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1991 Census public use microdata file for individuals
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Attribute descriptions
Below is the list and description of the 40 attributes (characteristics or variables) provided for each individual in the twelve 1991 Census microdata files.
Numeric attributes
The following attributes are numeric, permitting enhanced graphical and numerical analysis, such as scatter plots, regression and correlation:
- Attribute # 20) Knowledge of non-official languages
- Attribute # 31) Hours worked in the reference week
- Attribute # 32) Weeks worked in 1990
- Attribute # 35) Total income
- Attribute # 40) Value of dwelling
Categorical attributes
The remaining 35 variables are categorical, permitting cross-tabulations, frequency charts, ribbon charts, and graphical analysis.
Treating categorical attributes numerically
Several of the categorical attributes can be treated and graphed as if they were numeric attributes. However, be aware that there is loss of information as all non-numeric values for the attribute are dropped. This function could be usefully applied to the following attributes:
- # 8) Age
- # 11) Fertility/number of children
- # 26) Years of university
- # 37) Owner's major payments (monthly)
- # 38) Monthly gross rent, and
- # 39) Number of rooms.
| # | Attribute name | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Province | Name of the province or territory. |
| 2 | Census metropolitan area (CMA) |
Name of the CMA or 'Not in CMA'. A CMA is a large urban area together with surrounding areas which have a high degree of economic and social integration. |
| 3 | Census family status | Husband and wife refer to persons of opposite sex who are legally married to each other and living in the same dwelling. Excludes persons in collective households and households outside Canada. |
| 4 | Number of persons in the Census family | A census family includes now married couples, couples living common law, and lone parents with at least one never married child living in the same dwelling. Excludes persons in collective households and households outside Canada. |
| 5 | Major source of Census family income | Indicates the largest source of total income for census families. Excludes persons not living in a census family. Excludes persons in collective households and households outside Canada. |
| 6 | Total Census family income groups | The sum of the total incomes of all individuals 15 years of age and over that are members of the family. The number of families in specified income ranges are shown. Excludes persons not living in a census family. Excludes persons in collective households and households outside Canada. |
| 7 | Relationship to household reference person (person 1) | Refers to the relationship of household members to the household reference person, known as Person 1. |
| 8 | Age | Age on June 4, 1991, Census day. Excludes persons whose age was not reported. |
| 9 | Sex | Gender of the respondent – male or female. |
| 10 | Legal marital status | Legal marital status: never married, legally married and not separated, separated, divorced, widowed. |
| 11 | Number of children / fertility | Number of children ever born to a female aged 15 and over. |
| 12 | Religion | Specific religious denomination. For purposes of confidentiality, a less detailed breakdown is given for the Atlantic provinces and the territories. |
| 13 | Place of birth | Specific province of territory if born in Canada, or specific countries/regions if born outside Canada. For purposes of confidentiality, a less detailed breakdown is given for the Atlantic provinces and the territories. |
| 14 | Immigrant status indicator | Immigrant, non-immigrant, or non-permanent resident. A non-immigrant is a Canadian citizen by birth. Non-permanent resident is a person in Canada on a student authorization, employment authorization, a Minister's permit, or who is a refugee claimant. |
| 15 | Age at immigration | Age at which an immigrant first obtained landed immigrant status. |
| 16 | Ethnic origin | Refers to the ethnic or cultural group(s) to which the respondent's ancestors belong. For purposes of confidentiality, a less detailed breakdown is given for the Atlantic provinces and the territories. |
| 17 | Mother tongue | Refers to the language first learned in childhood and still understood by the respondent. For purposes of confidentiality, a less detailed breakdown is given for the Atlantic provinces and the territories. |
| 18 | Home Language | Refers to the language spoken most often at home by the respondent at the time of the census. For purposes of confidentiality, a less detailed breakdown is given for the Atlantic provinces and the territories. |
| 19 | First official language spoken | A derived variable taking into account first the knowledge of English and French, second the mother tongue and third the home language. |
