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2011 National Household Survey: Data tables

Tabulation: Detailed Mother Tongue (158), Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Knowledge of Official Languages (5), Number of Non-Official Languages Spoken (5), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2011 National Household Survey

Data table

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This table details detailed mother tongue , immigrant status and period of immigration , knowledge of official languages , number of non-official languages spoken , age groups and sex for the population in private households in CanadaFootnote 1
Global non-response rate (GNR)Footnote 2 = 26.1 %
Detailed mother tongue (158) Immigrant status and period of immigration (11)
Total - Immigrant status and period of immigration Non-immigrantsFootnote 3 ImmigrantsFootnote 4 Before 1971 1971 to 1980 1981 to 1990 1991 to 2000 2001 to 2011Footnote 5 2001 to 2005 2006 to 2011 Non-permanent residentsFootnote 6
Total - Detailed mother tongue 32,852,325 25,720,170 6,775,765 1,261,060 870,775 949,895 1,539,055 2,154,985 992,070 1,162,920 356,380
Single responses 32,369,380 25,462,830 6,562,050 1,244,295 849,330 922,300 1,486,500 2,059,625 949,745 1,109,880 344,490
English 18,850,405 17,213,930 1,559,900 482,850 326,635 211,715 234,230 304,475 140,025 164,450 76,575
French 6,967,460 6,717,355 224,820 38,080 30,000 24,240 42,460 90,040 36,360 53,680 25,275
Non-official languages 6,551,515 1,531,545 4,777,330 723,365 492,705 686,340 1,209,810 1,665,105 773,355 891,750 242,640
Aboriginal languages 193,855 193,015 645 25 120 65 175 255 120 140 200
Romance languages 1,096,130 275,340 784,285 260,980 111,110 106,350 106,040 199,805 87,280 112,525 36,505
Italian 403,425 153,710 247,260 205,805 27,105 7,360 3,450 3,530 1,740 1,795 2,460
Portuguese 207,980 47,535 155,320 43,400 49,900 29,935 13,345 18,740 6,285 12,455 5,120
Romanian 84,100 8,580 74,375 1,955 2,195 7,370 24,625 38,230 22,040 16,185 1,145
Spanish 399,815 65,410 306,685 9,550 31,830 61,650 64,555 139,100 57,150 81,950 27,725
Catalan 560 35 475 200 80 30 35 130 30 100 50
Romance languages, n.i.e. 260 85 175 70 0 0 30 70 30 40 0
Germanic languages 536,790 197,605 329,015 202,040 31,515 25,855 28,755 40,855 18,315 22,540 10,165
Dutch 110,250 20,340 88,425 63,130 8,685 4,990 5,455 6,165 2,770 3,400 1,485
Flemish 4,865 1,325 3,500 2,675 295 135 150 245 170 75 35
Frisian 2,465 300 2,145 1,510 145 110 285 100 50 50 10
German 366,960 159,380 201,095 117,660 18,430 18,570 18,495 27,940 12,645 15,300 6,480
Yiddish 14,930 9,430 5,355 3,270 535 415 535 595 285 305 135
Scandinavian languages 28,405 6,045 21,200 13,435 3,105 1,305 1,550 1,800 695 1,105 1,150
Danish 14,315 1,860 12,095 9,280 1,400 470 520 420 150 265 360
Icelandic 1,425 825 540 100 110 20 145 165 50 110 65
Norwegian 5,185 1,615 3,275 2,090 380 255 265 290 120 170 290
Swedish 7,480 1,750 5,290 1,965 1,210 570 625 920 370 550 435
Afrikaans 8,530 740 6,970 195 275 290 2,230 3,975 1,690 2,280 820
Germanic languages, n.i.e. 395 30 325 170 40 25 45 45 15 25 40
Celtic languages 2,960 605 2,285 1,375 470 210 145 85 45 40 70
Gaelic languages 1,645 515 1,065 695 215 70 45 40 0 15 60
Welsh 1,175 40 1,120 630 255 125 70 45 25 25 0
Celtic languages, n.i.e. 145 50 95 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Slavic languages 668,185 180,270 478,720 84,360 34,015 81,940 156,375 122,030 65,435 56,600 9,195
Belarusian (Byelorussian) 680 125 560 110 0 0 185 230 110 120 0
Bosnian 11,380 1,225 10,070 185 250 345 7,785 1,505 985 520 90
Bulgarian 18,125 1,590 16,360 280 195 670 5,290 9,925 6,135 3,795 180
Croatian 47,700 12,750 34,450 15,345 6,860 2,765 7,850 1,635 955 680 495
