Sense of belonging to local community

Proportion of the population by strength of sense of belonging to their local community.

This indicator is measured in multiple Statistics Canada surveys including the Canadian Social Survey (CSS), the Survey Series on People and their Communities (SSPC), the General Social Survey (GSS) - Social Identity, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), the Canadian Housing Survey (CHS) and the General Social Survey (GSS) - Canadians' Safety (Victimization). Exact questionnaire wording may vary slightly between sources.  

For example, in the Canadian Social Survey (CSS), survey respondents are asked:

How would you describe your sense of belonging to your local community?

• Very strong
• Somewhat strong
• Somewhat weak
• Very weak
• No opinion

This indicator is measured through multiple Statistics Canada surveys. Estimates can vary between data sources due to differences in reference periods, targeted or sampled populations, data collection and other methodology.

• Canadian Social Survey (CSS)
• General Social Survey (GSS) - Social Identity
• Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)
• Canadian Housing Survey (CHS)
• General Social Survey (GSS) - Canadians' Safety (Victimization)
• Survey Series on People and their Communities (SSPC)

For products related to sense of belonging to local community, including data tables, data visualizations, articles, and other product types see Analytical releases: Sense of belonging to local community or view all analytical releases.

This indicator aligns with the following frameworks:

• Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) for the Sustainable Development Goals
  • CIF Indicator 11.7.1 – Percentage of the population aged 12 and over who reported their sense of belonging to their local community as being very strong or somewhat strong
• Social inclusion indicators for Canada's ethnocultural groups
  • Social connections and personal networks
    • Strong sense of belonging to the local community
    • Strong sense of belonging to the town or city
  • Local community
    • Satisfied with feeling part of the community

The 2017 Indigenous Peoples Survey included questions about engagement in activities indicating sense of belonging to the respondent's First Nations, Metis, Inuit and/or Aboriginal community. Results are available here:

• Table 41-10-0054-01 – Engagement in activities indicating sense of belonging, and sense of belonging and positive feelings, (First Nations/Métis/Inuit/Aboriginal) by Aboriginal identity, age group and sex