Ontario Population Estimates - Data Sources

Data Source

Estimates for the years 1981 to 1996 were created by the Public Health Branch of Ontario, Ministry of Health from master files purchased from Statistics Canada. Population estimates are based on results from the census and are used in the calculation of various rates in which these populations serve as the denominator.

Data Limitations

Census undercoverage exists, particularly among the aboriginal populations (both on and off reserve).

The 1982 to 1985 estimates are unrevised, whereas the 1986 to 1996 estimates have been revised to account for under-enumeration.

Population estimates are based on a set of assumptions on the patterns of fertility, mortality, immigration, refugees, and internal mobility of population. Therefore, the quality of the population estimates is dependent on the validity of these assumptions over time.