Press . The . The Canadian Press . February 9, 2022 . Census 2021: A snapshot of the North's population and dwelling data . . August 25, 2022.
  17. Web site: April 27, 2022 . 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 . August 25, 2022 . Statistics Canada.
  18. Web site: April 27, 2022 . 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 . August 26, 2022 . Statistics Canada.
  19. Web site: April 27, 2022 . Table 98-10-0034-01 — Broad age groups and sex: Canada, provinces and territories. August 26, 2022 . Statistics Canada.
  20. Web site: March 29, 2023 . Census Profile . August 31, 2023 . Statistics Canada.