Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Postal code^OM

Definition

The postal code^OM is a six-character code defined and maintained by Canada Post Corporation for the purpose of sorting and delivering mail.

Reported in

2021, 2016, 2011, 2006, 2001 and 1996 (100% data)

1991 and 1986 (20% sample)

Remarks

Structure of the postal code^OM

The form of the postal code^OM is 'ANA NAN,' where A is an alphabetic character and N is a numeric character. The first character of a postal code^OM represents a province or territory, or a major sector entirely within a province (Table 1.9).

The first three characters of the postal code^OM identify the forward sortation area (FSA)^©. FSAs^© are associated with a postal facility from which mail delivery originates.

Table 1.1 in the Introduction shows the number of postal codes^OM and forward sortation areas by province and territory. They are provided by Canada Post Corporation and are valid as of May 2021.

Postal codes^OM captured from census questionnaires

The postal code^OM is captured for all households from the address information provided by the respondent on the front page of the census questionnaire on May 11, 2021. The respondent's postal code^OM is accepted whether or not it is the same as the postal code^OM assigned by Canada Post Corporation to that address. The postal code^OM of a household is validated and processed using the following criteria:

• The respondent's postal code^OM is validated against a reference file at the census subdivision level. Priority is always given to accepting the postal code^OM that is most likely to have been active and in use on Census Day. However, postal codes^OM that may have been retired by Canada Post Corporation within the last six months but continue to be used may be accepted in some cases.
• In cases where a postal code^OM is not provided or is not valid, an imputation process assigns a valid postal code^OM.

The postal code^OM provided by respondents may not be the same as the postal code^OM of the dwelling in which they live. For example, they may denote the postal code^OM of their mailing address, such as a post office location (as in the case of general delivery) or a business location. Consequently, some respondents' postal codes^OM may fall outside the FSA^© in which their dwelling is located.

Users should proceed with caution if postal codes^OM are used as a proxy for standard geographic areas. Postal codes^OM do not necessarily respect the boundaries of standard geographic areas (e.g., the same postal code^OM can fall in two or more census subdivisions).

For more detailed information, refer to the Postal code^OM Conversion File, Reference Guide (Catalogue no. 92-154-G).

^OM: Postal code is an official mark of Canada Post Corporation.

Changes prior to the current census

Not applicable