2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

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Topic-based tabulation: Detailed Language Spoken Most Often at Home (186), Other Language Spoken Regularly at Home (9), Mother Tongue (8) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

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General information

Catalogue number :97-555-XCB2006046
Release date :April 8, 2008
Topic :Language
Data dimensions :

Note

Note: Data quality - Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux)

When comparing the census results to those of the 2001 Census, it appears that there is some overestimation of persons reporting Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) in British Columbia and, as a result, also at the Canada level. Although it affects a relatively small population, it is best to apply caution when analysing the census data for Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) in these geographies.

For more information on factors that may explain such variances in census data, such as response errors and processing errors, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, Appendix B Data quality, sampling and weighting, confidentiality and random rounding.

Note: Impact of municipal restructuring

The boundaries and names of municipalities (census subdivisions) can change from one census to the next because of annexations, dissolutions and incorporations. To bridge the impact of these municipal changes on data dissemination, the 2006 Census team is producing a profile for dissolved census subdivisions. For additional information, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, catalogue number 92-566-XWE or 92-566-XPE.

Note: Institutional residents

People in seniors' residences in the 2006 Census are classified as 'not living in an institution'. This is a change from the 2001 Census where they were classified as institutional residents, specifically, 'living in an institution, resident under care or custody'.

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.


Note: Population universe

The population universe of the 2006 Census includes the following groups:
- Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants with a usual place of residence in Canada;
- Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants who are abroad, either on a military base or attached to a diplomatic mission;
- Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants at sea or in port aboard merchant vessels under Canadian registry;
- persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who are claiming refugee status and members of their families living with them;
- persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who hold Study Permits and members of their families living with them;
- persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who hold Work Permits and members of their families living with them.

For census purposes, the last three groups in this list are referred to as 'non-permanent residents'. For further information, refer to the variable Immigration: Non-permanent resident found in the 2006 Census Dictionary, catalogue number 92-566-XWE or 92-566-XPE.

