What definitions are included on this page?

The Census tables in the Catalogue have particular naming conventions.  This page describes the some of the common terminlology that you will encounter when searching for Census data.

Catalogue Number

Statistics Canada uses a ten digit numbering system to catalogue all reports, surveys, and guides published within their organization.

Community Profile

Community profiles are standard Census tables at standard Census geographies.  For example, the table titled,

94-581-XCB2006005 Community Profiles for Census Metropolitan Areas, Tracted Census Agglomerations and Census Tracts, 2006 Census

is a Community Profile for all of the Census Tracts in Canada. 

Community Profiles include every standard Census variable, but none are crosstabulated.  The Catalogue contains 11 Community Profiles ranging from Dissemination Areas to Provinces.

Topic Based Tabulation

Topic Based Tabulations are crosstabulations based on Census topics.  For example, the table titled,

97-554-XCB2006051 Gross Rent as a Percentage of 2005 Household Income (10), Household Type (11) and Age Groups of Primary Household Maintainer (8) for the Private Households with Household Income Greater than Zero, in Tenant-occupied Private Non-farm, Non-reserve Dwellings of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

is a Topic Based Tabulation where the following variables are crosstabulated:

For this dataset (97-554-XCB2006051), it would be possible to uncover the number of households in 2006 that were simultaneously living in single family houses, paying more than 30 percent of their income on rent, and headed by those aged 45 to 64.

Target Group Profiles

Target Group Profiles replicate Community Profiles for a custom target group, e.g. a specific ethnic or linguistic group.  These always have the letters TGP in the title.  For example, the table titled,

EO1213_2006_TGP_7A_CMA_CT Target Group Profile of the Population 65 Years and Over of Selected Census Metropolitan Areas, Census Agglomerations and Census Tracts, 2006 Census

is a Target Group Profile of seniors (aged 65 and over) for every Census Tract in Canada.  That is to say, it includes all of the same variables as 94-581-XCB2006005, except the responses are exclusive to those aged 65 and over.

The Catalogue contains seven Target Group Profiles (population with disabilities, visible minorities, aboriginal identiy, recent immigrants, female lone parents, seniors 65 years and over, and Francophones) at various geographic levels.

Urban Poverty Project

Urban Poverty Project tables are custom-ordered crosstabulations designed to analyse the characteristics of low-income individuals and households.  They always have the letters UPP in their title.  For example, the table titled,

UPP06_Table-02C_CT Ethnic Origin (52), Age Groups (9), Sex (3), Income Status Before Tax (3) and Knowledge of Official Languages (5) for the Population of Census Metropolitan Areas, Tracted Census Agglomerations and Census Tracts, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data UPP - Urban Poverty Project custom order

includes crosstabulations by ethnic origin, age group, sex, before-tax income status, and knowledge of official languages for all Census Tracts in Canada.

For this dataset (UPP06_Table-02C_CT), it would be possible to uncover the number of individuals in a given Census Tract that were simultaneously of European descent, aged 65 and over, male, in the low-income category, and unable to speak English.