Data to Decisions:
Data and Geography
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Introduction
Data from Statistics Canada is available at various geographic levels, ranging from national, country-wide data to very small areas known as "dissemination blocks." Each data point is tied to a specific geographic area, meaning data and geography are inherently connected and must be considered together for effective analysis. Well-defined geographic areas form the foundation for collecting and analyzing data.
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Statistics Canada has developed a geographic hierarchy that helps users identify the appropriate data for their needs. This guide aims to help readers understand and navigate this hierarchy effectively.
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Generally, the smaller the geographic area, the less data is available and the lower its reliability. In smaller areas, lower survey response rates can significantly impact results due to the smaller population size and sample. Moreover, the Statistics Act mandates data suppression in cases where individual privacy could be compromised, which is more common in smaller geographic areas.
Geographic Hierarchy
This section explores geography using Statistics Canada's hierarchy of standard geographic areas, 2021 Census.
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At first, the hierarchy diagram might seem overwhelming, but it can be divided into smaller, more manageable sections. Understanding how geographic areas are organized across the country and the levels at which data is available is essential.
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Note: This is an adapted version of the Statistics Canada 2021 geographic hierarchy. Visit Statistics Canada's website to follow the latest geographic hierarchy updates.
The Geographic Hierarchy chart can be roughly split down the middle into two sides: administrative and functional. Hover over or click the diagram above to see the split.
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​The geographic areas on the administrative side of the diagram have boundaries defined by law or through agreements between provinces, territories and Statistics Canada. These administrative geographic areas tend to be very stable. The data associated with these usually consists of census data.
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The geographic areas on the functional side of the chart have boundaries determined by population and density measures. These geographic areas are a little more dynamic and can change over time as populations grow, shrink, or shift. The functional side of the diagram includes census data as well, but may also include more unique and detailed data. This side often features interesting, experimental data that’s very specific and not available for all geographic areas.
For example, the Real Time Local Business Condition Index dataset is updated weekly for select cities.
Geographies
Population Centres
Large Urban, Medium, Small Population Centres, and Rural Areas
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In practical terms, population centres and rural areas are not the primary geographic units used for data collection but serve an important contextual role.
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This section of the hierarchy chart is interesting because, when taken together, all population centres and rural areas encompass the entirety of Canada—every square inch of Canada falls into one of these four geographic categories.
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While data is often limited for these specific levels, understanding the geographic composition of an area in terms of population centres and rural areas can provide useful and interesting context for analysis.
Canada
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The largest geographic area is Canada as a whole, encompassing the entire country as a single land mass. Data at this level covers the entire population or land area from coast to coast.
Geographic Regions
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Canada is divided into six geographical regions. Some regions, such as the Atlantic Region or the Territories are made up of more than one province or territory, while other larger provinces, like Quebec and British Columbia, are geographic regions on their own.
Provinces (and Territories)
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Canada is also broken down further into the Provinces and Territories.
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At larger geographic scales—such as the national and provincial levels—high-level data is more readily available. This includes population and demographic statistics, economic accounts, GDP, migration, and import/export data. Such data is particularly useful for conducting macro-level analyses, like comparing economic and social trends across provinces or at the national level.
Economic Regions
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Economic Regions are groupings of Census Divisions [link] and are the standard geographic unit for analyzing regional economic activity.
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Most provinces are divided into multiple Economic Regions; for instance, British Columbia has eight. Others, such as Prince Edward Island and each of the three territories are a single Economic Region.
Census Divisions
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Census Divisions (CDs) are the building blocks of Economic Regions. A Census Division is a group of municipalities joined together for the purposes of regional planning and managing common services, such as police or ambulance services. Census Divisions are typically established in provincial and territorial legislation.
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Some provinces and territories, such as Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories, do not have Census Divisions established in their legislation. In these cases, Statistics Canada has entered into agreements with those provinces and territories, to establish Census Division equivalents.
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Next to provinces and territories, Census Divisions are among the most stable geographic areas. This stability makes Census Divisions an excellent choice for long-term data collection and analysis.
It is important to note that a lot of baseline census data can be found at all levels of geography, but the smaller and more detailed the geographic area gets, the less data will be available due to confidentiality measures.
Census Subdivisions
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Census Subdivisions (CSDs) are the building blocks of Census Divisions. Census Subdivisions are Municipalities or areas treated as municipal equivalents.
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Census Divisions (CDs) and Census Subdivisions (CSDs) are the geographic levels where detailed census data becomes available. At these levels, you can access data on education, training, language, income, and more. This data can also be disaggregated by age and sex, allowing for detailed demographic analysis within a single area or comparative analysis between multiple areas.
Census Metropolitan Area
Population: 100,000+
Core: 50,000+
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Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) consist of one or more adjacent municipalities centered around a population core of 50,000+ and a total population of 100,000 or more.
