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1971 Canadian census

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1971 Canadian census
← 1966
June 1, 1971
1976 →
General information
CountryCanada
Results
Total population21,568,311 (7.8 Increase)
Most populous province/territoryOntario (7,703,106)
Least populous province/territoryYukon (18,388)

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

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.[2]

Canada by the numbers

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A summary of information about Canada.[3][4]

Total population21,568,311
Dwellings6,034,508
Men10,795,369
Women10,772,942

Census summary

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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. [5]

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. [6] 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.[7][8] 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%.[9][10]

Population by province

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The population of each province in Canada:[11]

Rank Province or territory Population as of
1971 census		 Population as of
1966 census		 Change Percent
change
1 Ontario 7,703,106 6,960,870 742,236 Increase 9.6 Increase
2 Quebec 6,027,764 5,780,845 246,919 Increase 4.0 Increase
3 British Columbia 2,184,621 1,873,674 310,947 Increase 14.2 Increase
4 Alberta 1,627,874 1,463,203 164,671 Increase 10.1 Increase
5 Manitoba 988,247 963,066 25,181 Increase 2.5 Increase
6 Saskatchewan 926,242 955,344 -29,102 Decrease -3.0 Decrease
7 Nova Scotia 788,960 756,039 32,921 Increase 4.2 Increase
8 New Brunswick 634,557 616,788 17,769 Increase 2.8 Increase
9 Newfoundland 522,104 493,396 28,708 Increase 5.5 Increase
10 Prince Edward Island 111,641 108,535 3,106 Increase 2.8 Increase
11 Northwest Territories 34,807 28,738 6,069 Increase 17.4 Increase
12 Yukon 18,388 14,382 4,006 Increase 21.7 Increase
Canada 21,568,311 20,014,880 1,553,431 Increase 7.2 Increase

Mother tongue

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Population by mother tongue: [12][13]

Mother tonguePopulation as of 1971 censusPopulation as of 1966 censusChangePercent change
English12,973,81010,660,5342,313,27621,71 Increase
French5,793,6505,123,151670,49926,9 Increase
German561,085563,7132,628-0,47 Decrease
Italian538,360339,626198,73458.52 Increase
Ukrainian309,855361,49651,641-14,29 Decrease
Other1,391,5511,645,932254,38118.29 Decrease

