Census of Population
Networks
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Datasets
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Variables
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The Census of Population paints a statistical portrait of Canada and Canadians on one specific day. The census is designed to provide information about people and housing units in Canada by their demographic, social and economic characteristics.
Information on the study description is adapted from Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2022-03-29. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
- Start Year
- 1971
- Supplementary Information
- Additional information available at: https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=3901
Visit COP
| Investigators | Contacts |
|---|---|
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Design
- Study design
- Cross-sectional
- Follow Up
- The survey is repeated once every five years.
- Supplementary Information
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As of the year 2006, questions from the Families survey are included in the Housing and Households survey.
A sample of approximately 25% of Canadian households receive a long-form questionnaire. All other households receive a short-form questionnaire.
Recruitment
- Recruitment Target
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- Individuals
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- No Limit
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Possible Access to Data | |
| Possible Access to Biosamples | |
| Other |
Supplementary Information
Data tables: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/dt-td/index-eng.cfm
Timeline
Populations
The population is composed of usual residents of Canada who are Canadian citizens, landed immigrants and non-permanent residents.
Selection Criteria
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
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- Canada
- Territory
- Ethnic Origin
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- Health Status
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- Other Criteria
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Participants must be Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization), landed immigrants and non-permanent residents and their families living with them in Canada. Participants are also included if they are Canadian citizens and landed immigrants temporarily outside the country on Census Day.
Foreign residents such as representatives of a foreign government assigned to an embassy, high commission or other diplomatic mission in Canada, and residents of another country who are visiting Canada temporarily are excluded from the census.
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
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- General population
- Participants from existing studies
- General Population
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- Selected sample
- Supplementary Information
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Participants are identified through statistics canada when completing the Census of Population questionnaire.
- Participants from Existing Studies
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- In the year 2011, participants were recruited from the National Household Survey.
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- No Limit
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Description | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
COP - Individuals - 1971
|
Information was collected about age, sex, language, marital status, household and housing characteristics, education, and employment. | 1971-05 | 1971-07 |
| 1 |
COP - Individuals - 1976
|
Information was collected about age, sex, language, marital status, household and housing characteristics, education, and employment. | 1976-05 | 1976-07 |
| 2 |
COP - Individuals - 1981
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Information was collected about immigration, residence, place of birth, age, sex, language, ethnicity, religion, marital status, mobility status, household and housing characteristics, education, ... | 1981-05 | 1981-07 |
| 3 |
COP - Individuals - 1986
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Information was collected about immigration and citizenship, residence, age, sex, language, ethnicity, marital status, mobility status, household and housing characteristics, education, ... | 1986-05 | 1986-07 |
| 4 |
COP - Individuals - 1991
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Information was collected about immigration and citizenship, residence, age, sex, language, ethnicity, religion, marital status, mobility status, households (composition), housing characteristics ... | 1991-05 | 1991-07 |
| 5 |
COP - Individuals - 1996
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Information was collected about immigration and citizenship, residence, age, sex, language, ethnicity, religion, marital status, mobility status, households (composition), housing characteristics ... | 1996-05 | 1996-07 |
| 6 |
COP - Individuals - 2001
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Information was collected about immigration and citizenship, residence, age, sex, language, ethnicity, religion, marital status, mobility status, households (composition), housing characteristics ... | 2001-05 | 2001-07 |
| 7 |
COP - Individuals - 2006
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Information was collected about the area of residence, household and family composition, demography (age, sex, language, ethnicity, religion, marital status, immigration and citizenship), ... | 2006-05 | 2006-07 |
| 8 |
COP - Individuals - 2011
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Information was collected about the area of residence, household and family composition, demography (age, sex, language, ethnicity, religion, marital status, immigration and citizenship), ... | 2011-05 | 2011-07 |
| 9 |
COP - Individuals - 2016
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Information was collected about the area of residence, household and family composition, demography (age, sex, language, ethnicity, religion, marital status, immigration and citizenship), ... | 2016-05 | 2016-07 |
| 10 |
COP - Individuals - 2021
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Information was collected about the area of residence, household and family composition, demography (age, sex, language, ethnicity, religion, marital status, immigration and citizenship), ... | 2021-05 | 2021-07 |
The population is composed of occupants of private dwellings in Canada on Census Day.
Selection Criteria
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
-
- Canada
- Territory
- Ethnic Origin
-
- Health Status
-
- Other Criteria
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Participants are included if they are Canadian citizens or landed immigrants living in private households in Canada on Census Day. Participants are also included if they are non-permanent residents of Canada, that is persons from another country who held an employment authorization, a student authorization or a Minister's permit, or who were refugee claimants at the time of the census.
Participants living in collective dwellings, residing overseas, on incompletely enumerated Indian reserves, indigenous settlements, households of foreign residents, foreign diplomats, members of the armed forces of another country, and residents of another country who are visiting Canada temporarily are excluded from the census.
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
- Participants complete the Housing and Households survey on behalf of their entire household.
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
-
- General population
- Participants from existing studies
- General Population
-
- Selected sample
- Supplementary Information
-
Participants are identified through statistics canada when completing the Census of Population questionnaire.
- Participants from Existing Studies
-
- In the year 2011, participants were recruited from the National Household Survey.
