2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

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Topic-based tabulation: Detailed Mother Tongue (186), Knowledge of Official Languages (5), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 and 2006 Censuses - 20% Sample Data

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General information

Catalogue number :97-555-XCB2006015
Release date :December 4, 2007
Topic :Language
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: Historical comparison of census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, 2001 and 2006

A few census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs) have different geographical boundaries in 2006 as compared to 2001. In order to facilitate data comparisons, the 2001 CMA and CA data have been adjusted to reflect as closely as possible the 2006 CMA and CA boundaries. Care should then be taken when looking at the 2001 Census data. For additional information, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, catalogue number 92-566-XWE or 92-566-XPE.

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

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This table details detailed mother tongue , knowledge of official languages , age groups and sex for the population in CanadaFootnote 1
Detailed mother tongue (186) Knowledge of official languages (5)
Total - Knowledge of official languages English only French only English and French Neither English nor French
Total - Detailed mother tongue 31,241,030 21,129,945 4,141,850 5,448,850 520,380
Single responses 30,848,270 20,900,700 4,123,710 5,306,190 517,670
English 17,882,775 16,199,625 3,205 1,673,865 6,080
French 6,817,655 32,705 3,893,010 2,890,835 1,105
Non-official languages 6,147,840 4,668,370 227,490 741,485 510,485
Aboriginal languages 210,075 175,640 13,635 8,175 12,620
Algonquian languages 144,655 118,830 12,700 6,060 7,075
Algonquin 1,920 240 1,010 615 60
Atikamekw 5,250 20 4,220 145 860
Blackfoot 3,085 3,045 10 20 20
Cree 78,855 71,440 290 3,700 3,420
Malecite 535 505 0 25 10
Mi'kmaq 7,365 6,980 25 275 80
Montagnais-Naskapi 10,970 1,855 7,125 930 1,060
Ojibway 24,190 23,325 15 160 685
Oji-Cree 11,690 10,755 0 55 875
Algonquian languages, n.i.e. 795 655 0 135 0
Athapaskan languages 19,015 18,060 30 185 745
Carrier 1,560 1,540 0 15 10
Chilcotin 1,070 995 20 30 25
Chipewyan 525 495 0 15 10
Dene 9,745 9,245 10 40 455
Dogrib 2,020 1,900 0 10 105
Kutchin-Gwich'in (Loucheux) 355 355 0 0 0
North Slave (Hare) 1,065 1,010 0 0 50
South Slave 1,605 1,495 0 35 75
Athapaskan languages, n.i.e. 1,065 1,020 0 25 15
Haida 115 110 0 0 0
Iroquoian languages 410 320 0 85 0
Mohawk 295 205 0 85 0
Iroquoian languages, n.i.e. 120 115 0 10 0
Kutenai 155 150 0 0 0
Salish languages 3,250 3,175 30 35 0
Shuswap 935 905 20 10 0
Thompson (Ntlakapamux) 500 490 10 10 10
Salish languages, n.i.e. 1,810 1,775 10 20 0
Siouan languages (Dakota/Sioux) 5,590 5,460 10 45 70
Tlingit 80 80 0 10 0
Tsimshian languages 2,170 2,155 0 10 10
Gitksan 1,175 1,170 0 10 10
Nisga'a 680 670 0 0 10
Tsimshian 315 310 0 10 0
Wakashan languages 1,090 1,075 10 10 0
Nootka 375 360 10 10 0
Wakashan languages, n.i.e. 715 710 0 0 0
Inuktitut 32,380 25,215 815 1,635 4,710
Inuinnaqtun 365 350 0 0 15
Inuktitut, n.i.e. 32,015 24,860 815 1,635 4,695
