Health of the body, mind and spirit, and worship frequency of Canadians of Aboriginal, French, English, Scottish, Irish, Italian, German, Dutch, Polish, Ukrainian, Chinese and South Asian Ethnicity, plus all Canadian Women and Men:

A Fact-book for 2002

October 2007

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Abstract

        The purpose of this report is to provide detailed data on the Canadian population aged 15 and over classified by their ethnicity and worship frequency. Canadian totals are provided as well, in order to provide reference numbers.

        The survey question on ethnicity is as follows: To which ethnic or cultural group(s) did your ancestors belong?

        This question allowed more than one ethnicity to be reported, so there is some overlap in the populations represented in each table. For example, of those claiming Aboriginal ethnicity, 26%, also said they were Canadian, 36% French, 20% English, 22% Scottish, 21% Irish, and smaller percentages of other groups.

        Keeping in mind the ethnic overlaps, the most likely ethnic origin is Canadian 29%, followed by English 22%, French 21%, Scottish 16%, Irish 14%; the others are all under 10%.

        Concerning immigration by ethnicity, the highest percentage applies to South Asians, 86% of whom are immigrants, followed by Chinese 83%, Polish 30%, Italians 28%, and all Canadians 22%. Only 3% of the French, 5% of the Irish, and 6% of the Ukrainians and Scottish are immigrants.

        Some 9% of Canadians have seriously considered suicide, and this varies from 5% of South Asians and 7% of Italians and Chinese, to 11% of Germans and 20% of Aboriginals. Some 4% of Canadians have attempted suicide, and this varies from 2% of Italians and 3% of the Dutch to 10% of Aboriginals.

        Some 42% of Canadians have used illicit drugs at least once in their life, and this varies from 9% among the Chinese and 16% among the South Asians to 51% among the Scottish and Irish, and 67% among Aboriginals.

        Use of illicit drugs during the past year varies from a 4% among the Chinese and 8% among the South Asians to 17% among Ukrainians and 24% among Aboriginals; it is 13% for all Canadians: 9% for women and 16% for men.

        Weekly worship rates for the preceding year vary from 13% among Aboriginals and 18% or 19% among the Scottish, English, Ukrainians, French and Chinese, to 31% among the Dutch and a high of 44% among the South Asians; it is 22% for all Canadians, 25% for women and 18% for men.

        Some 63% consider spiritual values to be very important in their lives, and this varies considerably by ethnicity, from lows of 48% for the Chinese and 58% of Ukrainians, English and Scottish, to highs of 69% of Italians and 84% of South Asians. Spiritual values help 29% of Canadians to find meaning in the life journey, and this varies from 25% of the Chinese to 54% of the South Asians.

        Female weekly rates exceed the male rates in all ethnicities except Aboriginal, where they are the same. The point spread is widest in the case of the Chinese, 12 percentage points (or 25% versus 13%), and only three points in the case of Italians, Dutch and South Asians. In every case where there is an estimate, the weekly rate for the married population exceeds that of those living common-law, or who are separated, divorced, or single.