Data Services

There are four main series produced by the 1996 Census of Population: the Nation series; the Area Profiles series; the Basic Summary Tabulations; and the Dimension series. Statistics Canada also provides documentation, geographical files, and public use microdata files. Which series should you turn to first? It depends on what type of information you require.

Do you need a lot of detail on a particular topic or characteristic, such as family structure? The Nation series gives you broad geography (generally only Canada, provincial, and sometimes CMA level geographical breakdowns), but the tables provide a good nation- or province wide picture of a characteristic such as family.

Do you need statistics on a small geographic area, such as Plaster Rock? You may wish to look at the profile series or the basic summary tabulations, which provide maximum flexibility in using small area data. The profiles provide all the characteristics for a particular geographical area, down to the enumeration level; the basic summary tabulations provide two or more variables presented in a cross-tabulation, for small areas of geography.

What is available? The characteristics of the Canadian population collected by the Census are being released over a period of time from 1997 to 1999. The following files are currently available; more will be added as the files are released to the DLI program.

Basic Summary Tabulations (BSTs):

This series provides cross-tabulations of two or more variables at fine levels of geographic detail. See the list of BST tables available for the 1996 Census for further information

Nation Series:

The Nation series provides data on characteristics of the population and is usually the first series to release data on the population. In general, data are provided for Canada, provinces and territories; for some characteristics, data are available at the CMA level as well. For detailed levels of geography, see the Area Profile Series by theme, or select the Cumulative Area Profiles.

• Family File, Part 1:

  Age, Sex, Marital Status and Common-law Status, Families: Number, Type and Structure, Structural Type of Dwelling and Household Size

  This zipped file contains thirteen tables (labelled N01_1410 to N13_1410) relating to families and family structure, and includes both current data and some historical comparisons.

• Immigration and Citizenship:

  The 1996 Census data on immigration and citizenship describes Canada's immigrant population in terms of its size, geographic distribution and its origins.

  Immigration & Citizenship file contains ten tables (labelled N01_0411 to N09_0411) relating to Canada, the provinces, and for some tables, Census Metropolitan Areas

• Mother tongue, Home Language, and Knowledge of Languages

  The 1996 Census data on languages is available in a zipped file containing twelve (labelled N01_0212 to N12_0212) relating to Canada, the provinces, and for some tables, Census Metropolitan Areas

• Aboriginal

  The 1996 Census data on Aboriginal affiliation is available eight separate files relating to Canada, the provinces, and for some tables, Census Metropolitan Areas

  • Total population by Aboriginal Identity and Registered Indian Status for Canada, Provinces and CMAs.
    
  • Total population by Age Groups and sex showing Aboriginal Groups for Canada, Provinces and CMAs.
    
  • Aboriginal population by Private Households by Age Groups and sex showing Census Family Status for Canada, Provinces and CMAs.
    
  • Registered Indian Population by On/Off Reserve, Sex, showing age groups for Canada, Provinces and CMAs.
    
  • Aboriginal Population by Registered Indian Status and On/Off Reserve, showing Indiand Band/First Nation Membership for Canada, Provinces and CMAs.
    
  • Indian Band/First Nation Members by Indian Tribe/Nation, showing On/Off Reserve for Canada, Provinces and CMAs.
    
  • Aboriginal Population by Mother Tongue, showing knowledge of Aboriginal languages, for Canada, Provinces and CMAs.
    

• Ethnic Origin and Visible Minorities:

  The 1996 Census collected information on ethnic origin and visible minorities. The tables are available in the following files:

  • N01_0217, Ethnic origin and sex, Canada, the provinces, and Census Metropolitan Areas
  • N02_0217, Total population by ethnic categories and sex, Canada, the provinces, and Census Metropolitan Areas
  • N04_0217, Total population by visible minority population and sex, Canada, the provinces, and Census Metropolitan Areas
  • N05_0217, Total population by visible minority population and age groups, Canada, the provinces, and Census Metropolitan Areas
  • N06_0217, Total population by visible minority population and sex, showing immigrant status and period of immigration for Canada, the provinces, and territories
  • N07_0217, Total population by population groups and sex, Canada, the provinces, and Census Metropolitan Areas