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- No Limit
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Description | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
COP - Households - 1971
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Information was collected about dwelling type and household structure (number of family and non-family members, age groups, sex, language). | 1971-05 | 1971-07 |
| 1 |
COP - Households - 1976
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Information was collected about dwelling type and household structure (number of family and non-family members, age groups, sex, language). | 1976-05 | 1976-07 |
| 2 |
COP - Households - 1981
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Information was collected about housing characteristics (period of construction, dwelling type), tenure, taxes, rent, and households (number of family and non-family members, age groups, sex, ... | 1981-05 | 1981-07 |
| 3 |
COP - Households - 1986
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Information was collected about housing characteristics (period of construction, dwelling type, number of rooms), tenure, taxes, rent, and households (household size, composition, age groups, sex, ... | 1986-05 | 1986-07 |
| 4 |
COP - Households - 1991
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Information was collected about housing characteristics (period of construction, dwelling type, number of rooms), tenure, taxes, rent, and households (household size, composition, age groups, sex, ... | 1991-05 | 1991-07 |
| 5 |
COP - Households - 1996
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Information was collected about housing characteristics (period of construction, dwelling type, number of rooms), tenure, taxes, rent, and households (household size, composition, age groups, sex, ... | 1996-05 | 1996-07 |
| 6 |
COP - Households - 2001
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Information was collected about housing characteristics (period of construction, dwelling type, number of rooms), tenure, taxes, rent, and households (household size, composition, age groups, sex, ... | 2001-05 | 2001-07 |
| 7 |
COP - Households - 2006
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Information was collected about the area of residence, households (household size, composition), family and family composition, demography (age, sex, language, ethnicity, marital status, ... | 2006-05 | 2006-07 |
| 8 |
COP - Households - 2011
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Information was collected about the area of residence, households (household size, composition), family and family composition, demography (age, sex, language, ethnicity, marital status, ... | 2011-05 | 2011-07 |
| 9 |
COP - Households - 2016
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Information was collected about the area of residence, households (household size, composition), family and family composition, demography (age, sex, language, ethnicity, marital status, ... | 2016-05 | 2016-07 |
| 10 |
COP - Households - 2021
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Information was collected about the area of residence, households (household size, composition), family and family composition, demography (age, sex, language, ethnicity, marital status, ... | 2021-05 | 2021-07 |
Participants are from families of Canadian citizens and landed immigrants living in private households on Census Day.
Selection Criteria
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
-
- Canada
- Territory
- Ethnic Origin
-
- Health Status
-
- Other Criteria
-
Participants are included if they are from families of Canadian citizens and landed immigrants living in private households on Census Day. Participants are also included if they are non-permanent residents of Canada, that is, persons from another country who held an employment authorization, a student authorization or a Minister’s permit, or who were refugee claimants at the time of the census.
Participants living in collective dwellings, residing overseas, on incompletely enumerated Indian reserves, indigenous settlements, households of foreign residents, foreign diplomats, members of the armed forces of another country, and residents of another country who are visiting Canada temporarily are excluded from the census.
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
- Participants complete the Families survey on behalf of their entire family.
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
-
- General population
- General Population
-
- Selected sample
- Supplementary Information
-
Participants are identified through statistics canada when completing the Census of Population questionnaire.
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- No Limit
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Description | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
COP - Families - 1971
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Information was collected about family members (age, language, marital status, education, employment, mobility status), dwelling type, family structure and type, and family size (including number ... | 1971-05 | 1971-07 |
| 1 |
COP - Families - 1976
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Information was collected about family members (age, language, marital status, education, employment, mobility status), dwelling type, family structure and type, and family size (including number ... | 1976-05 | 1976-07 |
| 2 |
COP - Families - 1981
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Information was collected about family members (age, language, marital status, ethnicity, education, employment, income, mobility status), dwelling type, family structure and type, and family size ... | 1981-05 | 1981-07 |
| 3 |
COP - Families - 1986
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Information was collected about family members (age, language, residence, marital status, ethnicity, education, employment, income and benefits, mobility status), housing characteristics (dwelling ... | 1986-05 | 1986-07 |
| 4 |
COP - Families - 1991
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Information was collected about family members (age, language, residence, marital status, ethnicity, education, employment, income and benefits, mobility status), housing characteristics (dwelling ... | 1991-05 | 1991-07 |
| 5 |
COP - Families - 1996
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Information was collected about family members (age, language, residence, marital status, ethnicity, education, employment, income and benefits, mobility status), housing characteristics (dwelling ... | 1996-05 | 1996-07 |
| 6 |
COP - Families - 2001
|
Information was collected about family members (age, language, residence, marital status, ethnicity, education, employment, income and benefits, mobility status), housing characteristics (dwelling ... | 2001-05 | 2001-07 |
Classifications
- Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
- Lifestyle and behaviours
- Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
- Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
- Diseases
- Symptoms and signs
- Medication and supplements
- Non-pharmacological interventions
- Health and community care services utilization
- Death
- Physical measures and assessments
- Laboratory measures
- Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
- Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
- Preschool, school and work life
- Social environment and relationships
- Physical environment
- Administrative information
Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Age/birthdate
Sex/gender
Marital/partner status
Family and household structure
Education
Residence
Birthplace
Citizenship and immigrant status
Ethnicity, race and religion
Language
Labour force and retirement
Income, possessions, and benefits
Other socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Lifestyle and behaviours
Transportation
Preschool, school and work life
Work life
Social environment and relationships
Social support
Physical environment
Housing characteristics
Built environment/neighbourhood characteristics
Administrative information
Identifiers
Questionnaire and interview-related information
Other administrative information