Czech 22,010 3,675 17,635 6,900 2,310 4,180 2,230 2,020 725 1,295 695
Macedonian 16,205 4,390 11,715 4,840 2,175 880 1,470 2,355 1,475 875 100
Polish 187,455 44,000 141,770 25,220 9,215 58,950 37,800 10,585 5,240 5,345 1,685
Russian 162,335 20,095 138,125 3,210 5,055 6,415 51,230 72,210 37,400 34,810 4,120
Serbian 53,620 9,755 43,355 4,595 3,935 2,900 25,175 6,750 4,210 2,540 515
Serbo-Croatian 9,840 1,070 8,745 600 450 300 6,620 775 555 220 30
Slovak 15,930 4,055 11,600 3,725 1,070 2,130 2,120 2,550 1,740 810 275
Slovenian 10,590 2,980 7,495 6,100 850 220 250 80 35 40 110
Ukrainian 108,590 73,895 33,810 11,960 1,065 2,040 7,785 10,965 5,745 5,215 890
Slavic languages, n.i.e. 3,720 680 3,035 1,290 570 120 600 455 120 335 0
Baltic languages 13,320 4,760 8,140 5,300 210 285 775 1,565 920 645 420
Latvian 5,990 2,025 3,755 2,910 75 60 245 465 130 340 215
Lithuanian 7,325 2,735 4,385 2,390 135 230 530 1,100 790 310 205
Greek 111,410 46,930 63,985 41,310 16,095 3,890 1,290 1,405 605 800 490
Armenian 30,505 7,505 22,830 3,835 5,095 5,330 4,350 4,215 1,770 2,445 165
Albanian 23,475 2,520 20,150 360 230 205 8,290 11,065 6,710 4,355 810
Georgian 780 40 645 0 0 45 120 465 210 250 90
Finno-Ugric languages 84,770 24,195 58,275 31,180 5,145 7,050 7,060 7,840 3,320 4,515 2,305
Estonian 6,055 2,205 3,810 3,295 90 75 255 90 30 65 40
Finnish 15,495 6,680 8,565 5,925 1,360 390 395 495 190 305 255
Hungarian 63,220 15,310 45,900 21,960 3,690 6,580 6,410 7,255 3,105 4,150 2,010
Turkic languages 35,755 5,540 28,325 1,150 1,525 3,450 7,310 14,890 6,895 8,000 1,885
Azerbaijani 2,695 110 2,415 0 0 385 715 1,295 810 485 160
Turkish 29,975 5,085 23,210 1,145 1,470 3,015 6,305 11,285 5,165 6,115 1,675
Turkic languages, n.i.e. 3,090 340 2,700 0 40 50 295 2,310 915 1,395 50
Mongolian 1,085 30 950 0 0 0 55 875 140 730 105
Afro-Asiatic languages 442,740 69,465 351,260 13,895 20,595 49,060 92,715 174,995 70,510 104,490 22,015
Berber languages (Kabyle) 6,120 530 5,500 0 25 40 535 4,900 1,380 3,520 95
Cushitic languages 42,445 8,825 32,705 150 275 4,670 11,835 15,770 6,170 9,600 910
Oromo 11,990 1,310 10,330 115 65 730 1,805 7,610 3,170 4,445 350
Somali 30,450 7,520 22,370 35 215 3,940 10,025 8,160 3,005 5,155 555
Semitic languages 392,140 59,960 311,245 13,735 20,275 44,295 79,980 152,960 62,485 90,470 20,940
Amharic 18,045 1,655 15,790 35 165 3,005 4,495 8,090 3,845 4,240 600
Arabic 323,125 50,780 253,525 7,710 16,750 33,465 65,615 129,980 53,165 76,820 18,815
Hebrew 18,105 3,415 13,620 1,915 1,965 3,065 2,205 4,465 1,835 2,635 1,070
Maltese 5,945 620 5,305 3,900 930 265 110 105 75 30 20
Tigrigna 9,355 680 8,380 50 115 2,325 1,880 4,010 1,265 2,750 295
Semitic languages, n.i.e. 17,575 2,810 14,630 120 350 2,175 5,665 6,310 2,305 4,005 135
Afro-Asiatic languages, n.i.e. 2,035 150 1,815 0 25 50 370 1,365 475 895 70
Indo-Iranian languages 1,084,040 217,820 837,025 20,205 78,205 99,790 250,615 388,210 197,530 190,680 29,195
Indo-Aryan languages 885,515 193,090 670,060 19,410 74,460 76,800 195,110 304,280 155,595 148,685 22,370
Bengali 58,895 9,310 47,410 760 1,475 3,110 15,190 26,885 12,405 14,480 2,170
Gujarati 91,310 14,275 74,970 1,345 14,415 9,145 15,670 34,390 18,655 15,725 2,065
Hindi 93,190 12,780 75,465 3,415 10,335 8,635 18,225 34,855 18,140 16,710 4,940
Konkani 2,830 45 2,695 180 305 240 830 1,140 650 485 90
Marathi 5,925 450 4,785 410 415 220 765 2,975 1,695 1,275 690
Panjabi (Punjabi) 433,280 120,020 305,395 10,780 36,545 45,300 97,225 115,550 56,330 59,220 7,865
Sindhi 10,330 1,425 8,790 125 3,635 1,570 1,300 2,155 1,070 1,085 115
Sinhala (Sinhalese) 14,555 830 13,020 170 685 1,420 3,205 7,540 2,990 4,555 705
Urdu 165,380 33,585 128,695 2,195 6,580 7,080 42,080 70,765 41,975 28,785 3,095
