2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

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Topic-based tabulation: Selected Language Characteristics (165), Aboriginal Identity (8), Age Groups (7) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories and Census Metropolitan Areas, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

About this tabulation

General information

Catalogue number :97-558-XCB2006016
Release date :January 15, 2008
Topic :Aboriginal peoples
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: Data on knowledge of official languages

According to studies on data certification, the 2006 Census statistics on knowledge of official languages could underestimate the category 'English and French' and overestimate the category 'French only,' particularly for the francophone population, but also for the whole population in general. More information on the subject will be available in the Languages Reference Guide, to be published in 2008.

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 selected language characteristics , aboriginal identity , age groups and sex for the population in CanadaFootnote 1
Selected language characteristics (165) Aboriginal identity (8)
Total - Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal identity populationFootnote 2 Total Aboriginal identity populationFootnote 3 North American Indian single responseFootnote 4 Métis single response Inuit single response Multiple Aboriginal identity responses Aboriginal responses not included elsewhereFootnote 5 Non-Aboriginal identity population
Total population by detailed mother tongueFootnote 6 31,241,030 1,172,785 698,025 389,785 50,480 7,740 26,760 30,068,240
Total - Single responsesFootnote 7 30,848,270 1,155,800 686,375 385,665 49,880 7,485 26,390 29,692,475
English 17,882,780 851,500 486,885 320,110 16,945 6,165 21,395 17,031,275
French 6,817,650 96,745 34,505 56,415 815 1,100 3,900 6,720,910
Non-official languages 6,147,840 207,550 164,985 9,140 32,120 220 1,095 5,940,290
Aboriginal languages 210,075 207,205 164,760 9,040 32,105 210 1,085 2,875
Algonquian languages 144,660 142,860 134,380 7,255 335 155 725 1,800
Algonquin 1,920 1,890 1,870 10 15 0 0 30
Atikamekw 5,245 5,135 5,050 0 60 0 15 110
Blackfoot 3,085 3,075 3,060 0 0 0 15 0
Cree 78,855 77,970 71,440 5,845 120 120 440 885
Malecite 535 510 515 0 0 0 0 25
Mi'kmaq 7,365 7,310 7,280 15 10 0 10 55
Montagnais-Naskapi 10,975 10,530 10,320 30 125 0 50 440
Ojibway 24,190 24,025 23,160 670 0 25 165 165
Oji-Cree 11,690 11,625 11,550 45 10 0 25 60
Algonquian languages, n.i.e. 795 775 130 635 0 10 0 25
Athapaskan languages 19,015 18,760 16,820 1,655 85 15 180 250
Carrier 1,560 1,515 1,465 15 0 0 35 40
Chilcotin 1,070 1,040 1,015 0 0 0 30 25
Chipewyan 525 510 450 55 0 0 0 10
Dene 9,750 9,700 8,115 1,490 0 0 90 50
Dogrib 2,020 1,995 1,955 20 20 0 0 25
Kutchin-Gwich'in (Loucheux) 355 355 340 0 10 0 0 0
North Slave (Hare) 1,065 1,055 995 15 40 0 10 10
South Slave 1,605 1,605 1,535 50 0 10 10 0
Athapaskan languages, n.i.e. 1,065 975 945 0 10 10 10 85
Haida 115 110 110 0 0 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages 410 340 315 0 0 0 15 65
Mohawk 290 220 200 0 0 10 15 65
Iroquoian languages, n.i.e. 120 115 120 0 0 0 0 0
Kutenai 150 150 150 0 0 0 0 0
Salish languages 3,250 3,150 3,115 10 0 0 30 100
Shuswap 940 910 895 0 10 0 10 25
Thompson (Ntlakapamux) 500 500 490 0 0 0 0 0
Salish languages, n.i.e. 1,810 1,740 1,725 0 0 0 20 65
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) 5,585 5,540 5,530 0 0 0 10 45
Tlingit 85 85 80 0 0 0 0 0
Tsimshian languages 2,170 2,115 2,000 15 0 0 100 50
Gitksan 1,175 1,130 1,040 0 0 0 90 45
Nisga'a 675 670 665 10 0 0 0 0
Tsimshian 320 315 295 15 0 0 10 10
Wakashan languages 1,090 1,075 1,075 0 0 0 0 10
Nootka 375 375 375 0 0 0 0 0
Wakashan languages, n.i.e. 715 705 700 0 0 0 10 10
Inuktitut 32,380 31,925 190 35 31,670 20 0 460
Inuinnaqtun 370 365 0 0 360 0 0 0
Inuktitut, n.i.e. 32,015 31,555 185 35 31,310 25 0 455
Aboriginal languages, n.i.e. 1,165 1,090 1,005 50 10 10 15 75
Other single responses 5,937,765 345 220 95 10 10 0 5,937,415
Total multiple responsesFootnote 8 392,760 16,995 11,645 4,115 600 255 370 375,765
English and Aboriginal languageFootnote 9 11,035 10,915 9,235 915 485 75 200 120
French and Aboriginal languageFootnote 10 855 815 580 175 55 10 0 40
English, French and Aboriginal languageFootnote 11 240 215 120 70 0 15 10 20
Other multiple responses 380,625 5,040 1,710 2,955 50 160 170 375,585
Total population by detailed language spoken most often at homeFootnote 12 31,241,030 1,172,790 698,020 389,780 50,480 7,740 26,760 30,068,240
Total - Single responsesFootnote 13 30,665,030 1,158,705 687,610 387,265 49,865 7,600 26,370 29,506,320
English 20,584,770 954,115 555,615 345,610 23,665 6,605 22,615 19,630,655
French 6,608,125 75,715 32,575 37,930 970 930 3,305 6,532,405
Non-official languages 3,472,130 128,870 99,415 3,725 25,225 60 445 3,343,255
Aboriginal languages 129,340 127,925 98,850 3,420 25,185 40 425 1,420
Algonquian languages 87,520 86,735 84,130 2,030 230 30 310 780
Algonquin 385 380 375 0 10 0 0 0
Atikamekw 4,750 4,720 4,690 0 25 10 0 25
Blackfoot 1,575 1,575 1,570 10 0 0 0 0