Data table

Select data categories for this table


This table details detailed language spoken most often at home , other language spoken regularly at home , mother tongue and sex for the population in CanadaFootnote 1
Detailed language spoken most often at home (186) Other language spoken regularly at home (9)
Total - Other language spoken regularly at home None English French Non-official language English and French English and non-official language French and non-official language English, French and non-official language
Total - Detailed language spoken most often at home 31,241,030 27,339,185 1,780,920 616,240 1,404,715 29,175 30,210 39,890 700
Single responses 30,665,025 26,790,190 1,776,295 610,375 1,388,530 29,175 30,115 39,655 700
English 20,584,770 18,853,910 0 485,905 1,206,340 0 0 38,615 0
French 6,608,125 5,953,155 517,270 0 120,230 0 17,465 0 0
Non-official languages 3,472,130 1,983,120 1,259,020 124,465 61,955 29,175 12,650 1,040 695
Aboriginal languages 129,340 73,620 51,040 4,205 155 285 20 10 0
Algonquian languages 87,520 49,520 33,615 4,030 120 205 15 10 0
Algonquin 390 215 90 75 0 10 0 0 0
Atikamekw 4,745 3,080 0 1,645 10 10 0 0 0
Blackfoot 1,575 1,190 380 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cree 47,190 27,575 19,245 130 55 170 10 10 0
Malecite 135 85 50 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mi'kmaq 3,980 1,445 2,525 10 0 10 0 0 0
Montagnais-Naskapi 9,725 7,120 435 2,160 0 10 0 0 0
Ojibway 11,115 5,370 5,685 10 30 0 10 0 0
Oji-Cree 8,480 3,385 5,085 0 10 0 0 0 0
Algonquian languages, n.i.e. 180 55 105 0 10 0 0 0 0
Athapaskan languages 11,225 6,120 5,080 10 0 0 0 10 0
Carrier 605 375 230 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chilcotin 430 315 115 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chipewyan 120 70 50 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dene 7,490 3,975 3,515 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dogrib 1,110 490 620 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kutchin-Gwich'in (Loucheux) 25 10 15 0 0 0 0 0 0
North Slave (Hare) 650 440 210 0 0 0 0 0 0
South Slave 605 340 255 0 0 0 0 0 0
Athapaskan languages, n.i.e. 185 105 70 0 0 0 0 0 0
Haida 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages 30 10 15 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mohawk 20 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages, n.i.e. 10 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kutenai 20 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Salish languages 510 455 55 0 0 0 0 0 0
Shuswap 250 225 25 0 0 0 0 0 0
Thompson (Ntlakapamux) 50 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Salish languages, n.i.e. 205 180 25 0 0 0 0 0 0
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) 3,780 2,345 1,435 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tlingit 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tsimshian languages 565 450 105 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gitksan 320 225 90 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nisga'a 180 165 10 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tsimshian 65 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wakashan languages 115 90 20 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nootka 10 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wakashan languages, n.i.e. 105 85 15 0 0 0 0 0 0
Inuktitut 25,355 14,500 10,595 170 10 75 10 0 0
Inuinnaqtun 70 40 25 0 0 0 0 0 0
Inuktitut, n.i.e. 25,290 14,460 10,570 170 10 75 0 0 0
Aboriginal languages, n.i.e. 210 90 110 0 10 0 0 0 0
Romance languages 535,510 291,595 178,430 50,250 2,775 11,370 580 295 215
Italian 170,330 100,450 57,355 8,360 480 3,435 115 70 55
Portuguese 103,870 60,680 36,055 5,530 270 1,135 175 30 0
Romanian 51,060 25,900 15,935 6,240 630 2,190 90 65 15
