Guide to the Census of Population, 2021
Appendix 1.6 – Percentage change for population and dwelling counts at various levels of geography
The percentage change for the population and dwelling counts is based on a 2016 count that may have been revised since the 2016 population and dwelling counts were published. If the 2016 count has been revised, an “r” will be indicated beside the count. The 2016 population and dwelling counts may be revised due to some of the reasons identified below.
(1) The boundary of the geographic area has changed since the 2016 Census
When the boundary of a geographic area changed, Statistics Canada identified the impact of the change on the population and dwellings enumerated during the 2016 Census, and adjusted these counts to reflect the 2021 boundaries of the geographic areas. Most of the revisions to 2016 population and dwelling counts result from this type of adjustment.
(2) A formal review of the 2016 population and dwelling counts identified an error
When Statistics Canada releases population and dwelling counts from the census, data users sometimes question the validity of the counts for a specific geographic area, such as a municipality (census subdivision) or submunicipal area (designated place). When requested by local authorities, Statistics Canada undertakes a formal review of the population and dwelling counts.
In 2016, 147 census subdivisions (CSDs) and 43 designated places (DPLs) underwent a formal population and dwelling count review and their counts were revised. For the 2021 Census population and dwelling count tables showing 2016 counts, these revised 2016 counts are presented in tables for CSDs and DPLs, and are used to calculate the percent change between 2016 and 2021 at that level of geography.
The revised counts are presented in tables only for CSDs and DPLs. The 2016 counts for other levels of geography (e.g., province, territory and census division) are not revised. As a result, aggregating 2016 CSD counts to higher-level geographic areas (e.g., census divisions, provinces, territories and Canada) may not sum to the counts presented on the higher-level geographic areas. Additionally, the percent change for all levels of geography, other than CSDs and DPLs, do not account for these revisions.
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