2016 Census geographies Web Data Service (WDS) – User Guide

Release date: September 13, 2018Updated on: November 13, 2019

Returns a list of 2016 Census geographies and geographic attributes for a geographic level.

Resource URL

https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/rest/census-recensement/CR2016Geo{.type}?lang={lang}&geos={geos}&cpt={cpt}

Resource information

Response formats
JSON, XML
Requires authentication
No
GET
Yes
POST
No

Parameters

Four parameters can be added to the main URL. These parameters are for format type, language, geographic level and province or territory.

Name Required Value and notes
type Yes

json|xml

where:

  • json = json response format
  • xml = xml response format
lang No

E|F (default = E)

where:

  • E = English
  • F = French
geos No

one geographic level code (default = PR)

where:

  • CD = Census divisions
  • CMACA = Census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations
  • CSD = Census subdivisions (municipalities)
  • CT = Census tracts
  • DA = Dissemination areas
  • DPL = Designated places
  • ER = Economic regions
  • FED = Federal electoral districts (2013 Representation Order)
  • FSA = Forward sortation areas
  • HR = Health regions, including LHINs and PHUs (December 2017)
  • POPCNTR = Population centres
  • PR = Canada, provinces and territories
cpt No

one province or territory code (default = 00)

where:

  • 00 = All provinces and territories
  • 10 = Newfoundland and Labrador
  • 11 = Prince Edward Island
  • 12 = Nova Scotia
  • 13 = New Brunswick
  • 24 = Quebec
  • 35 = Ontario
  • 46 = Manitoba
  • 47 = Saskatchewan
  • 48 = Alberta
  • 59 = British Columbia
  • 60 = Yukon
  • 61 = Northwest Territories
  • 62 = Nunavut

Resource parameters

GEO_UID
The geographic identifier (i.e., DGUID) which include geography boundary vintage, level and code. For more information, please refer to Dissemination Geography Unique Identifier: Definition and Structure.
PROV_TERR_ID_CODE
The province or territory geocode (e.g., 35 = Ontario).
PROV_TERR_NAME_NOM
Name of the province or territory.
GEO_ID_CODE
The geographic code for the geography.
GEO_NAME_NOM
Geographic name.
GEO_TYPE
The geographic area type, if applicable (e.g., C = City). Otherwise, null.
GEO_GNR_SF
Global non-response rate (GNR), short-form census questionnaire.
GEO_GNR_LF
Global non-response rate (GNR), long-form census questionnaire.
GEO_DQ
Data quality flag. See Data quality flags and descriptions.

Global non-response rate

The global non-response rate (GNR) is an important measure of census data quality. It combines total nonresponse (households) and partial non-response (questions). This measure is used for the 2016 Census, as it was for the 2011 and 2006 censuses. The GNR is calculated for dissemination of the short-form questionnaire counts and long-form questionnaire estimates. For the long-form census questionnaire, the GNR is weighted to take sampling into account. A lower GNR indicates a lower risk of non-response bias and, as a result, a lower risk of inaccuracy.

The GNR is the main dissemination criterion associated with the quality of the 2016 Census short-form questionnaire counts and long-form questionnaire estimates. The counts and estimates for geographic areas with a GNR equal to or greater than 50% are not published in the standard products. The counts and estimates for these areas have a high risk of non-response bias, and in most cases, should not be released. The 50% threshold was set based on analyses produced following the 2011 Census and National Household Survey of the GNR in relation to non-response bias indicators. Those analyses showed that with a GNR of 50% or higher, the level of bias was sufficiently high to make the estimates below an acceptable quality.

Data quality flags and descriptions

Digit description

Flag description

Incomplete enumeration flag

Short-form data quality flag

Short-form income data quality flag

Long-form data quality flag

Long-form income data quality flag

Sourcing / Citation

Source: Statistics Canada, 2016 Census of Population.

How to cite: Statistics Canada. 2017. Census Profile. 2016 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2016001. Ottawa. Released November 29, 2017.
https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E

Example request

GET

https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/rest/census-recensement/CR2016Geo.json?lang=E&geos=CD&cpt=62

Note: The returning result is proceeded with two forward slashes (i.e., //) which should be bypassed when using the results.

Example result

//{
  "COLUMNS": [
    "GEO_UID",
    "PROV_TERR_ID_CODE",
    "PROV_TERR_NAME_NOM",
    "GEO_ID_CODE",
    "GEO_NAME_NOM",
    "GEO_TYPE",
    "GEO_GNR_SF",
    "GEO_GNR_LF",
    "GEO_DQ"
  ],
  "DATA": [
    [
      "2016A00036204",
      "62",
      "Nunavut",
      "6204",
      "Baffin",
      "Region",
      8.8,
      9.3,
      "00101"
    ],
    [
      "2016A00036205",
      "62",
      "Nunavut",
      "6205",
      "Keewatin",
      "Region",
      6.9,
      8,
      "00101"
    ],
    [
      "2016A00036208",
      "62",
      "Nunavut",
      "6208",
      "Kitikmeot",
      "Region",
      6.9,
      7.9,
      "00101"
    ]
  ]
}
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