Spanish 209,955 104,455 68,965 30,120 1,355 4,610 200 135 120
Romance languages, n.i.e. 290 110 115 0 40 0 0 0 20
Germanic languages 156,055 85,015 67,765 835 1,475 560 385 0 10
Dutch 14,235 7,055 6,940 80 65 40 45 0 10
Flemish 425 205 170 45 0 0 0 0 0
Frisian 245 65 150 0 20 0 10 0 0
German 128,345 71,295 54,565 610 1,145 455 275 0 10
Yiddish 5,705 3,765 1,695 10 185 20 25 0 0
Scandinavian languages 3,105 1,155 1,805 30 65 35 20 0 0
Danish 1,335 455 850 0 15 0 15 0 0
Icelandic 190 85 95 0 0 0 0 0 0
Norwegian 465 190 255 0 0 10 0 0 0
Swedish 1,110 420 600 20 45 15 0 0 0
Germanic languages, n.i.e. 4,000 1,475 2,445 65 0 10 0 0 0
Celtic languages 210 80 100 25 10 0 0 0 0
Gaelic languages 105 60 30 10 0 0 0 0 0
Welsh 90 20 70 0 0 0 0 0 0
Celtic languages, n.i.e. 15 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0
Slavic languages 333,240 172,480 142,140 7,285 6,660 2,360 2,075 150 90
Belarusian (Byelorussian) 130 50 40 0 35 0 0 0 0
Bosnian 8,385 3,780 3,910 465 170 30 25 0 0
Bulgarian 11,810 6,860 3,710 915 135 155 25 0 0
Croatian 22,165 10,200 11,370 265 135 155 30 0 0
Czech 6,985 2,560 4,210 55 45 50 60 0 0
Macedonian 8,700 4,390 3,740 85 260 10 205 10 0
Polish 101,575 51,545 47,190 1,500 505 615 205 10 10
Russian 93,805 53,835 32,040 2,375 3,625 830 1,005 60 30
Serbian 34,775 17,525 16,260 565 195 155 55 20 0
Serbo-Croatian 6,545 3,125 2,535 665 95 90 30 0 0
Slovak 5,805 2,320 3,175 155 110 25 15 0 0
Slovenian 2,710 960 1,595 10 105 25 15 0 0
Ukrainian 28,055 14,365 11,645 165 1,180 210 395 55 45
Slavic languages, n.i.e. 1,795 960 705 60 65 10 0 0 0
Baltic languages 4,590 1,895 2,555 10 45 35 30 0 15
Latvian 2,005 705 1,255 0 10 25 15 0 0
Lithuanian 2,585 1,195 1,300 10 40 10 15 0 10
Finno-Ugric languages 28,245 13,250 13,960 270 360 235 115 35 10
Estonian 2,155 840 1,280 0 15 10 0 0 0
Finnish 4,185 2,085 2,040 0 65 0 0 0 0
Hungarian 21,900 10,325 10,640 265 280 225 115 35 10
Greek 55,095 29,950 23,310 505 285 905 100 25 0
Armenian 21,485 12,145 6,005 1,190 935 1,045 65 25 75
Turkic languages 17,820 9,530 5,885 1,250 830 160 150 10 10
Azerbaijani 775 255 280 0 195 0 40 0 0
Turkish 15,885 8,565 5,340 1,225 520 140 75 10 10
Turkic languages, n.i.e. 1,160 710 265 20 115 10 30 0 0
Afro-Asiatic languages 191,505 90,130 65,135 27,245 3,015 5,285 470 155 75
Berber languages (Kabyle) 570 85 0 455 0 0 0 25 0
Cushitic languages 18,440 9,995 7,055 570 360 315 90 0 55
Oromo 1,400 690 645 0 45 0 10 0 0
Somali 17,045 9,305 6,410 575 310 310 85 0 55
Semitic languages 170,230 79,315 58,045 24,965 2,445 4,965 375 100 20
Amharic 8,230 4,080 3,630 110 325 25 55 10 0
Arabic 144,745 67,300 46,855 24,695 950 4,755 90 85 15
Hebrew 8,650 4,005 3,675 135 575 160 95 10 0
Maltese 1,155 350 790 0 0 10 0 0 0
Tigrigna 3,550 1,775 1,470 0 270 15 10 0 0
Semitic languages, n.i.e. 3,905 1,805 1,615 25 320 10 125 0 0
Afro-Asiatic languages, n.i.e. 2,265 735 35 1,250 205 10 0 30 0
Indo-Iranian languages 637,435 372,050 239,475 3,345 16,180 2,070 4,220 65 35
Indo-Aryan languages 523,445 303,935 199,195 1,515 13,565 1,400 3,760 45 15
Bengali 33,565 18,510 13,815 445 310 335 145 0 0
Gujarati 52,715 27,855 22,520 200 1,290 205 640 0 0
Hindi 42,875 18,840 21,235 40 2,090 85 565 20 0
Konkani 585 260 275 0 25 0 20 0 10
Marathi 2,565 910 1,520 0 125 0 10 0 0
Panjabi (Punjabi) 278,500 178,660 92,360 540 5,080 340 1,495 15 10
Sindhi 5,045 2,245 2,360 10 245 30 155 0 0
Sinhala (Sinhalese) 4,780 2,000 2,710 0 50 10 10 0 0
Urdu 102,805 54,655 42,405 270 4,350 395 720 10 0
Iranian languages 108,875 65,410 38,355 1,800 2,215 655 400 25 15
Kurdish 4,950 2,650 1,520 245 425 40 60 10 0
Pashto 6,705 3,785 2,440 25 335 50 60 0 0
Persian (Farsi) 97,215 58,975 34,395 1,530 1,455 560 275 10 15
Indo-Iranian languages, n.i.e. 5,120 2,700 1,925 30 400 15 60 0 0
Dravidian languages 103,515 57,990 43,895 565 550 295 195 10 15
Kannada 1,185 400 695 0 55 0 30 0 0