• Labour, Industry, Household activities, Place of Work:

  The 1996 Census collected information on labour market activities, industry and occupation, household activities, place of work, and mode of transportation. The tables are available in the following files:

  • Labour Market Activities
  • Household Activities
  • Place of Work and Mode of Transportation

• Education, Mobility and Migration:

  The 1996 Census collected information on education, mobility and migration. The tables are available in the following files:

  • Education
  • Migration and Mobility
• Sources of Income:

  The 1996 Census collected information on sources of income:

  • Sources of Income: Nation tables

Area Profile Series:

The Area Profile series provides a statistical overview of geographic areas. Use either the thematic profiles listed below, or select the Cumulative Area Profiles which include all themes for a particular geography.

• Family File, Part 1:

  The 1996 Census data on the family is being released in two parts; the first part, dealing with the family type and structure, was released in October 1997, and the second part, dealing with socio-economic data, will be released in June 1998.

  • Families by CDs & CSDs: Profile of Census Divisions and Census SubDivisions, 1996 Census. [unzipped as "pr1_1401.ivt"]
    
  • Families by CMAs and CAs: Profile of Census Metropolitan Areas and Tracted Census Agglomerations. [unzipped as "cmapr1.ivt"; listed in the STC catalogue as 95F0179XDB1-
    
  • Families by CTs: Profile of Census Tracts. [unzipped as "ctpr1.ivt"; listed in the STC catalogue as 95F0183XDB1-
    
  • Families by FSAs: Profile of Forward Sortation Areas. [unzipped as "fsapr1.ivt"; listed in the STC catalogue as 95F0184XDB1-
    
  • Families by EAs in Eastern Canada: Profile of Enumeration Areas in Eastern Canada. [unzipped as "eastea1.ivt"; listed in the STC catalogue as 95F0185XDB1-

    [Other EA areas are available and will be listed shortly]

• Immigration and Citizenship:
  • Immigration by CDs & CSDs: Profile of Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1996 Census [unzipped as "pr2_0411.ivt"]
  • Immigration by CMAs: Profile of Census Metropolitan Areas, and Tracted Census Agglomerations, 1996 Census [unzipped as "pr2cma.ivt"]
  • Immigration by CTs: Profile of Census Tracts, 1996 Census [unzipped as "pr2ct.ivt"]
  • Immigration by FSAs: Profile of Forward Sortation Areas, 1996 Census [unzipped as "pr2fsa.ivt"]
  • Immigration by EAs in Eastern Canada: Profile of Enumeration Areas in Eastern Canada, 1996 Census [unzipped as "ea2east.ivt"]

• Mother Tongue, Home Language and Knowledge of Languages
  • Mother tongue/language characteristics by CDs and CSDs: Profile of Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions.
    
  • Mother tongue/language characteristics by CMAs and CAs: Profile of Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations.
    
  • Mother tongue/language characteristics by CTs: Profile of Census Tracts.
    
  • Mother tongue/language by FSAs: Profile of Forward Sortation Areas.
    
  • Mother tongue/language for FEDs and EAs, Eastern Canada: Profile of Federal Electoral Districts and Enumeration Areas, Eastern Canada

• Aboriginal:
  • Profile Components of Census Divisions and Subdivisions for Canada, Provinces and Territories.

• Ethnic Origin and Visible Minorities:
  • Ethnic Origin and Visible Minorities: Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions
• Labour Market Activities, Industry and Occupation, Household Activities, Place of Work, Mode of Transportation:
  • Labour Market Activities, Industry and Occupation, Household Activities, Place of Work, Mode of Transportation : Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions

• Education, Mobility and Migration:
  • Education, Mobility and Migration : Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions
• Sources of Income:
  • Sources of Income: Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions

STEPS TO OBTAIN DATA FILES:

Links to electronic versions of documentation and SPSS or SAS command files are provided where they exist.

1. Click on the file you require to download the datafile to your hard drive. This will take you to the Statistics Canada DLI license under which the files are provided to UNB Libraries. After entering your email account, an authorization screen will appear.

2. You must enter your PIN number and your email address to obtain the file. Only authorized users may download files from this site.