Nepali 9,815 360 8,825 30 60 85 615 8,040 1,685 6,355 625
Iranian languages 192,125 23,955 161,615 615 3,195 22,645 54,085 81,070 40,500 40,570 6,555
Kurdish 10,055 1,930 7,685 0 70 620 3,730 3,255 1,630 1,620 440
Pashto 12,525 2,735 9,455 60 125 780 3,195 5,300 2,625 2,675 340
Persian (Farsi) 169,545 19,290 144,475 545 2,995 21,250 47,160 72,525 36,245 36,275 5,785
Indo-Iranian languages, n.i.e. 6,395 775 5,350 180 555 340 1,425 2,860 1,435 1,420 275
Dravidian languages 176,510 31,240 139,570 2,015 3,085 22,345 58,545 53,590 26,375 27,215 5,705
Kannada 2,775 235 2,260 95 205 115 595 1,245 595 645 280
Malayalam 17,695 1,370 15,005 965 1,190 975 2,940 8,935 3,275 5,660 1,315
Tamil 146,710 28,910 114,655 670 1,350 21,005 53,720 37,910 19,880 18,030 3,150
Telugu 8,940 705 7,280 255 330 225 1,180 5,295 2,495 2,800 960
Dravidian languages, n.i.e. 390 0 370 20 0 15 110 210 135 75 0
Japanese 40,180 10,855 23,480 2,495 3,405 2,060 5,870 9,645 3,705 5,940 5,840
Korean 137,215 11,135 106,565 2,345 10,400 9,780 30,020 54,015 27,530 26,490 19,515
Sino-Tibetan languages 1,079,360 172,145 863,910 40,690 94,925 145,870 285,655 296,775 157,945 138,830 43,300
Chinese languages 1,066,950 171,355 852,710 40,600 94,530 145,510 284,160 287,915 155,550 132,360 42,885
Cantonese 381,570 83,185 293,300 18,585 46,330 79,350 113,555 35,475 19,905 15,575 5,080
Chaochow (Teochow) 2,925 655 2,260 20 650 710 555 320 185 135 0
Fukien 6,505 360 5,950 85 930 1,280 1,660 2,000 1,155 840 195
Hakka 4,975 620 4,270 115 985 1,260 1,200 705 420 285 90
Mandarin 252,295 27,025 209,570 1,135 4,325 11,140 68,745 124,230 67,995 56,235 15,700
Shanghainese 3,075 215 2,755 100 255 635 1,140 625 395 230 105
Taiwanese 9,660 465 8,950 375 965 1,155 4,500 1,960 985 975 240
Chinese, n.o.s. 405,945 58,830 325,650 20,180 40,085 49,985 92,800 122,600 64,515 58,085 21,465
Tibetan languages 4,850 425 4,235 0 160 115 315 3,640 1,645 1,990 190
Burmese 3,430 145 3,135 85 230 210 995 1,620 545 1,075 145
Sino-Tibetan languages, n.i.e. 4,130 215 3,830 0 0 35 185 3,605 205 3,400 75
Tai languages 21,490 2,990 17,365 170 4,970 5,730 2,515 3,975 1,765 2,210 1,130
Lao 13,890 2,540 11,200 80 4,535 4,815 1,280 485 265 220 145
Thai 7,600 445 6,165 85 435 915 1,240 3,490 1,500 1,990 985
Austro-Asiatic languages 176,660 41,440 132,575 605 25,835 53,645 32,915 19,570 8,690 10,880 2,645
Khmer (Cambodian) 21,745 4,545 16,865 55 2,340 9,950 2,130 2,385 960 1,420 345
Vietnamese 154,910 36,895 115,710 550 23,490 43,695 30,790 17,185 7,730 9,455 2,300
Malayo-Polynesian languages 430,725 17,950 372,855 7,060 31,770 44,620 99,230 190,165 61,535 128,635 39,925
Bisayan languages 18,315 245 16,460 285 950 1,435 3,960 9,835 3,095 6,740 1,610
Ilocano 19,670 515 17,830 365 1,070 2,310 5,300 8,785 2,555 6,230 1,320
Malay 10,965 490 9,400 445 1,160 1,040 2,025 4,725 2,240 2,490 1,075
Pampango 3,045 180 2,715 25 220 385 805 1,270 395 875 155
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 371,500 16,230 320,075 5,765 27,755 38,745 85,475 162,325 52,250 110,075 35,200
Bikol 1,380 0 1,275 75 125 95 385 595 145 450 85
Malagasy 1,190 55 990 0 30 80 210 675 205 465 150
Fijian 1,155 115 940 50 215 185 265 225 30 195 95
Pangasinan 1,090 0 1,050 20 140 105 325 455 210 245 30
Malayo-Polynesian languages, n.i.e. 2,415 85 2,125 35 105 235 470 1,275 405 865 205
Niger-Congo languages 73,565 5,125 62,770 375 2,255 5,680 15,280 39,180 15,065 24,115 5,670
Akan (Twi) 13,440 1,780 11,500 90 595 2,750 4,840 3,215 1,615 1,605 155
Bantu languages 33,905 1,760 28,950 120 750 1,610 6,135 20,335 8,275 12,060 3,190
Lingala 3,735 205 3,265 0 30 140 1,225 1,860 865 995 270
Rundi (Kirundi) 4,530 110 4,170 0 0 65 940 3,155 1,190 1,965 245
Rwanda (Kinyarwanda) 4,055 140 3,575 0 15 130 1,115 2,310 695 1,615 345
