2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Topic-based tabulation: Place of Birth (33), Period of Immigration (9), Sex (3) and Age Groups (10) for the Immigrant Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

About this tabulation

General information

Catalogue number :97-557-XCB2006019
Release date :December 4, 2007
Topic :Immigration and citizenship
Data dimensions :

Note

Note: Non-permanent residents and the census universe

In the 2006 Census, non-permanent residents are defined as people from another country who, at the time of the census, held a Work or Study Permit, or who were refugee claimants, as well as family members living in Canada with them. In the 1991, 1996 and 2001 censuses, non-permanent residents also included persons who held a Minister's permit; this was discontinued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada prior to the 2006 Census.

From 1991 on, the Census of Population has enumerated both permanent and non-permanent residents of Canada. Prior to 1991, only permanent residents of Canada were included in the census. (The only exception to this occurred in 1941.) Non-permanent residents were considered foreign residents and were not enumerated.

Total population counts, as well as counts for all variables, are affected by this change in the census universe. Users should be especially careful when comparing data from 1991, 1996, 2001 or 2006 with data from previous censuses in geographic areas where there is a concentration of non-permanent residents.

Today in Canada, non-permanent residents make up a significant segment of the population, especially in several census metropolitan areas. Their presence can affect the demand for such government services as health care, schooling, employment programs and language training. The inclusion of non-permanent residents in the census facilitates comparisons with provincial and territorial statistics (marriages, divorces, births and deaths) which include this population. In addition, this inclusion of non-permanent residents brings Canadian practice closer to the United Nations (UN) recommendation that long-term residents (persons living in a country for one year or longer) be enumerated in the census.

Although every attempt has been made to enumerate non-permanent residents, factors such as language difficulties, the reluctance to complete a government form or to understand the need to participate may have affected the enumeration of this population.

For additional information, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, catalogue number 92-566-XWE or 92-566-XPE.

For counts of the non-permanent resident population in 1991, 2001 and 2006, please refer to the 2006 Census table 97-557-XCB2006006.


Data table

Select data categories for this table


This table details place of birth , period of immigration , sex and age groups for the immigrant population in CanadaFootnote 1
Place of birth (33) Period of immigration (9)
Total - Period of immigration for the immigrant populationFootnote 2 Before 1961 1961 to 1970 1971 to 1980 1981 to 1990 1991 to 2000 1991 to 1995 1996 to 2000 2001 to 2006Footnote 3
Total - Place of birthFootnote 4 6,186,950 791,220 710,280 903,700 1,003,205 1,668,550 823,925 844,625 1,109,980
United States of America 250,535 31,930 42,670 58,410 35,830 42,925 18,770 24,155 38,770
Central America 130,460 1,650 2,775 8,975 48,695 45,080 29,430 15,650 23,275
Caribbean and Bermuda 317,765 6,275 40,985 88,190 65,280 82,045 49,260 32,785 34,985
South America 250,710 4,060 14,320 54,785 54,570 61,645 34,480 27,165 61,330
Europe 2,278,345 712,940 489,420 320,510 254,325 322,630 160,115 162,520 178,525
Western Europe 424,640 197,255 70,410 41,805 36,805 45,945 20,135 25,810 32,425
Eastern Europe 511,095 107,355 32,885 28,180 102,235 147,875 73,730 74,140 92,565
Southern Europe 698,085 190,800 220,670 121,460 53,605 85,950 43,495 42,455 25,590
Italy 296,850 136,725 113,950 30,205 8,930 4,760 2,540 2,220 2,270
Other Southern Europe 401,235 54,075 106,720 91,255 44,675 81,190 40,955 40,235 23,315
Northern Europe 644,530 217,525 165,450 129,065 61,675 42,865 22,755 20,105 27,940
United Kingdom 579,625 188,815 151,410 118,840 56,065 38,830 20,630 18,205 25,660
Other Northern Europe 64,900 28,705 14,040 10,225 5,615 4,030 2,125 1,900 2,285
Africa 374,565 4,270 23,145 51,935 56,880 121,115 54,800 66,315 117,215
Western Africa 48,640 185 625 3,095 6,155 18,645 8,290 10,355 19,930
Eastern Africa 129,925 585 3,135 27,925 27,500 39,960 23,140 16,825 30,810
Northern Africa 134,505 2,105 14,990 12,120 14,660 41,785 15,445 26,335 48,845
Central Africa 22,410 70 270 1,620 1,680 7,935 2,350 5,590 10,830
Southern Africa 39,090 1,330 4,125 7,170 6,875 12,790 5,585 7,205 6,795
Asia and the Middle East 2,525,160 26,730 87,895 306,830 477,300 979,185 468,800 510,385 647,225
West Central Asia and the Middle East 370,520 4,195 12,855 29,530 72,470 144,595 65,445 79,155 106,870
Eastern Asia 874,365 16,235 35,165 95,340 146,825 365,520 170,910 194,605 215,280
China, People's Republic of 466,945 13,865 17,745 39,355 62,940 177,925 69,640 108,290 155,105
Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region 215,430 1,215 11,075 36,315 59,315 100,075 66,570 33,505 7,430
Other Eastern Asia 191,995 1,150 6,340 19,660 24,575 87,520 34,705 52,810 52,750
Southeast Asia 560,995 2,220 13,630 105,235 159,330 180,355 109,095 71,255 100,230
Philippines 303,190 245 9,000 43,170 55,350 117,550 65,485 52,060 77,880
Other Southeast Asia 257,800 1,980 4,630 62,065 103,975 62,805 43,610 19,190 22,345
Southern Asia 719,280 4,075 26,245 76,720 98,675 288,715 123,345 165,365 224,845
India 443,690 3,580 22,860 64,105 66,285 157,715 67,820 89,890 129,140
Other Southern Asia 275,590 500 3,385 12,620 32,390 131,000 55,525 75,475 95,700
Oceania and otherFootnote 5 59,410 3,370 9,065 14,065 10,325 13,925 8,270 5,655 8,655

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

Immigrants are persons who are, or have ever been, landed immigrants in Canada. A landed immigrant is a person who 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 are recent arrivals. Most immigrants are born outside Canada, but a small number were born in Canada. Includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to Census Day, May 16, 2006.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Footnote 3

Includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to Census Day, May 16, 2006.

Return to footnote 3 referrer

Footnote 4

For information on the specific countries included in each regional grouping in this variable, please refer to Appendix J in the 2006 Census Dictionary.

Return to footnote 4 referrer

Footnote 5

'Other' includes Greenland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the category 'Other country,' as well as immigrants born in Canada.

Return to footnote 5 referrer

Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-557-XCB2006019.

Download

Download data as displayed in the Data table tab

Download entire table

Footnotes

Footnote a

To access the comma separated values (CSV) file, use the conversion features available in most spreadsheet software, or use a free viewer, for example csview.

Return to footnote a referrer

Footnote b

To access the tab separated values (TAB) file, use the conversion features available in most spreadsheet software, or use a free viewer, for example AscToTab.

Return to footnote b referrer

Footnote c

To access the Beyond 20/20 (IVT) version, you need the Beyond 20/20 Table Browser, which may be downloaded below. These links download files directly from an external site and are not the responsibility of Statistics Canada.

Beyond 20/20 Browser for Windows operating systems (18.9 MB)
To install this product, run 'ProBrowser.exe'.

Return to footnote c referrer

Footnote d

XML (SDMX - ML) - Is a statistical data and metadata exchange standard for the electronic exchange of statistical information. Two extensible mark-up language (XML) files are provided in a compressed bundle.

Return to footnote d referrer