Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Statistical Area Classification (SAC)

Definition

The Statistical Area Classification (SAC) groups census subdivisions (CSDs) according to whether they are a component of a census metropolitan area (CMA), a census agglomeration (CA), or census metropolitan influenced zone (MIZ). The MIZ categorizes all CSDs in provinces and territories that are outside CMAs and CAs. CSDs within provinces that are outside CMAs and CAs are assigned to one of four categories according to the degree of influence (strong, moderate, weak or no influence) that the CMAs or CAs have on them. CSDs within territories that are outside CAs are assigned to a separate category.

The SAC is a variant of the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC). CSDs form the lowest level of the classification variant. The next level consists of CMAs, CAs and MIZs, including the territories. The highest level consists of two categories that cover all of the land mass of Canada:

• inside CMAs and CAs
• outside CMAs and CAs.

The SAC provides unique numeric identification (codes) for these hierarchically related geographic areas. It was established for the purpose of reporting statistics.

Reported in

2021, 2016, 2011, 2006 and 2001

Remarks

In using the Statistical Area Classification (SAC) for census data tabulations, it is possible to sum census data automatically for census subdivisions (CSDs) as follows:

• all CSDs in census metropolitan areas (CMAs)
• all CSDs in census agglomerations (CAs) with census tracts (CTs)
• all CSDs in CAs with no census tracts (CTs)
• all CSDs in the provinces in the strong metropolitan influenced zone (MIZ) category
• all CSDs in the provinces in the moderate metropolitan influenced zone (MIZ) category
• all CSDs in the provinces in the weak metropolitan influenced zone (MIZ) category
• all CSDs in the provinces in the no metropolitan influenced zone (MIZ) category
• CSDs in the three territories (Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut), except those that are components of a census agglomeration (CA) (currently the CAs of Whitehorse and Yellowknife).

Care should be exercised when applying the MIZ concept in the three territories. As many CSDs in the territories are very large and sparsely populated, the commuting flow of the resident employed labour force is unstable. For this reason, the CSDs in the territories that are outside CAs are assigned to a territories category that is not based on their commuting flows.

Figure 1.3 shows the hierarchical structure of the SAC.

Table 1.2 Population distribution by the Statistical Area Classification (SAC), 2016 and 2021 censuses

Table 1.3 Number of census subdivisions by the Statistical Area Classification (SAC), 2021 Census

Refer to the related definitions of Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and Census Agglomeration (CA); Census Metropolitan Influenced Zone (MIZ); Census Subdivision (CSD); and Core, Fringe and Rural area.

Changes prior to the current census

Not applicable