| 20 | Knowledge of non-official languages | The number of language(s) other than English or French in which the respondent can conduct a conversation. |
| 21 | School attendance | Refers to full-time or part-time attendance at school, college, or university during the 9-month period between September 1990 and June 4, 1991. Attendance is counted only for courses which could be used towards a certificate, diploma or degree. Reported for population 15 years and over, excluding institutional residents. |
| 22 | Highest grade of elementary or secondary school | Highest grade attended. Reported for population 15 years and over, excluding institutional residents. |
| 23 | Highest level of schooling | Refers to the highest grade of elementary or secondary school attended, or the highest year of university or other non-university completed. Reported for population 15 years and over, excluding institutional residents. |
| 24 | Highest degree, certificate or diploma | Reported for population 15 years and over, excluding institutional residents. |
| 25 | Major field of study | Refers to the predominant discipline or area of learning of a person's highest postsecondary degree, certificate or diploma. Reported for population 15 years and over with postsecondary education, excluding institutional residents. |
| 26 | Years of university | Refers to the total number of completed years of education at educational institutions which confer a degree, certificate or diploma. Reported for population 15 years and over, excluding institutional residents. |
| 27 | Years of other non-university education | Reported for population 15 years and over, excluding institutional residents. |
| 28 | Total years of schooling | Refers to the total sum of the years (or grades) of schooling at the elementary, secondary, university and non-university levels. Reported for population 15 years and over, excluding institutional residents. |
| 29 | Labour Force Activity | Labour market activity of the population 15 years of age and over who in the week prior to the Census were employed, unemployed or not in the labour force. |
| 30 | Full-time or part-time weeks worked in 1990 | Indicates whether persons 15 years of age and over who worked in 1990, worked mainly full-time or part-time weeks in 1990. |
| 31 | Hours worked in reference Week | The actual number of hours worked in the week prior to the Census enumeration. It includes hours worked for wages, salaries, tips or commissions, hours worked in one's own business, farm, or professional practice, or working without pay in a family business, or farm owned or operated by a relative living in the same household. ‘Work' excludes housework or other maintenance or repairs around the home and voluntary work. This is not reported for persons less than 15 years of age. |
| 32 | Weeks worked in 1990 | The number of weeks in 1990 during which a person 15 years of age and over worked, even if only a few hours. It includes weeks of paid vacation or sick leave or paid absence on training courses. ‘Work' excludes housework or other maintenance or repairs around the home and voluntary work. |
| 33 | Occupation (1980 classification basis) | Primary occupation during the reference period. |
| 34 | Industry (1980 standard industrial classification) | General nature of the business carried out in the establishment where the person worked. Data was included for persons 15 and over who worked during the reference period. |
| 35 | Total income | Total money income received by individuals 15 years of age and over during the calendar year 1990. Items such as gambling gains and losses, lottery prizes, lump sum inheritances, and capital gains or losses are not included. No income information was collected from institutional residents. Persons immigrating to Canada in 1991 are deemed to have an income of $0. |
| 36 | Tenure | Refers to whether some member of the household owns or rents the dwelling or whether the dwelling is band housing (on an Indian reserve or settlement). |
| 37 | Owner's major payments (monthly) | Refers to the total average monthly payments made by owner households to secure shelter. It includes payments for electricity, fuel, water and other municipal services, monthly mortgage payments, property taxes and condominium fees. |
| 38 | Monthly gross rent | Refers to the total average monthly payments paid by tenant households to secure shelter. It includes payments for electricity, fuel, water and other municipal services, and monthly cash rent. |
| 39 | Number of rooms | The number of rooms in a dwelling. This is reported for occupied private dwellings. |
| 40 | Value of dwelling | The dollar amount expected by the owner if the dwelling were to be sold. Note: values less than $20,000 are shown as $20,000 and values more than $200,000 are shown as $200,000. This is reported for owner-occupied private non-farm non-reserve dwellings. |
Note: To protect confidentiality, the Atlantic provinces and the Territories have less detail for several of the attributes, including place of birth, religion, ethnic origin and language.
