Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Population group

Definition

Population group refers to whether the person reports being White, South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean, Japanese and/or another population group. These specific groups are the mark‑in categories used in a question which collects data on the visible minority population for employment equity purposes.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• Population group

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (25% sample); 2011^{Footnote 1} (30% sample); 2006, 2001 and 1996 (20% sample).

Reported for

Population in private households

Question number(s)

Derived variable: Questions 24 and 25

Responses

The population group variable is derived from information collected in Question 24, on the Indigenous group, and Question 25, on the population group. Persons who reported "Yes, First Nations (North American Indian)," "Yes, Métis" or "Yes, Inuk (Inuit)" in Question 24 were not asked the population group question but are included in the "Indigenous peoples" category. All other persons are classified according to their population group as reported in Question 25.

Question 25, on population group, asked respondents to use one or more of the mark‑in circles provided to indicate their population groups. Mark‑in circles for the following population groups were provided on the questionnaire: White, South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese. A write‑in space was also provided for respondents who wanted to specify a population group not included in this list.

For more information on the population group variable, including information on its classification, the questions from which it is derived, data quality and its comparability with other sources of data, refer to the Visible Minority and Population Group Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Remarks

The population group question is also used to derive the visible minority variable. For information on the visible minority variable, refer to the "visible minority" definition.

For more information on the visible minority variable, including information on its classification, the questions from which it is derived, data quality and its comparability with other sources of data, refer to the Visible Minority and Population Group Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Note(s)

Related 2021 data products

• Visible minority and population group by generation status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0324-01)