Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
First official language spoken

Definition

First official language spoken refers to the first official language (English or French) spoken by the person.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• First Official Language Spoken

Reported in

2021, 2016 and 2011 (100% data); 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 and 1986 (20% sample).

Reported for

Total population

Question number(s)

Derived variable: Questions 8, 9b) and 10

Responses

The standard classification for first official language spoken is "English," "French," "English and French," and "Neither English nor French."

Remarks

First official language spoken is derived from the questions on knowledge of official languages (Question 8), language spoken most often at home (Question 9b)) and mother tongue (Question 10). Refer to Figure 1 Derivation of the First official language spoken for detailed information on the derivation method.

Since 1991, this variable has represented the method specified within the framework of the Official Languages Act for measuring the demand for official languages when providing public communications and services. In 2019, these regulations were amended and the measurement was modified.

The first official language spoken variable will continue to be derived the same as it was in 2016 and prior census years. For the 2021 Census onward, an additional variable, Potential demand for federal communications and services in the minority official language is derived based on the specification of the amended regulations.

For more information on language variables, including information on their classifications, the questions from which they are derived, data quality and their comparability with other sources of data, please refer to the Languages Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Related 2021 data products

• Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001)
• Census Program Data Viewer (CPDV) (98-507-X2021001)
• First official language spoken by income statistics, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0203-01)
• First official language spoken by knowledge of languages, place of birth (including provinces) and immigrant status and period of immigration: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0616-01)
• First official language spoken by labour force status, highest level of education and immigrant status and period of immigration: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0615-01)
• First official language spoken by language spoken most often at home, other language(s) spoken regularly at home, and knowledge of official languages: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0191-01)
• First official language spoken by language spoken most often at home: Canada and forward sortation areas © (98-10-0195-01)
• First official language spoken by language spoken most often at home: Canada, provinces and territories and economic regions (98-10-0196-01)
• First official language spoken by language spoken most often at home: Canada, provinces and territories and federal electoral districts (2013 Representation Order) (98-10-0197-01)
• First official language spoken by language spoken most often at home: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0193-01)
• First official language spoken by language spoken most often at home: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0192-01)
• First official language spoken by language spoken most often at home: Census metropolitan areas, tracted census agglomerations and census tracts (98-10-0194-01)
• First official language spoken by languages used at work, immigrant status and place of birth: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0521-01)
• First official language spoken by mobility status 1 year ago, place of residence 1 year ago and immigrant status and period of immigration: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0366-01)
• First official language spoken by mobility status 5 years ago, language used most often at work and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0367-01)
• First official language spoken by mobility status 5 years ago, place of residence 5 years ago, industry, highest level of education and employment income statistics: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0368-01)
• First official language spoken by mobility status 5 years ago, place of residence 5 years ago, occupation, highest level of education and employment income statistics: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0369-01)
• Immigrant status and period of immigration by first official language spoken, income, work activity during the reference year and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0312-01)
• Immigrant status and period of immigration by first official language spoken, labour force status and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0362-01)
• Languages spoken at home by mother tongue, immigrant status and period of immigration and first official language spoken: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0301-01)
• Languages used at work by mother tongue and knowledge of official languages: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0533-01)
• Mother tongue by first official language spoken and knowledge of official languages: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0170-01)
• Mother tongue by first official language spoken and knowledge of official languages: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0188-01)
• Mother tongue by first official language spoken, language spoken most often at home and other language(s) spoken regularly at home: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0169-01)
• Mother tongue by language spoken most often at home, other language(s) spoken regularly at home and first official language spoken: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0185-01)
• Mother tongue by language spoken most often at home, other language(s) spoken regularly at home, knowledge of official languages and first official language spoken: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0183-01)
• Period of immigration by first official language spoken, place of birth, admission category, and pre-admission experience: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0372-01)
• Province and territory components of migration 1 year ago by first official language spoken, age and gender: Canada (98-10-0370-01)
• Province and territory components of migration 5 years ago by first official language spoken, age and gender: Canada (98-10-0371-01)