Demographic Data

Updated: June 10, 2020

The resources listed in this section will help you identify population characteristics, and help you develop your customer profile. This research will also help you identify geographic areas where the largest number of your potential customers live. This can be very useful when determining a location for your business, and also when formulating your marketing strategy. Don't forget that trade associations and trade journals collect information about customers and can be great information sources for this area of your research.

Canadian Household Spending - Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the national statistical office. The agency ensures Canadians have the key information on Canada's economy, society and environment that they require to function effectively as citizens and decision makers.

This table provides statistical information about household expenditures by Canadians broken down into a variety of categories. You can refine the table by region. You can view the full list of data tables here

Census Profile - Statistics Canada
Provides Canadian community profiles from the latest Census of Canada. These profiles are very useful for comparing statistics on different municipalities or regional districts. Includes details on family characteristics, primary language, mobility, educational attainment, marital status, labour force activity, earnings, and mode of transportation to work.

Find latest data from the 2016 Census


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Thanks to Catie Sahadath at the University of Ottawa Libraries for building this widget.

 

Socio-Economic Profiles - BC Stats
The socio-economic profiles consist of charts and tables for the various regional districts, health areas, college regions and school districts. Each region contains a map, demographic profile, economic hardship, labour market structure, education concerns, crime, health problems, children at risk, and youth at risk. The profiles are presented in a format that allows comparison to other regions in the province and to BC overall.

Library Resources

Access to the following sources may be available through your local public or academic library. For information on how to obtain a library card, and for additional information on using libraries in BC, please visit our Getting Access to Library Resources page.

Alliance for Audited Media
Use this website to find the total circulation of publications by various Canadian Advertising CARD categories.

PCensus
Provides access to detailed Canadian demographic information including population, income, and spending levels by province, city, or postal code. PCensus can also generate custom reports using Census data. Contact Vancouver Public Library or your local research library to obtain access.

FP Markets - Canadian Demographics
This publication updates key census variables at the municipal level to the current year. It also includes psychographic data as well as economic and retail trade estimates. In addition to census data, FP Markets also includes data for PSYTE categories or "clusters" of characteristics (age, income, ethnic origin, neighbourhoods, dwelling types, buying preferences and other data derived from the census and consumer surveys).The Canadian version of PSYTE classifies Canadians according to 65 clusters of characteristics. This is the version used in FP Markets. If the cluster descriptions fit your target market, you may find the PSYTE data in FP Markets a useful supplement to other data in your report. Follow this link for more information on PSYTE® Canada Advantage Cluster Descriptions.