Guide to the Census of Population, 2016
Appendix 1.5 – Information produced from the 2016 Census of Population

Table of Contents More Information

Who is included in the population of Canada?

The Census of Population aims to produce counts for the total population of Canada. This 'target population' consists of: Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization); landed immigrants (permanent residents); and (since 1991) non-permanent residents and their family members living with them in Canada. (Non-permanent residents are persons who hold a work or study permit, or who are claiming refugee status.) All such persons are included in the population provided they have a usual place of residence in Canada (see Where are people counted?).

The total population also includes certain Canadian citizens and landed immigrants (permanent residents) living outside the country: government employees working outside Canada; embassy staff posted to other countries; members of the Canadian Armed Forces stationed outside Canada; and Canadian crew members of merchant vessels and their families. Together, they are referred to as persons living outside Canada.

Foreign residents are excluded from census data: for example, residents of another country visiting Canada temporarily, government representatives of another country posted in Canada and members of the armed forces of another country stationed in Canada.

Where are people counted?

The census counts people according to their usual place of residence. The 2016 Census questionnaire included questions and instructions to determine either the person's sole residence or their main residence as of May 10, 2016. This location is then used in all data products by geographic area. It is also used to determine which people reside in the same dwelling together—an important aspect of census data. For more information about where people are counted, refer to the Dictionary, Census of Population, 2016, Catalogue no. 98-301-X, usual place of residence.

Who is included in the data for each topic?

Between the different topics released from the census, there are slight differences in what is included in the data. Refer to Table 1 for an illustration of the different statistical units and universes by the topics covered in the Census of Population.

Table 1
Statistical units and universes for the dissemination of the 2016 Census of Population, by topic
Table summary
This table displays the results of Statistical units and universes for the dissemination of the 2016 Census of Population, by topic. The information is grouped by Topic (appearing as row headers), Statistical unit and Maximum universe available (appearing as column headers).
Topic Statistical unit Maximum universe available
Population counts Persons Total population
Dwelling counts Dwellings Private dwellingsTable 1 Note 1
Type of dwelling (collective or private) Dwellings,
persons		 Occupied dwellingsTable 1 Note 1 (or population in)
Age and sex Persons Total population
Marital status Persons Total population
Family and household characteristics Persons,
families and households		 Private households (or population in, or families in)
Language Persons Total population
Income Persons,
families and households		 Private households (or population in, or families in)
Immigration and ethnocultural diversity Persons Population in private households
Housing Households, persons Private households (or population in)
Aboriginal peoples Persons Population in private households
Education Persons Population in private households
Labour Persons Population in private households
Journey to work Persons Population in private households
Language of work Persons Population in private households
Mobility and migration Persons Population in private households
Note 1.

Dwellings that are either unoccupied or occupied solely by foreign residents and/or by temporarily present persons are excluded from most data on dwellings. Most data on dwellings are presented for occupied private dwellings (occupied by at least one person for whom this is their usual place of residence). This universe corresponds to that of private households.

Return to note 1 referrer

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2016.

Generally, topics which are included in the short-form questionnaire directed to the 'target' population are available for the total population. Additional questions are asked on the long-form questionnaire to the population in private households, which is the total population, excluding persons living outside Canada (as described above) and excluding persons living in collective dwellings. Collective dwellings are classified as either institutional, such as hospitals, nursing homes and penitentiaries, or non-institutional, such as work camps, hotels and motels, and student residences.

The applicable population for each topic is also referred to as the universe for that topic.

Depending on the characteristics being portrayed, the data may represent these statistical units:

More information

Note of appreciation

Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill.

Standards of service to the public

Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which its employees observe in serving its clients.

Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Minister of Industry, 2017

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 98-304-X

Ottawa

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