Cree 47,190 46,760 44,800 1,640 85 20 220 430
Malecite 135 135 135 0 0 0 0 0
Mi'kmaq 3,985 3,965 3,960 0 0 0 0 15
Montagnais-Naskapi 9,720 9,550 9,390 15 105 0 40 170
Ojibway 11,115 11,005 10,750 215 0 0 30 110
Oji-Cree 8,480 8,480 8,425 25 10 0 15 10
Algonquian languages, n.i.e. 180 160 35 125 0 0 0 20
Athapaskan languages 11,220 11,030 9,535 1,350 65 0 75 190
Carrier 605 535 525 0 0 0 0 70
Chilcotin 435 420 415 0 0 0 10 10
Chipewyan 120 125 115 10 0 0 10 0
Dene 7,490 7,460 6,100 1,310 10 0 55 25
Dogrib 1,110 1,105 1,080 15 10 0 0 0
Kutchin-Gwich'in (Loucheux) 25 25 20 0 0 0 0 0
North Slave (Hare) 655 650 605 10 40 0 0 0
South Slave 605 590 570 10 10 0 0 10
Athapaskan languages, n.i.e. 180 115 110 0 10 0 0 65
Haida 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages 30 20 15 10 0 0 0 0
Mohawk 20 20 15 0 0 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages, n.i.e. 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
Kutenai 20 15 15 0 0 0 0 0
Salish languages 510 500 495 0 0 0 0 10
Shuswap 255 240 240 0 10 0 0 10
Thompson (Ntlakapamux) 50 50 50 0 0 0 0 0
Salish languages, n.i.e. 205 205 200 0 0 0 0 0
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) 3,780 3,755 3,750 0 0 0 0 30
Tlingit 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tsimshian languages 565 550 520 10 10 0 25 15
Gitksan 315 315 290 0 0 0 25 0
Nisga'a 175 170 170 10 0 0 0 10
Tsimshian 65 60 60 0 0 0 0 10
Wakashan languages 115 115 115 0 0 0 0 0
Nootka 10 10 10 0 0 0 0 0
Wakashan languages, n.i.e. 100 105 105 0 0 0 0 0
Inuktitut 25,355 25,040 105 30 24,885 10 10 320
Inuinnaqtun 70 70 10 0 65 0 0 0
Inuktitut, n.i.e. 25,290 24,970 100 30 24,825 10 10 315
Aboriginal languages, n.i.e. 215 155 160 0 0 0 0 55
Other single responses 3,342,790 950 570 305 40 15 25 3,341,840
Total multiple responsesFootnote 14 576,005 14,085 10,420 2,515 615 135 395 561,920
English and Aboriginal languageFootnote 15 9,680 9,555 8,200 510 555 65 230 125
French and Aboriginal languageFootnote 16 695 670 600 10 35 10 15 25
English, French and Aboriginal languageFootnote 17 75 75 55 10 10 0 0 0
Other multiple responses 565,550 3,785 1,565 1,985 20 70 145 561,765
Total population by knowledge of Aboriginal languagesFootnote 18 31,241,030 1,172,790 698,025 389,780 50,480 7,740 26,760 30,068,240
Total - Single responsesFootnote 19 20,015,415 820,690 466,985 307,315 18,955 6,200 21,240 19,194,720
English 15,697,475 772,295 442,695 290,560 13,895 5,660 19,485 14,925,185
French 3,851,775 35,570 16,365 16,555 400 525 1,720 3,816,205
Non-official languages 466,165 12,830 7,925 195 4,660 10 35 453,335
Aboriginal languages 12,730 12,525 7,735 110 4,640 0 30 205
Algonquian languages 7,180 7,055 6,965 50 20 10 15 125
Algonquin 55 60 55 0 10 0 0 0
Atikamekw 865 850 850 0 0 0 0 10
Blackfoot 25 25 25 0 0 0 0 0
Cree 3,495 3,425 3,350 50 0 0 15 70
Malecite 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0
Mi'kmaq 80 80 80 0 0 0 0 0
Montagnais-Naskapi 1,070 1,035 1,025 10 10 0 0 35
Ojibway 705 700 695 0 0 0 10 10
Oji-Cree 880 880 875 0 0 0 0 0
Algonquian languages, n.i.e. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Athapaskan languages 745 735 665 55 10 0 15 10
Carrier 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chilcotin 25 25 15 0 0 0 10 0
Chipewyan 0 10 10 10 0 0 0 0
Dene 465 465 405 55 0 0 10 0
Dogrib 105 105 100 0 0 0 0 0
Kutchin-Gwich'in (Loucheux) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
North Slave (Hare) 50 50 45 0 0 0 0 0
South Slave 75 70 70 0 0 0 0 0
Athapaskan languages, n.i.e. 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0
Haida 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mohawk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages, n.i.e. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kutenai 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Salish languages 15 10 10 0 0 0 0 0
Shuswap 10 10 10 0 0 0 0 0
Thompson (Ntlakapamux) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Salish languages, n.i.e. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) 60 55 55 0 0 0 0 0
Tlingit 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tsimshian languages 10 10 10 0 0 0 0 0
Gitksan 10 10 10 0 0 0 0 0
Nisga'a 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0
Tsimshian 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wakashan languages 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nootka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wakashan languages, n.i.e. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Inuktitut 4,715 4,650 30 10 4,615 10 0 65
Inuinnaqtun 15 15 0 0 15 0 0 0
Inuktitut, n.i.e. 4,695 4,635 30 0 4,595 0 0 65
Aboriginal languages, n.i.e. 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other single responses 453,440 310 185 90 25 10 10 453,130
Total multiple responsesFootnote 20 11,225,615 352,095 231,040 82,465 31,525 1,540 5,525 10,873,515
English and Aboriginal language(s)Footnote 21 217,295 213,750 171,815 12,160 27,710 410 1,650 3,545
French and Aboriginal language(s)Footnote 22 14,515 14,135 13,005 130 930 10 65 380
English, French and Aboriginal language(s)Footnote 23 11,825 10,715 7,595 1,115 1,855 45 95 1,110
Other multiple responses 10,981,980 113,495 38,625 69,055 1,025 1,080 3,710 10,868,485

