Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Birth Data and Census

Question:
A group of researchers are looking for birth or births data by Census geography for Manitoba. 

Statistics Canada does have a table or a CANSIM table that provides birth data for Census Divisions:

Statistics Canada.  Table  17-10-0085-01   Components of population growth by census division, age group and sex, annual, based on the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2011

This  table will give births by Census Divisions.  2012-2016 (CANSIM table 051-0063).

There was a question I found at DIGRS:
Birth and death rates for Sackville, N.S.  indicates the 1996 Community Profiles had birth statistics:
https://digrs.blogspot.com/2006/11/birth-and-death-rates-for-sackville-ns.html 

However, I found the 2006 Community profiles and it no longer appears to include births:
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/index.cfm?Lang=E  

There used to be a paper publication that provided births data for Census divisions and subdivisions:

Tully, Patricia and Brent Day (editors).  2004.   General summary of vital statistics by local area, 2002 : shelf tables.  Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 
http://www.publications.gc.ca/pub?id=9.666103&sl=0   (paper only)


This publication has vital statistics (including births) by Census Divisions and then by subdivisions. 

It seems a bit odd that an older paper publication is more detailed than current online tables, so I am wondering if I am perhaps missing something or if Census Division is the best current births data available?  I am checking provincial data as well, but have not seen anything more useful so far. 

Answer:
Subject matter has informed us that they release births data by Census Divisions (CDs), Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and Economic Region (ER): https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/180213/dq180213a-cansim-eng.htm. These data covers July 1st to June 30.

If the researchers would like data on a calendar year (January to December) and other geographical areas, please let us know and we will enquire with the subject matter area responsible