2001 Census microdata file subsets

• Overview
• Downloading the microdata
• Using the microdata
• For further information
• Lesson plan

Overview

These microdata file subsets were extracted as simple random samples from the 2001 Census Public Use Microdata File for individuals. These files subsets were developed for teachers and students working with microdata for data analysis. Microdata files are unique in that they give users access to unaggregated data. This makes the public use microdata files powerful research tools. Each file contains a representative sample of anonymous individual responses on 43 variables.

Downloading the microdata

Statistics Canada has provided the 2001 Census microdata in three file formats:

• CSV (Comma Separated Values) which allows you to access each table in any spreadsheet application
• XLS (Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet) that can be viewed with Microsoft Excel
• Fathom (Fathom is licensed by the Ministry of Education and used by schools in some provinces. Providing the Fathom format is in no way an endorsement or recommendation of the Fathom software by Statistics Canada.)

If you are using a PC without Microsoft Excel and wish to view the data in Excel spreadsheets, download Microsoft Excel Viewer 97. As a convenience to users, Statistics Canada sometimes provides files in proprietary formats. We do not, however, provide technical support. If you require assistance, please contact http://www.microsoft.com.

Using the microdata

The user can group and manipulate the variables to suit his/her own data and research requirements. Tabulations can be created or relationships between variables can be analysed. These files provide quick access to a comprehensive social and economic database about Canada and its people. To ensure the anonymity of the respondents, geographic identifiers have been restricted to the provinces/territories and large metropolitan areas. Extensive demographic, social, cultural and economic information such as age, schooling, ethno-cultural and income characteristics is provided.

A detailed list of the attributes is provided, along with comments on the coding and interpretation of each attribute.

These Canadian, provincial and territorial microdata files subsets were extracted as simple random samples from the 2001 Census public use microdata file for individuals, which contains data based on a 2.7% sample of the population enumerated in the census. To estimate totals for each province, the territories or Canada, a weighting factor should be applied to these smaller files. The weighting factor is included as the last attribute on each record. The resulting weighting factors are shown in the table below.

For further information

Information on the complete 2001 Census public-use microdata file for individuals was published as a PDF document, Individuals File (Flat ASCII File), 2001 Census (Public Use Microdata Files), on the corresponding 2001 Census CD-ROM, Catalogue number 95M0016XCB. You may find this documentation in a university library. The complete public use microdata file can be obtained at Canadian universities and some colleges through their Data Liberation Initiative contacts.

For questions on using the microdata, contact Yves Saint-Pierre, Learning Resources Team, Statistics Canada.