1971 Canadian census

The 1971 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was June 1, 1971.

On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count was 21,568,311. This was a 7.8% increase over the 1966 Census of 20,014,880.

Canada by the numbers A summary of information about Canada. Total population 21,568,311 Dwellings 6,034,508 Men 10,795,369 Women 10,772,942

Census summary

This census was the first time Statistics Canada organized the event as the Dominion Bureau of Statistics changed its name on August 3, 1971, due to the Statistics Act on May 1, 1970. One of the reasons it did this is because the word Dominion cannot be well translated into French.

Canada experienced one of its biggest census growths with the population increasing by 7.8% from 20,014,880 in 1966 to 21,568,311.

The Northwest Territories and Yukon's populations soared rising above the national average with the Northwest Territories 17.4% and Yukon 21.7%. British Columbia and Alberta's populations also saw substantial growth, both going over the national average for British Columbia to grow 14.2% and Alberta 10.1%.

The census also revealed a rise in the number of immigrants living in the country. 1,347,155 or 6.2% of the population compared to 1,055,818 or 5.2% in 1966. Ontario was the most diverse province with 9.9% of inhabitants reporting citizenship other than Canadian. Newfoundland, as it was called before 2001, was the least diverse province with 99.1% of the population having Canadian citizenship. 60.1% of people claimed English as their mother tongue compared to 58.4% a decade earlier. Canadians who claimed French as their mother tongue, however, shrunk from 28% to 26.8%.

Population by province The population of each province in Canada:Population electoral districts Statistics Canada. 1971. Retrieved August 26, 2024. Rank Province or territory Population as of1971 census Population as of1966 census Change Percentchange 1Ontario 7,703,106 6,960,870 742,236 9.6 2Quebec 6,027,764 5,780,845 246,919 4.0 3British Columbia 2,184,621 1,873,674 310,947 14.2 4Alberta 1,627,874 1,463,203 164,671 10.1 5Manitoba 988,247 963,066 25,181 2.5 6Saskatchewan 926,242 955,344 -29,102 -3.0 7Nova Scotia 788,960 756,039 32,921 4.2 8 New Brunswick 634,557 616,788 17,769 2.8 9Newfoundland 522,104 493,396 28,708 5.5 10Prince Edward Island 111,641 108,535 3,106 2.8 11Northwest Territories 34,807 28,738 6,069 17.4 12Yukon 18,388 14,382 4,006 21.7 Canada 21,568,311 20,014,880 1,553,431 7.2

Mother tongue Population by mother tongue:

Mother tongue Population as of 1971 census Population as of 1966 census Change Percent change English 12,973,810 10,660,534 2,313,276 21,71 French 5,793,650 5,123,151 670,499 26,9 German 561,085 563,713 2,628 -0,47 Italian 538,360 339,626 198,73458.52 Ukrainian 309,855 361,496 51,641 -14,29 Other 1,391,551 1,645,932 254,381 18.29

Ethnic group Major ethnic groups in Canada by province/territory (1971 census)Ethnic groupCanada English 6,245,970 2,999,375 389,790 806,935 457,235 241,810 235,315 393,435 240,765 418,775 52,390 5,155 4,995 French 6,180,120 737,360 4,759,360 96,550 94,665 86,510 56,200 80,215 235,025 15,410 15,325 2,275 1,230 Scottish 1,720,390 774,080 108,085 263,910 160,565 97,980 79,940 139,740 58,395 9,590 24,105 1,985 2,010 Irish 1,581,730 772,875 139,100 176,980 133,045 69,550 70,730 75,265 64,865 60,490 15,535 1,500 1,795 German–Austrian 1,359,320 491,085 56,370 208,160 237,315 126,265 183,940 41,160 8,560 2,455 960 1,390 1,665 Italian 730,820 463,095 169,655 53,795 24,805 10,445 2,865 3,770 1,380 495 105 250 160 Ukrainian 580,660 159,880 20,325 60,145 135,510 114,410 85,920 2,315 600 175 125 635 610 Scandinavian–Nordic 443,990 98,740 10,685 123,635 102,015 36,555 60,835 4,265 3,750 1,225 270 935 1,085 Dutch 425,945 206,940 12,590 70,535 58,565 35,300 19,040 14,845 5,365 665 1,245 340 515 Polish 316,425 144,115 23,970 29,545 44,325 42,700 26,910 3,260 690 285 110 270 245 Indigenous 312,765 63,175 36,590 52,430 44,680 43,165 40,550 4,495 3,920 2,280 315 18,580 2,590 Jewish 296,945 135,195 115,990 12,175 7,320 20,010 2,195 2,535 1,030 360 60 30 35 Hungarian 131,890 65,695 12,570 16,600 16,240 5,405 13,825 755 365 105 20 115 195 Greek 124,475 67,025 42,870 6,615 3,250 2,095 900 1,220 335 100 0 35 25 Chinese 118,815 39,325 11,905 44,315 12,905 3,430 4,605 935 575 610 25 115 85 Yugoslav 104,950 70,060 6,810 14,730 7,410 3,110 2,090 355 95 10 30 100 150 Portuguese 96,875 63,145 16,555 9,635 2,385 3,815 275 475 195 340 15 20 25 Czechoslovak 81,870 40,770 6,725 10,630 12,970 4,760 4,940 670 165 50 25 105 75 Welsh 74,415 29,070 2,820 17,300 10,625 4,680 4,130 2,855 1,700 700 255 145 140 Indian (South Asian) 67,925 30,920 6,510 18,795 4,400 3,205 1,625 1,345 465 460 135 55 15 Russian–Belarusian 66,755 13,715 4,255 23,395 10,490 4,225 10,080 265 150 45 10 70 70 African/Black/West Indian 62,470 37,760 10,275 2,435 2,255 2,125 540 6,250 620 130 0 35 40 Baltic 61,515 42,140 6,845 5,240 3,700 1,845 810 535 210 100 30 40 50 Belgian 51,135 19,955 8,220 4,840 4,265 9,055 3,555 665 335 50 75 70 50 Japanese 37,260 15,600 1,745 13,585 4,460 1,335 315 85 40 20 15 15 40 Spanish 27,515 10,330 10,825 3,070 1,305 640 210 640 310 110 25 30 20 Romanian 27,375 9,255 2,320 3,765 4,670 1,375 5,550 240 90 10 5 25 70 Syrian–Lebanese 26,665 10,540 8,235 785 1,805 945 595 2,005 1,135 405 205 5 5 British Isles, 1,615 615 245 335 190 105 75 20 10 5 0 0 5 Other & Unknown 209,690 91,285 25,510 33,745 24,495 11,395 7,695 4,345 3,430 6,655 245 495 400 Total responses 21,568,290 7,703,120 6,027,750 2,184,610 1,627,865 988,245 926,255 788,960 634,570 522,110 111,660 34,820 18,395 Total population 21,568,311 7,703,106 6,027,764 2,184,621 1,627,874 988,247 926,242 788,960 634,557 522,104 111,641 34,807 18,388

See also Population and housing censuses by country

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