Census of Canada: public use microdata files 1871-1996

The Public Use Microdata Files (PUMFs; formerly known as Public Use Sample Tapes (PUSTs)) created by Statistics Canada from 1971 to the latest, contain samples of (anonymized) responses to the long form, 2B census questionnaires in respective censuses. In most census years, three files are available: an Individual file, a Household and Housing file, and a Family file. Microdata files provide access to unaggregated data. However, to ensure the anonymity of respondents, geographic identifiers are in most cases restricted to the provinces/territories and large metropolitan areas.

Access note 1: The public use microdata files from Statistics Canada (1971-1996) are designated 'restricted use', and thus are restricted to use by University of Toronto faculty, students and staff, for research and teaching purposes, only. Other users should contact Statistics Canada.

Access note 2: The public use microdata file from the 1901 census was created under a SSHRC Grant, and is available to all users. Contact the Map & Data Library for access, or contact the Canadian Families Project to arrange access.

Contents: 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971 1951 1941 1931 1921 1911 1901 1881 1871

How to cite these files:

Citation structure:
Canada. Statistics Canada. Census of Canada, [yyyy]: [subfile title] [computer file]. [Edition]. [place of production]: [name of producer] [producer]; [place of distributor]: [name of distributor] [distributor], [date of production/distribution]. [series information; identifying product codes]
<[UTL where accessed]>

Example:
Canada. Statistics Canada. Census of Canada, 2001: public use microdata file - individuals file [computer file]. Revision 2. Ottawa, Ont.: Statistics Canada [producer]; Statistics Canada. Data Liberation Initiative [distributor], 2006/04/26. (STC 95M0016XCB)
<http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?url=http://sda.chass.utoronto.ca/sdaweb/html/canpumf.htm>

2006
Public use microdata files
Expected release dates
2001
Individual file
(95M0016XCB)
(anonymized)
[ Revision 2, 2006/04/26] 		Family file
(95M0018XCB)
(anonymized)
[2006/02/21]		 Households and housing file
(95M0020XCB)
(anonymized)
[ phase 2 release, 2006/06/30]
Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada (95M0016XCB)

Datafile characteristics:
N=801,055; Variables=140; Sample=2.7 %
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19)

Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada (95M0018XCB)

Datafile characteristics:
N=348,104; Variables=162
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19)

Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada (95M0020XCB)

Datafile characteristics:
N=312,513; Variables=150
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19)

Documentation: User guide
Quality: user guide, Appendix C conversion factors worksheet, quality worksheet, worksheet for the Mac
Syntax files: SAS, SPSS DDI/DTD xml 		Documentation: User guide
Quality: user guide,
worksheet: [for Windows], [MacOS] 		Documentation:
User guide: [pdf], [MSWord], [rtf] format,
Appendix C: conversion factors
Quality: User guide: [pdf], [MSWord], [rtf] format, Appendix C conversion factors worksheet, worksheet: [for Windows], [MacOS]
Syntax files: SAS SPSS
Data:
Alternative 1: Access data via SDA interface
[Restricted]
Note: UT/DLS ed. contains an additional subsample variable.
Alternative 2:
Access via IPUMS International 		Data:
Access data via SDA interface
[Restricted] 		Data:
Access data via SDA interface
[Restricted]
1996
Individual file
(95M0013XCB)
(anonymized)
[Released April 15, 1999]		 Family file
(95M0014XCB)
(anonymized)
[2nd rev. 1999, released 01/2003]		 Households and housing file
(95M0015XCB)
(anonymized)
[Released July 16, 1999]
Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada (95M0013XCB)

Datafile characteristics:
N=792,448; Variables=122; Sample=2.8 %
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19)

Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada (95M0014XCB) Revised ed. 23/06/99

Datafile characteristics:
N=342,231; Variables=145; Sample=2.8 %
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19)

Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada (95M0015XCB)

Datafile characteristics:
N=300,557; Variables=138; Sample=2.8 %
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19), CSDs (12)

Documentation:
Codebook: (pdf, rtf, MSWord format)
Variable descriptions & frequencies
(STC & York/LDC ed.)
Unweighted frequencies (UT/DLS ed.)
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS

Errata notes: June 25,1999, February 18, 2002

 Documentation:
Codebook: (pdf, rtf, MSWord format)
Unweighted frequencies (UT/DLS ed.)
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS

Errata notes: June 25,1999, February 18, 2002, January, 2003

Documentation:
Codebooks: pdf, rtf, MSWord format
Unweighted frequencies (UT/DLS ed.)
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS

Errata note: February 18, 2002
Data:

Alternative 1: Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]
Alternative 2: CHASS WWW interface
Alternative 3: Test data file
N=211; Variables=122 		Data: Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]

Test data file
N=325; Variables=145

Data: Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]