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The CMA level is the lowest geographic level for which Labour Force Survey data is available. This survey provides valuable information on labor market activities, including employment status (full-time, part-time, unemployed), employment by industry and occupation, hours worked, reasons for unemployment, and other related details.
Census Agglomeration
Core: 10,000+
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Census Agglomerations (CAs) consist of one or more adjacent municipalities centered around a population core of at least 10,000.
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At the CA level, you can access municipal-level data on various topics, such as the labour market and housing, that are useful for municipal planning and decision-making.
Census Tracts
Population: less than 10,000
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Census Tracts are small geographic areas with a population of fewer than 10,000 people. Census Tracts are located within Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and Census Agglomerations (CAs).
Dissemination Blocks and Dissemination Areas
Population: less than 700
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The smallest geographic areas for which data is available are dissemination blocks and dissemination areas. These are areas defined by roads or the boundaries of standard geographic areas, with an average population of fewer than 700 people. They are the smallest units for which population, dwelling, and census data are reported.
Definitions and Examples
Aggregate Dissemination Area (ADA): A new dissemination geography created for the 2016 Census that, where possible, has a population between 5,000 and 15,000 based on the previous census population counts. ADAs are created from existing dissemination geographic areas and are formed from census tracts (CTs), census subdivisions (CSDs) or dissemination areas (DAs).
​Example: Numerical ID Code
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Census Agglomeration (CA): Formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centered on a population centre (known as the core). A CA must have a total population of at least 10,000 also based on data from the previous Census of Population Program.
Example: Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander
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Census Division (CD): General term for provincially legislated areas (such as country or regional district). A group of neighboring municipalities joined together for the purposes of regional planning and managing common services (such as police or ambulance services).
​Example: Census Division No. 2, Newfoundland and Labrador (Burin Peninsula-Marystown)
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Census Metropolitan Area (CMA): Formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centered on a population centre (known as the core). A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more must live in the core based on adjusted data from the previous Census of Population Program.
​Example: St. John's (the only CMA in Newfoundland and Labrador)
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Census Subdivision (CSD): Municipalities or areas treated as municipal equivalents for strategic purposes.
Example: Admirals Beach, Burin, Torbay
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Census Tract (CT): Small, relatively stable geographic areas that usually have a population of less than 10,000 persons, based on data from the previous Census of Population Program. They are located in census metropolitan areas and in census agglomerations that had a core population of 50,000 or more in the previous census.
​Example: Numerical ID Code
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Dissemination Area (DA): A small geographic unit composed of one or more adjacent dissemination blocks with an average population of 400 to 700 persons based on data from the previous Census of Population Program. It is the smallest standard geographic area for which all census data are disseminated.
​Example: Numerical ID Code
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Dissemination Block (DB): An area bounded on all sides by roads and/or boundaries of standard geographic areas. The dissemination block is the smallest geographic area for which all census data are disseminated.
​Example: Numerical ID Code
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Economic Region (ER): Groupings of complete census divisions.
​Example: Avalon Peninsula
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Geographical Region of Canada: Groupings of provinces for statistical reporting.
​Example: Atlantic
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Health Regions: Legislated administrative areas defined by provincial ministries of health. These administrative areas represent geographic areas of responsibility for hospital boards or regional health authorities.
​Example: Also known as Health Zones in Newfoundland and Labrador: Central, Eastern-Rural, Eastern-Urban, Labrador-Grenfell, Western.
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Large Urban Population Centre: A population of 100,000 or more and a population density of 400 persons or more per square kilometre, based on population counts from the current Census of Population.
​Example: St. john's
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Medium Population Centre: A population between 30,000 and 99,999 and a population density of 400 persons or more per square kilometre, based on population counts from the current Census of Population.
​Example: There are no Medium Population Centres in Newfoundland and Labrador (Sudbury, Ontario; Lethbridge, Alberta).
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Provinces and Territories: Major political units of Canada. Ten provinces and three territories.
Example: Newfoundland and Labrador​
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Rural Area: All areas outside population centres are classified as rural areas.
​Example: Rural areas of CMAs and CAs, agriculture lands, wilderness areas. St. Bride's Fox Harbour, Brigus
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​Small Population Centre: A population between 1,000 and 29,999 and a population density of 400 persons or more per square kilometer, based on population counts from the current Census of Population.​​​
Example: Bonavista, St. Anthony, Corner Brook, Labrador City, Burgeo
Resources
Below are links to access maps at various geographic levels.
Maps of Newfoundland and Labrador
Check out the suite of maps created by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: https://www.stats.gov.nl.ca/Maps/
Maps of Canada
Map of all CMAs and CAs in Canada
Map of all of the Census Divisions in Canada
Maps of Census Divisions by province
Census Tract maps by CMA or CAs