Aboriginal languages, n.i.e. 1,165 1,000 50 105 10
Romance languages 1,098,930 674,415 87,655 251,730 85,130
Italian 455,040 283,625 22,445 116,995 31,980
Portuguese 219,275 152,415 11,755 31,965 23,140
Romanian 78,500 36,860 6,995 30,830 3,810
Spanish 345,345 201,205 46,380 71,575 26,185
Romance languages, n.i.e. 775 310 75 370 15
Germanic languages 648,220 574,425 3,080 56,700 14,015
Dutch 128,900 115,525 410 12,200 765
Flemish 5,660 3,735 210 1,700 10
Frisian 2,890 2,720 0 140 25
German 450,570 401,955 2,140 34,855 11,620
Yiddish 16,295 10,765 75 4,085 1,365
Scandinavian languages 36,265 32,970 80 3,130 85
Danish 18,735 17,405 0 1,285 40
Icelandic 2,090 1,960 10 110 10
Norwegian 7,225 6,655 10 565 0
Swedish 8,220 6,960 60 1,165 35
Germanic languages, n.i.e. 7,630 6,750 155 590 140
Celtic languages 3,330 2,715 55 540 20
Gaelic languages 1,815 1,455 0 340 20
Welsh 1,405 1,260 0 145 0
Celtic languages, n.i.e. 110 0 50 55 0
Slavic languages 711,055 593,415 11,245 78,590 27,805
Belarusian (Byelorussian) 645 425 35 150 30
Bosnian 12,790 9,545 1,035 1,350 850
Bulgarian 16,790 10,165 1,285 4,585 750
Croatian 55,330 49,015 355 4,475 1,485
Czech 24,450 20,845 160 3,250 195
Macedonian 18,440 16,555 50 850 985
Polish 211,175 176,170 2,130 24,995 7,880
Russian 133,575 102,955 3,680 18,100 8,840
Serbian 51,670 42,820 665 5,160 3,025
Serbo-Croatian 12,505 8,485 1,075 2,295 650
Slovak 18,820 16,340 75 2,035 375
Slovenian 13,135 11,505 75 1,400 150
Ukrainian 134,500 122,345 480 9,235 2,435
Slavic languages, n.i.e. 7,225 6,235 135 710 140
Baltic languages 15,330 12,860 55 2,250 160
Latvian 7,000 6,005 0 945 45
Lithuanian 8,335 6,855 50 1,305 120
Finno-Ugric languages 102,610 88,350 670 11,615 1,970
Estonian 8,245 7,000 35 1,150 60
Finnish 21,030 19,410 45 1,290 275
Hungarian 73,335 61,940 590 9,170 1,635
Greek 117,285 79,495 1,215 28,810 7,765
Armenian 30,130 11,515 1,470 15,280 1,860
Turkic languages 28,535 19,990 2,180 3,810 2,550
Azerbaijani 1,800 1,460 10 185 145
Turkish 24,745 17,160 2,055 3,380 2,145
Turkic languages, n.i.e. 1,990 1,370 110 245 255
Afro-Asiatic languages 351,485 196,915 41,410 95,110 18,050
Berber languages (Kabyle) 1,995 20 1,185 730 65
Cushitic languages 29,715 24,320 475 3,050 1,865
Oromo 2,395 2,165 0 140 90
Somali 27,325 22,160 475 2,910 1,780
Semitic languages 312,795 172,230 36,640 88,105 15,815
Amharic 14,555 13,085 65 905 490
Arabic 261,640 128,845 36,195 82,380 14,215
Hebrew 17,635 13,100 210 3,970 350
Maltese 6,405 6,150 15 215 20
Tigrigna 7,110 6,280 70 380 370
Semitic languages, n.i.e. 5,460 4,760 75 255 360
Afro-Asiatic languages, n.i.e. 6,985 345 3,110 3,220 300
Indo-Iranian languages 906,675 752,110 5,400 53,380 95,785
Indo-Aryan languages 746,870 626,215 1,885 36,500 82,270
Bengali 45,685 37,565 545 5,010 2,565
Gujarati 81,465 69,120 245 4,950 7,145
Hindi 78,235 71,065 65 3,775 3,330
Konkani 2,830 2,615 0 150 65
Marathi 4,805 4,390 0 315 95
Panjabi (Punjabi) 367,505 295,165 465 13,355 58,530
Sindhi 10,355 9,080 0 865 410
Sinhala (Sinhalese) 10,185 9,480 10 455 235
Urdu 145,805 127,730 555 7,630 9,890
Iranian languages 150,765 118,250 3,450 16,115 12,955
Kurdish 7,660 5,740 515 575 825
Pashto 9,025 7,310 70 520 1,130
Persian (Farsi) 134,080 105,200 2,860 15,020 11,000
Indo-Iranian languages, n.i.e. 9,035 7,640 70 765 560
