Guide on Ethnic, Racial, and Indigenous variables in the Census of Canada: 1870 to 2021

Initially run every ten years, the quinquennial Census was introduced in 1956. Throughout its history, the Census has continued to evolve and change reflecting Canada’s political and social transformations.

In this guide, variables related to finding ethnic origins, race, culture, or where a respondent is born, are listed. Also included are links to variable column definitions, individual census records (for historical censuses), publications with tables, and data files. Additional censuses include the 1870 Census of Manitoba, 1906 Census of the Northwest Provinces, and the Census of the Prairie Provinces for 1916, 1926, 1936, and 1946.