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.[1]

1971 Canadian census

← 1966 June 1, 1971 1976 →

General information
CountryCanada
Results
Total population21,568,311 (7.8Increase)
Most populous ​province/territoryOntario (7,703,106)
Least populous ​province/territoryYukon (18,388)

This census was the first time Statistics Canada made the census 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.[2]

Canada by the numbers

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A summary of information about Canada.[3]

Total population 21,568,311
Dwellings 6,034,508
Men 10,795,369
Women 10,772,942


Census summary

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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. [4] 60.1 % of people claimed English as their mother tongue compaired to 58.4 % a decade earlier. Canadians who claimed French as their mother tongue, however, shrunk from 28 % to 26.8 %. [5]

Population by province

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The population of each province in Canada:[6]

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

Mother tongue

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Population by mother tongue:

Mother tongue Population
English 12,973,810
French 5,793,650
German 561,085
Italian 538,360
Ukrainian 309,855
Other 1,391,551

References

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  1. ^ "Canadian tally 21.5 Million". Toledo Blade: 34. April 22, 1972 – via Google News.
  2. ^ Smellie, George (July 31, 1971). "DBS changes name". The Star Phoenix (238): 58 – 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. ^ "Census reveals increase in non-Canadians". Edmonton Journal. October 27, 1973. p. 26. Retrieved October 11, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "French losing ground outside Quebec". Calgary Herald. August 31, 1972. p. 23. Retrieved October 11, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Population electorial districts Statistics Canada. 1971. Retrieved August 26, 2024.