Test data file
N=307; Variables=138

1991
Individual file
(anonymized)		 Family file
(anonymized)		 Households and housing file
(anonymized)
Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=809,654; Variables=119; Sample=3.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19) 		Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=345,351; Variables=138; Sample=3.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19), census subdivisions (CSDs, 12) 		Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=298,960; Variables=124; Sample=3.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19), census subdivisions (CSDs, 12)
Documentation:
Codebook (WordPerfect format)
Record layout & frequencies
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS 		Documentation:
Codebook (WordPerfect format)
Record layout & frequencies
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS 		Documentation:
Codebook (WordPerfect format)
Record layout & frequencies
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS
Data:
Alternative 1: Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]
Alternative 2: CHASS WWW interface [Restricted]
Alternative 3: Unrestricted data files
Datafile characteristics (this alternative only):
N=11,662; Variables=119; Sample=.003% Variables=40
Geography=provinces & territories (11) 		Data:
Access data via SDA interface [Restricted] 		Data:
Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]
1986
Individual file
(anonymized)		 Family file
(anonymized)		 Households and housing file
(anonymized)
Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=500,434; Variables=77; Sample= 2.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19) 		Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=103,093; Variables=113; Sample=1.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19), census subdivisions (CSDs, 12) 		Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=115,347; Variables=99; Sample=1.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (11), CMAs (19), census subdivisions (CSDs, 12)
Documentation:
Codebook
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS
 Documentation:
Codebook & frequencies
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS 		Documentation:
Codebook
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS
Data:
Alternative 1: Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]
Alternative 2: CHASS WWW interface 		Data:
Access data via SDA interface [Restricted] 		Data:
Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]
1981
Individual file
(anonymized)		 Family file and household and housing file
(anonymized)
Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=486,875; Variables=102; Sample= 2.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (10), CMAs (13) 		Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=94,795; Variables=131; Sample=1.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (10), CMAs (13)
Documentation:
Introduction, statistical properties, etc.
Record layout, weighted & unweighted frequencies
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS
 Documentation:
Record layout & unweighted frequencies
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS
Data:
Alternative 1: Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]
Alternative 2: CHASS WWW interface
Alternative 3: Access via IPUMS International 		Data:
Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]
1976
Individual file
(anonymized)		 Family file
(anonymized)		 Households and housing file
(anonymized)
Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=228,103; Variables=29; Sample= 1.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (10), CMAs (3) 		Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=56,921; Variables=35; Sample=1.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (9), CMAs (3) 		Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N=71,177; Variables=24; Sample=1.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (10), CMAs (3)
Documentation:
Record layout
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS
 Documentation:
Record layout
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS 		Documentation:
Record layout
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS
Data: Access data via SDA interface [Restricted] Data: Access data via SDA interface [Restricted] Data: Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]
1971
Individual file
(anonymized)		 Family file
(anonymized)		 Households and housing file
(anonymized)
Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
Province sample: N=214,019;
CMA sample: N=53,713
Variables=59; Sample= 1.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (9), CMAs (2) 		Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
Province sample: N=50,219;
CMA sample: N=12,923
Variables=65; Sample=1.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (9), CMAs (2) 		Producer & distributor: Statistics Canada
Datafile characteristics:
Province sample: N=59,997;
CMA sample: N=15,801
Variables=66; Sample=1.0 %
Geography=provinces & territories (9), CMAs (2)
Documentation:
User guide Chapters 1-2 only. [UT/DLS ed. 2005/12]
Record layout (& province sample frequencies)
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS
Province sample: Unweighted frequencies
CMA sample: Unweighted frequencies
 Documentation:
Record layout & unweighted frequencies
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS 		Documentation:
Record layout & unweighted frequencies
Syntax files: SPSS, SAS
Data:
Alternative 1:
Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]
Alternative 2:
CHASS WWW interface [Province sample only] [Restricted]
Alternative 3: Access via IPUMS International 		Data:
Access data via SDA interface [Restricted] 		Data:
Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]
1951
Individual file
(nominative)		    
Expected release dates    
1941
Individual file
(nominative)		    
Expected release dates    
1931
Individual file
(nominative)		    
Expected release dates    
1921
Individual file
(nominative)		    
Expected release dates    
1911
Individual file
(nominative)		    
Expected release dates    
1901
Individual file
(nominative)		    
Producer and distributor:
University of Victoria. Canadian Families Project
Datafile characteristics:
N of cases=265,757
Variables=113; Sample= ?%
Geography=provinces & territories (13), districts & municipalities

Documentation:
Readme file
User guide(Adobe Acrobat 5.n)
SPSS dictionary, Frequencies, unweighted

Data:
Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]

   
1881
Individual file
(nominative)		    
[About]
Access data
[Restricted] 		   
1871
Individual file
(nominative)		    
Distributor:
York University. Institute for Social Research
Datafile characteristics:
N of cases=62,281, Variables=153

Documentation:
Codebook
SPSS dictionary
unweighted frequencies

Data:
Access data via SDA interface [Restricted]

   
Producer: Ontario Genealogical Society
Distributor: Public Archives of Canada
Datafile characteristics:
N of cases=423,571, Variables=17

Data:
Access data [Restricted]
Ontario only