Dravidian languages 137,275 118,390 505 7,750 10,625
Kannada 2,585 2,410 0 140 30
Malayalam 11,925 11,170 10 425 325
Tamil 115,880 98,430 500 6,910 10,045
Telugu 6,630 6,135 0 275 220
Dravidian languages, n.i.e. 255 250 0 0 10
Japanese 40,200 35,700 205 1,870 2,425
Korean 125,570 106,265 315 5,390 13,605
Sino-Tibetan languages 1,018,500 777,580 8,620 49,510 182,795
Chinese languages 1,012,065 771,785 8,590 49,285 182,405
Cantonese 361,450 274,340 950 14,735 71,430
Chaochow (Teochow) 2,005 1,270 0 170 570
Fukien 4,515 3,490 10 115 910
Hakka 4,415 3,480 30 245 655
Mandarin 170,950 136,695 985 7,070 26,205
Shanghainese 2,400 1,655 0 75 670
Taiwanese 9,620 7,530 0 560 1,520
Chinese, n.o.s.Footnote 2 456,705 343,325 6,615 26,320 80,450
Tibetan languages 3,605 3,195 20 180 210
Sino-Tibetan languages, n.i.e. 2,830 2,605 0 45 175
Tai languages 19,525 12,575 2,355 3,255 1,345
Lao 13,940 8,060 2,040 2,740 1,095
Thai 5,585 4,510 310 515 250
Austro-Asiatic languages 160,725 106,965 9,875 22,765 21,125
Khmer (Cambodian) 19,100 9,655 2,520 4,500 2,425
Vietnamese 141,630 97,310 7,355 18,260 18,700
Malayo-Polynesian languages 276,945 264,570 315 8,280 3,775
Bisayan languages 11,245 10,850 20 230 145
Ilocano 13,450 12,680 0 450 320
Malay 9,495 8,870 15 370 230
Pampango 2,050 1,955 0 65 35
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 235,615 225,885 100 6,650 2,980
Malayo-Polynesian languages, n.i.e. 5,095 4,340 180 515 60
Niger-Congo languages 55,705 33,210 8,340 13,025 1,125
Akan (Twi) 12,780 11,515 10 1,025 235
Bantu languages 26,270 11,435 6,030 8,130 670
Lingala 3,060 90 1,680 1,265 20
Rundi (Kirundi) 3,235 225 1,280 1,575 150
Rwanda (Kinyarwanda) 3,090 535 685 1,755 115
Shona 1,875 1,755 0 105 0
Swahili 7,935 4,600 1,320 1,750 260
Bantu languages, n.i.e. 7,075 4,220 1,060 1,675 120
Edo 1,120 1,070 0 50 0
Igbo 2,065 1,845 0 165 50
Wolof 1,080 25 300 760 0
Niger-Congo languages, n.i.e. 12,380 7,320 2,000 2,895 170
African languages, n.i.e. 7,860 6,335 310 800 415
Creoles 53,515 4,045 27,325 20,375 1,765
Non-verbal languages 5,900 3,070 415 290 2,125
American Sign Language 1,555 1,130 0 80 350
Quebec Sign Language 480 0 275 115 90
Sign languages, n.i.e. 3,855 1,945 140 90 1,685
Other languages 22,440 17,805 830 2,180 1,620
Multiple responses 392,760 229,245 18,140 142,660 2,715
English and French 98,625 10,460 2,050 86,060 55
English and non-official language 240,005 213,180 380 24,330 2,110
French and non-official language 43,335 4,325 15,420 23,125 465
English, French and non-official language 10,790 1,275 290 9,140 85

Footnotes

Footnote 1

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

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Footnote 2

The 2006 category 'Chinese, n.o.s.' includes responses of 'Chinese' as well as all Chinese languages other than Cantonese, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Chaochow (Teochow), Fukien, Hakka and Shanghainese. Data for the 'Chinese, n.o.s.' category in 2001 and 2006 are not directly comparable. The 2001 category 'Chinese, n.o.s.' is equivalent to the sum of the 2006 categories 'Chinese, n.o.s.' and 'Chaochow (Teochow),' 'Fukien,' 'Shanghainese' and Taiwanese.'

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-555-XCB2006015.

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