Shona 2,725 100 2,305 0 0 20 130 2,140 890 1,245 325
Swahili 10,000 860 8,390 75 450 575 1,510 5,780 2,400 3,385 745
Ganda 1,055 50 870 0 45 165 65 585 240 350 130
Bantu languages, n.i.e. 7,805 290 6,380 25 185 520 1,150 4,505 2,000 2,505 1,135
Edo 1,135 65 970 0 0 0 260 690 240 455 100
Igbo 3,100 160 2,585 0 185 135 505 1,740 575 1,165 355
Wolof 2,645 105 2,260 0 45 25 225 1,955 515 1,445 275
Bamanankan 1,045 95 830 0 0 45 210 570 120 455 115
Ewe 1,500 25 1,425 0 100 105 260 935 400 535 50
Ga 985 85 860 45 130 300 225 160 50 105 40
Niger-Congo languages, n.i.e. 15,815 1,045 13,385 70 435 695 2,610 9,570 3,275 6,300 1,390
African languages, n.i.e. 9,915 1,605 7,835 80 325 685 2,050 4,690 2,685 2,005 475
Creoles 71,070 5,425 60,940 1,355 11,010 11,950 13,060 23,560 7,815 15,740 4,710
Non-verbal languages 6,380 5,560 770 25 85 190 225 250 155 90 50
American Sign Language 1,795 1,600 180 0 40 40 40 55 40 0 0
Quebec Sign Language 405 375 25 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0
Sign languages, n.i.e. 4,180 3,585 560 0 45 140 165 190 115 75 30
Other languages 2,635 415 2,155 140 280 240 375 1,120 280 845 65
Multiple responses 482,945 257,340 213,715 16,760 21,435 27,595 52,555 95,360 42,330 53,035 11,890
English and French 57,820 54,255 3,355 630 355 460 605 1,305 555 750 210
English and non-official language 353,530 175,425 168,705 13,050 16,755 21,985 43,485 73,435 33,615 39,825 9,395
French and non-official language 65,320 23,865 39,260 2,675 4,020 4,795 8,075 19,690 7,675 12,015 2,190
English, French and non-official language 6,280 3,800 2,390 400 305 355 395 930 480 450 90

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Footnote(s)

Footnote 1

Excludes National Household Survey data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements.

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Footnote 2

For the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) estimates, the global non-response rate (GNR) is used as an indicator of data quality. This indicator combines complete non-response (household) and partial non-response (question) into a single rate. The value of the GNR is presented to users. A smaller GNR indicates a lower risk of non-response bias and as a result, lower risk of inaccuracy. The threshold used for estimates' suppression is a GNR of 50% or more. For more information, please refer to the National Household Survey User Guide, 2011.

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Footnote 3

Non-immigrant refers to a person who is a Canadian citizen by birth.

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Footnote 4

Immigrant refers to a person who is or has ever been a landed immigrant/permanent resident. This person has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Some immigrants have resided in Canada for a number of years, while others have arrived recently. Some immigrants are Canadian citizens, while others are not. Most immigrants are born outside Canada, but a small number are born in Canada. In the 2011 National Household Survey, 'Immigrants' includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to May 10, 2011.

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Footnote 5

Includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to May 10, 2011.

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Footnote 6

Non-permanent resident refers to a person from another country who has a work or study permit, or who is a refugee claimant, and any non-Canadian-born family member living in Canada with them.

Return to footnote 6 referrer

Source: Statistics Canada, 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 99-010-X2011033.

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