Footnotes

Footnote 1

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

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Footnote 2

This is a grouping of the total population into non-Aboriginal or Aboriginal population, with Aboriginal persons further divided into Aboriginal groups, based on their responses to three questions on the 2006 Census form.

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Footnote 3

Included in the Aboriginal identity population are those persons who reported identifying with at least one Aboriginal group, that is, North American Indian, Métis or Inuit, and/or those who reported being a Treaty Indian or a Registered Indian, as defined by the Indian Act of Canada, and/or those who reported they were members of an Indian band or First Nation.

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Footnote 4

Users should be aware that the counts for this item are more affected than most by the incomplete enumeration of certain Indian reserves and Indian settlements. The extent of the impact will depend on the geographic area under study. In 2006, a total of 22 Indian reserves and Indian settlements were incompletely enumerated by the census. The populations of these 22 communities are not included in the census counts.

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Footnote 5

Includes those who identified themselves as Registered Indians and/or band members without identifying themselves as North American Indian, Métis or Inuit in the Aboriginal identity question.

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Footnote 6

Mother tongue refers to the first language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the individual at the time of the census.

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Footnote 7

Indicates the number of persons who reported only one language as their mother tongue.

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Footnote 8

Indicates the number of persons who reported more than one language as their mother tongue.

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Footnote 9

Indicates the number of persons who reported English and one Aboriginal language as their mother tongue.

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Footnote 10

Indicates the number of persons who reported French and one Aboriginal language as their mother tongue.

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Footnote 11

Indicates the number of persons who reported English, French and one Aboriginal language as their mother tongue.

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Footnote 12

Refers to the language spoken most often at home by the individual at the time of the census. The data on home language shown in this table are not comparable to data found in similar tables produced for the 2001 Census when home language referred to the language spoken most often at home and the language spoken on a regular basis at home.

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Footnote 13

Indicates the number of persons who reported only one language spoken most often at home.

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Footnote 14

Indicates the number of persons who reported more than one language spoken most often at home.

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Footnote 15

Indicates the number of persons who reported English and one Aboriginal language spoken most often at home.

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Footnote 16

Indicates the number of persons who reported French and one Aboriginal language spoken most often at home.

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Footnote 17

Indicates the number of persons who reported English, French and one Aboriginal language spoken most often at home.

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Footnote 18

Refers to the ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language.

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Footnote 19

Indicates the number of persons who reported knowledge of only one language, either as an official or a non-official language. For example, the category 'English' includes persons who reported knowledge of English only without reporting knowledge of any non-official language(s).

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Footnote 20

Indicates the number of persons who reported multiple official and/or non-official languages.

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Footnote 21

Indicates the number of persons who reported knowledge of English and at least one Aboriginal language.

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Footnote 22

Indicates the number of persons who reported knowledge of French and at least one Aboriginal language.

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Footnote 23

Indicates the number of persons who reported knowledge of English, French and at least one Aboriginal language.

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Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-558-XCB2006016.

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Footnotes

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Footnote d

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