Ethnic group

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Major ethnic groups in Canada by province/territory (1971 census)[14]: 20 [15]: 5–7 
Ethnic group Canada ON QC BC AB MB SK NS NB NL PE NT YT
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
English[a] 6,245,970 28.96% 2,999,375 38.94% 389,790 6.47% 806,935 36.94% 457,235 28.09% 241,810 24.47% 235,315 25.4% 393,435 49.87% 240,765 37.94% 418,775 80.21% 52,390 46.92% 5,155 14.8% 4,995 27.15%
French 6,180,120 28.65% 737,360 9.57% 4,759,360 78.96% 96,550 4.42% 94,665 5.82% 86,510 8.75% 56,200 6.07% 80,215 10.17% 235,025 37.04% 15,410 2.95% 15,325 13.72% 2,275 6.53% 1,230 6.69%
Scottish[a] 1,720,390 7.98% 774,080 10.05% 108,085 1.79% 263,910 12.08% 160,565 9.86% 97,980 9.91% 79,940 8.63% 139,740 17.71% 58,395 9.2% 9,590 1.84% 24,105 21.59% 1,985 5.7% 2,010 10.93%
Irish[a] 1,581,730 7.33% 772,875 10.03% 139,100 2.31% 176,980 8.1% 133,045 8.17% 69,550 7.04% 70,730 7.64% 75,265 9.54% 64,865 10.22% 60,490 11.59% 15,535 13.91% 1,500 4.31% 1,795 9.76%
German–Austrian 1,359,320 6.3% 491,085 6.38% 56,370 0.94% 208,160 9.53% 237,315 14.58% 126,265 12.78% 183,940 19.86% 41,160 5.22% 8,560 1.35% 2,455 0.47% 960 0.86% 1,390 3.99% 1,665 9.05%
Italian 730,820 3.39% 463,095 6.01% 169,655 2.81% 53,795 2.46% 24,805 1.52% 10,445 1.06% 2,865 0.31% 3,770 0.48% 1,380 0.22% 495 0.09% 105 0.09% 250 0.72% 160 0.87%
Ukrainian 580,660 2.69% 159,880 2.08% 20,325 0.34% 60,145 2.75% 135,510 8.32% 114,410 11.58% 85,920 9.28% 2,315 0.29% 600 0.09% 175 0.03% 125 0.11% 635 1.82% 610 3.32%
Scandinavian–Nordic 443,990 2.06% 98,740 1.28% 10,685 0.18% 123,635 5.66% 102,015 6.27% 36,555 3.7% 60,835 6.57% 4,265 0.54% 3,750 0.59% 1,225 0.23% 270 0.24% 935 2.69% 1,085 5.9%
Dutch 425,945 1.97% 206,940 2.69% 12,590 0.21% 70,535 3.23% 58,565 3.6% 35,300 3.57% 19,040 2.06% 14,845 1.88% 5,365 0.85% 665 0.13% 1,245 1.11% 340 0.98% 515 2.8%
Polish 316,425 1.47% 144,115 1.87% 23,970 0.4% 29,545 1.35% 44,325 2.72% 42,700 4.32% 26,910 2.91% 3,260 0.41% 690 0.11% 285 0.05% 110 0.1% 270 0.78% 245 1.33%
Indigenous 312,765 1.45% 63,175 0.82% 36,590 0.61% 52,430 2.4% 44,680 2.74% 43,165 4.37% 40,550 4.38% 4,495 0.57% 3,920 0.62% 2,280 0.44% 315 0.28% 18,580 53.36% 2,590 14.08%
Jewish 296,945 1.38% 135,195 1.76% 115,990 1.92% 12,175 0.56% 7,320 0.45% 20,010 2.02% 2,195 0.24% 2,535 0.32% 1,030 0.16% 360 0.07% 60 0.05% 30 0.09% 35 0.19%
Hungarian 131,890 0.61% 65,695 0.85% 12,570 0.21% 16,600 0.76% 16,240 1% 5,405 0.55% 13,825 1.49% 755 0.1% 365 0.06% 105 0.02% 20 0.02% 115 0.33% 195 1.06%
Greek 124,475 0.58% 67,025 0.87% 42,870 0.71% 6,615 0.3% 3,250 0.2% 2,095 0.21% 900 0.1% 1,220 0.15% 335 0.05% 100 0.02% 0 0% 35 0.1% 25 0.14%
Chinese 118,815 0.55% 39,325 0.51% 11,905 0.2% 44,315 2.03% 12,905 0.79% 3,430 0.35% 4,605 0.5% 935 0.12% 575 0.09% 610 0.12% 25 0.02% 115 0.33% 85 0.46%
Yugoslav 104,950 0.49% 70,060 0.91% 6,810 0.11% 14,730 0.67% 7,410 0.46% 3,110 0.31% 2,090 0.23% 355 0.04% 95 0.01% 10 0% 30 0.03% 100 0.29% 150 0.82%
Portuguese 96,875 0.45% 63,145 0.82% 16,555 0.27% 9,635 0.44% 2,385 0.15% 3,815 0.39% 275 0.03% 475 0.06% 195 0.03% 340 0.07% 15 0.01% 20 0.06% 25 0.14%
Czechoslovak 81,870 0.38% 40,770 0.53% 6,725 0.11% 10,630 0.49% 12,970 0.8% 4,760 0.48% 4,940 0.53% 670 0.08% 165 0.03% 50 0.01% 25 0.02% 105 0.3% 75 0.41%
Welsh[a] 74,415 0.35% 29,070 0.38% 2,820 0.05% 17,300 0.79% 10,625 0.65% 4,680 0.47% 4,130 0.45% 2,855 0.36% 1,700 0.27% 700 0.13% 255 0.23% 145 0.42% 140 0.76%
Indian (South Asian) 67,925 0.31% 30,920 0.4% 6,510 0.11% 18,795 0.86% 4,400 0.27% 3,205 0.32% 1,625 0.18% 1,345 0.17% 465 0.07% 460 0.09% 135 0.12% 55 0.16% 15 0.08%
Russian–Belarusian 66,755 0.31% 13,715 0.18% 4,255 0.07% 23,395 1.07% 10,490 0.64% 4,225 0.43% 10,080 1.09% 265 0.03% 150 0.02% 45 0.01% 10 0.01% 70 0.2% 70 0.38%
African/Black/West Indian 62,470 0.29% 37,760 0.49% 10,275 0.17% 2,435 0.11% 2,255 0.14% 2,125 0.22% 540 0.06% 6,250 0.79% 620 0.1% 130 0.02% 0 0% 35 0.1% 40 0.22%
Baltic 61,515 0.29% 42,140 0.55% 6,845 0.11% 5,240 0.24% 3,700 0.23% 1,845 0.19% 810 0.09% 535 0.07% 210 0.03% 100 0.02% 30 0.03% 40 0.11% 50 0.27%
Belgian 51,135 0.24% 19,955 0.26% 8,220 0.14% 4,840 0.22% 4,265 0.26% 9,055 0.92% 3,555 0.38% 665 0.08% 335 0.05% 50 0.01% 75 0.07% 70 0.2% 50 0.27%
Japanese 37,260 0.17% 15,600 0.2% 1,745 0.03% 13,585 0.62% 4,460 0.27% 1,335 0.14% 315 0.03% 85 0.01% 40 0.01% 20 0% 15 0.01% 15 0.04% 40 0.22%
Spanish 27,515 0.13% 10,330 0.13% 10,825 0.18% 3,070 0.14% 1,305 0.08% 640 0.06% 210 0.02% 640 0.08% 310 0.05% 110 0.02% 25 0.02% 30 0.09% 20 0.11%
Romanian 27,375 0.13% 9,255 0.12% 2,320 0.04% 3,765 0.17% 4,670 0.29% 1,375 0.14% 5,550 0.6% 240 0.03% 90 0.01% 10 0% 5 0% 25 0.07% 70 0.38%
Syrian–Lebanese 26,665 0.12% 10,540 0.14% 8,235 0.14% 785 0.04% 1,805 0.11% 945 0.1% 595 0.06% 2,005 0.25% 1,135 0.18% 405 0.08% 205 0.18% 5 0.01% 5 0.03%
British Isles, n.o.s. 1,615 0.01% 615 0.01% 245 0% 335 0.02% 190 0.01% 105 0.01% 75 0.01% 20 0% 10 0% 5 0% 0 0% 0 0% 5 0.03%
Other & Unknown 209,690 0.97% 91,285 1.19% 25,510 0.42% 33,745 1.54% 24,495 1.5% 11,395 1.15% 7,695 0.83% 4,345 0.55% 3,430 0.54% 6,655 1.27% 245 0.22% 495 1.42% 400 2.17%
Total responses 21,568,290 100% 7,703,120 100% 6,027,750 100% 2,184,610 100% 1,627,865 100% 988,245 100% 926,255 100% 788,960 100% 634,570 100% 522,110 100% 111,660 100.02% 34,820 100.04% 18,395 100.04%
Total population 21,568,311 100% 7,703,106 100% 6,027,764 100% 2,184,621 100% 1,627,874 100% 988,247 100% 926,242 100% 788,960 100% 634,557 100% 522,104 100% 111,641 100% 34,807 100% 18,388 100%
At the time of the 1971 Census, Canada comprised 12 major administrative units; ten provinces and two territories.