Malayalam 5,690 2,405 3,115 10 95 10 55 0 0
Tamil 92,680 53,750 37,850 550 180 285 35 0 15
Telugu 3,865 1,415 2,160 0 210 10 75 0 0
Dravidian languages, n.i.e. 90 25 65 0 0 0 0 0 0
Japanese 19,540 11,825 7,220 170 270 20 25 0 0
Korean 101,495 66,765 33,615 415 425 190 75 15 0
Sino-Tibetan languages 800,440 522,950 246,400 5,695 20,750 1,675 2,800 120 50
Chinese languages 796,145 520,725 244,540 5,685 20,575 1,675 2,770 120 50
Cantonese 300,595 202,695 88,570 1,035 7,035 300 905 30 15
Chaochow (Teochow) 745 420 185 0 105 0 30 0 0
Fukien 1,915 905 520 0 325 0 170 0 0
Hakka 2,230 1,170 745 0 295 0 20 0 0
Mandarin 143,385 88,730 47,255 535 5,795 300 735 20 10
Shanghainese 1,220 675 255 10 270 0 10 0 0
Taiwanese 4,580 1,985 900 10 1,570 0 110 0 0
Chinese, n.o.s.Footnote 2 341,480 224,145 106,110 4,090 5,180 1,070 790 65 25
Tibetan languages 2,850 1,590 1,165 10 60 0 30 0 0
Sino-Tibetan languages, n.i.e. 1,445 630 700 0 110 0 0 0 0
Tai languages 10,445 6,150 2,765 1,260 175 65 25 0 0
Lao 8,555 4,970 2,160 1,230 110 55 25 0 0
Thai 1,890 1,175 605 35 65 0 10 0 0
Austro-Asiatic languages 122,870 78,365 33,710 6,915 2,720 920 180 50 10
Khmer (Cambodian) 11,430 6,625 2,665 1,645 375 95 10 10 10
Vietnamese 111,440 71,740 31,035 5,270 2,350 825 175 40 10
Malayo-Polynesian languages 135,845 52,880 78,335 335 3,240 185 850 10 10
Bisayan languages 4,610 1,935 2,315 10 245 10 100 0 0
Ilocano 5,920 2,545 2,620 0 525 10 215 0 0
Malay 3,680 1,910 1,610 0 140 0 20 0 0
Pampango 920 365 465 0 30 0 55 0 0
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 119,345 45,470 70,795 250 2,250 155 410 10 0
Malayo-Polynesian languages, n.i.e. 1,370 650 535 65 55 15 45 0 0
Niger-Congo languages 20,145 8,755 7,790 2,435 435 595 45 55 35
Akan (Twi) 7,330 3,730 3,390 70 60 55 25 0 0
Bantu languages 8,255 3,055 2,530 1,875 320 390 15 35 30
Lingala 835 355 35 365 30 45 0 10 0
Rundi (Kirundi) 1,420 535 85 640 25 100 0 10 20
Rwanda (Kinyarwanda) 845 310 120 285 0 120 0 0 10
Shona 675 210 425 0 25 0 0 0 0
Swahili 2,925 1,080 1,185 425 100 110 10 10 0
Bantu languages, n.i.e. 1,545 560 675 155 130 15 0 10 0
Edo 205 95 110 0 0 0 0 0 0
Igbo 340 160 185 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wolof 315 85 0 130 0 95 0 0 0
Niger-Congo languages, n.i.e. 3,695 1,630 1,575 355 55 50 10 20 0
African languages, n.i.e. 3,785 2,040 1,275 120 155 90 95 0 0
Creoles 21,610 9,835 1,520 9,365 125 730 10 0 20
Non-verbal languages 8,415 7,305 865 195 40 0 10 0 0
American Sign Language 1,685 1,245 405 10 20 0 0 0 0
Quebec Sign Language 685 520 0 150 0 0 0 0 0
Sign languages, n.i.e. 6,045 5,535 460 30 10 0 0 0 0
Other languages 13,480 6,515 5,830 575 350 90 120 0 0
Multiple responses 576,000 548,995 4,630 5,865 16,185 0 100 235 0
English and French 94,060 87,140 0 0 6,920 0 0 0 0
English and non-official language 406,455 392,095 0 5,865 8,260 0 0 230 0
French and non-official language 58,890 53,550 4,630 0 610 0 95 0 0
English, French and non-official language 16,600 16,210 0 0 390 0 0 0 0

Footnotes

Footnote 1

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

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Footnote 2

The 2006 category 'Chinese, n.o.s.' includes responses of 'Chinese' as well as all Chinese languages other than Cantonese, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Chaochow (Teochow), Fukien, Hakka and Shanghainese. Data for the 'Chinese, n.o.s.' category in 2001 and 2006 are not directly comparable. The 2001 category 'Chinese, n.o.s.' is equivalent to the sum of the 2006 categories 'Chinese, n.o.s.' and 'Chaochow (Teochow),' 'Fukien,' 'Shanghainese' and Taiwanese.'

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Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-555-XCB2006046.

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Footnotes

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