See also

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Notes

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  1. 1 2 3 4 Responses to all major ethnic groups from the British Isles were noted to have a large margin of error during the 1971 Canadian census due to increasing levels of inter-marriage during the post-war era. In the ensuing decades (1980s, 1990s, and beyond), a similar trend would also occur more broadly amongst all European ethnic groups in Canada. A direct quote from the report on this topic is shown below:

    "Ethnic group data are subject to considerable response variation. Particularly is this true for groups such as English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh, where inter-marriage among these groups has occurred in Canada at relatively high levels over the years. For this reason, census data in recent decades have been confined largely to showing only the British Isles group in total. However, one short statement for Canada and the provinces has been included in this section of the report to provide general information as to the numbers reported as English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh, even though the data are regarded as considerably less meaningful than for the British Isles group as a whole. This situation is accentuated in the results of the 1971 Census. For example, it is apparent that significant numbers of persons reported in the Irish, Scottish and Welsh categories in 1961 must have been reported as English in 1971. Sufficient analysis has not been possible to determine the causes of this unexpected trend. But the fact that "English" was the first marking position for this question on the 1971 "self-enumeration" forms may have led some ethnic mixtures within the British Isles group to overstate this position. It may be partly due also to confusion by some respondents in mistaking "English" to mean the "English-speaking" culture. Whatever the causes, the English group appears sufficiently inflated at the expense of the remaining three component groups to distort comparability of trend data with 1961 and earlier years. In fact, each of the groups (English, Scottish and Welsh) are significantly lower than their 1961 values. These qualifications should be borne in mind when using the data in the following statement which shows the 1971 distributions for Canada and the provinces."[14]: 19–20 

References

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  1. ↑ "This is C-Day". Montreal Gazette. June 1, 1971. p. 6. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Canadian tally 21.5 Million". Toledo Blade: 34. April 22, 1972 – via Google News.
  3. ↑ "Population and occupied dwelling counts and intercensal growth for Canada, 1971 to 2006". Statistics Canada. 2006. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ "City dwellers on increase". The Vancouver Sun. December 26, 1972. p. 8. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  5. ↑ Smellie, George (July 31, 1971). "DBS changes name". The Star Phoenix. p. 58. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Non-Canadians on the increase". The Leader-Post. October 27, 1973. p. 7. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Census reveals increase in non-Canadians". Edmonton Journal. October 27, 1973. p. 26. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Non-Canadian percentage up". Calgary Herald. October 26, 1973. p. 38. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  9. ↑ "French losing ground outside Quebec". Calgary Herald. August 31, 1972. p. 23. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  10. ↑ Blakely, Arthur (August 31, 1972). "French percentage off". Montreal Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  11. ↑ Population electoral districts Statistics Canada. 1971. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  12. ↑ Blakely, Arthur (May 4, 1973). "Percentage of English-Canadians up". Montreal Gazette. p. 46. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Bilingualism up slightly". Ottawa Citizen. June 6, 1973. p. 22. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  14. 1 2 "1971 Census of Canada : population : vol. I - part 3. 92-722. Introduction to volume I (part 3)". Government of Canada Publications. 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  15. ↑ "1971 Census of Canada : population : vol. I - part 3. 92-723. Ethnic groups". Government of Canada Publications. 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
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