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Chinese New Year… by the numbers

Lunar New Year: 2010 is the Year of the Tiger!

The Chinese New Year holiday—also referred to as the "Lunar New Year"—is not only a traditional festival for the Chinese, but also for the Korean, Vietnamese and many other East Asian populations in Canada. It is also known in some cultures as the "Spring Festival."

For those who celebrate the event to its fullest, there are many associated activities and customs, such as getting together with family and friends and the exchange of gifts. For children, it also means receiving red envelopes filled with money!

The Lunar New Year is also a time to share food with those less fortunate and to engage in other charitable activities. And let’s not forget firecrackers, lanterns, the lion dance, special foods and, of course, looking at the moon! Keep in mind that these traditions vary from region to region and from family to family.

Many people in the general population also appear to be getting in on the celebration. Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year items are becoming more common in card shops and other stores. There is also a strong interest in the history of the ancient lunar calendar and the astrological significance of the animal that corresponds to a person's year of birth.

The “Year of the Tiger” begins February 14, 2010, and ends February 2, 2011.

(Data presented are the most recent. Last updated: January 29, 2010.)

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Are you a tiger?

Please note that the Chinese zodiacal year runs from January or February to January or February of the next calendar year. For ease of calculation, only the January to December period of a given year is used here. All estimates of the population of persons born under the signs of the Chinese zodiac are approximations.

2,583,305 — The number of people in Canada as of Census Day in 2006 who were born in a year of the tiger (based on 2006 Census population figures).

Here are the estimates of the number of people in Canada (as of Census Day in 2006) who were born during a year of the tiger:

Canada
Year of birth	Both sexes	Male	Female
1902	370	65	305
1914	32,610	9,070	23,540
1926	154,615	64,210	90,400
1938	243,690	117,350	126,335
1950	430,285	211,960	218,325
1962	537,880	264,875	273,010
1974	400,920	195,670	205,250
1986	418,450	212,680	205,765
1998	364,480	186,140	178,340
2010	No data
Note: Figures may not add up to totals due to rounding.

Source: 2006 Census, custom tabulation provided by Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division.

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Chinese zodiac

If you are not a tiger, then you are one of these other signs in the Chinese zodiac, depending on the year in which you were born:

	Year
Tiger	1902	1914	1926	1938	1950	1962	1974	1986	1998	2010
Rabbit	1903	1915	1927	1939	1951	1963	1975	1987	1999	2011
Dragon	1904	1916	1928	1940	1952	1964	1976	1988	2000	2012
Snake	1905	1917	1929	1941	1953	1965	1977	1989	2001	2013
Horse	1906	1918	1930	1942	1954	1966	1978	1990	2002	2014
Sheep	1907	1919	1931	1943	1955	1967	1979	1991	2003	2015
Monkey	1908	1920	1932	1944	1956	1968	1980	1992	2004	2016
Rooster	1909	1921	1933	1945	1957	1969	1981	1993	2005	2017
Dog	1910	1922	1934	1946	1958	1970	1982	1994	2006	2018
Pig	1911	1923	1935	1947	1959	1971	1983	1995	2007	2019
Rat	1912	1924	1936	1948	1960	1972	1984	1996	2008	2020
Ox	1913	1925	1937	1949	1961	1973	1985	1997	2009	2021

The years in this table that contain hyperlinks bring you to previous versions of “Chinese New Year… by the numbers” features.

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Trade with the Dragon, the Asian Tigers and Japan

Not only does Canada trade with China and Japan, but also with the Asian Tigers: South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

In 2008, exports to the Asia Pacific region rose 17.5% to $39.7 billion, on the strength of two of Canada’s main trading partners: China and Japan. Much of this growth can be attributed to demand for Canada’s vast natural resources, including coal, wheat and canola.

For the sixth consecutive year, imports from Asia grew, expanding 6.9% to $83.7 billion. As the dominant source, China was responsible for two-thirds of the imports from the region, increasing 11.3%. Imports from South Korea grew by 11.9%, while imports from Japan decreased 1.1%, the first such decrease since 2004.

‘Other telecommunications and related equipment’ imports continued their upward trend. China, South Korea and Japan dominated the area of products, which consists of items like cell phones and high-definition televisions.

Passenger cars also contributed to the rise in imports from the Asia Pacific region. Japan accounted for more than three-quarters of the total imports, followed by South Korea. The gain can be partially attributed to Canada’s increasing demand for more energy-efficient vehicles.

Source: International Merchandise Trade Annual Review, 2008.

China (including Hong Kong and Macao) is the second largest source of culture goods imports to Canada. The United States is the largest source.

For more data on culture goods imports and exports, see Culture Goods Trade: Data Tables, 2008.

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Canadian investment in East Asia

(preliminary data)

$6.0 billion — The amount of Canadian direct investment in Hong Kong in 2008.

$3.6 billion — The amount of Canadian direct investment in the People’s Republic of China in 2008.

$3.0 billion — The amount of Canadian direct investment in Japan in 2008.

$2.9 billion — The amount of Canadian direct investment in Singapore in 2008.

$805 million — The amount of Canadian direct investment in South Korea in 2008.

$168 million — The amount of Canadian direct investment in Vietnam in 2008.

Source: CANSIM, table 376-0051 (Canada's International Investment Position).

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East Asian investment in Canada

(preliminary data)

$13.0 billion — The amount of Japan’s foreign direct investment in Canada in 2008.

$2.8 billion — The amount of the People’s Republic of China’s foreign direct investment in Canada in 2008.

$863 million — The amount of South Korea’s foreign direct investment in Canada in 2008.

$191 million — The amount of Singapore’s foreign direct investment in Canada in 2008.

$97 million — The amount of Taiwan’s foreign direct investment in Canada in 2008.

(Data on foreign direct investment in Canada for Vietnam, Macau and Hong Kong are suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act.)

Source: CANSIM, table 376‑0051 (Canada's International Investment Position).

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Travel to the Asia and Pacific region

10th — The rank of China in terms of the most popular destinations for Canadian travellers, at 250,000 visits.

12th — The rank of Hong Kong in terms of the most popular destinations for Canadian travellers, at 186,000 visits.

Japan and South Korea did not rank among the top 15.

Source: Summary tables, Travel by Canadians to foreign countries, top 15 countries visited (2008).

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Travel from the Asia and Pacific region

5th — The rank of Japan in terms of the most popular countries of origin, with 259,000 trips.

8th — The rank of South Korea in terms of the most popular countries of origin, with 173,000 trips.

9th — The rank of China in terms of the most popular countries of origin, with 159,000 trips.

11th — The rank of Hong Kong in terms of the most popular countries of origin, with 125,000 trips.

Source: Summary tables, Travellers to Canada by country of origin, top 15 countries of origin (2008).

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People in Canada celebrating Chinese New Year

You can expect to see celebrations in these larger cities and towns within the Vancouver and Toronto census metropolitan areas (CMA). These regions show the highest proportion of people reporting Chinese ancestry:

45% — The percentage of the population of Richmond, British Columbia, who reported Chinese ancestry.

36% — The percentage of the population of Markham, Ontario, who reported Chinese ancestry.

31% — The percentage of the population of Burnaby, British Columbia, who reported Chinese ancestry.

22% — The percentage of the population of Richmond Hill, Ontario, who reported Chinese ancestry.

1.3 million — The number of people in Canada who reported Chinese ancestry on the 2006 Census, either as their only origin or in combination with other origins.

4.3% — The proportion of the Canadian population who reported Chinese ancestry on the 2006 Census, either as their only origin or in combination with other origins.

Source: 2006 Census, custom tabulation provided by Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division.

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A new nation to call home

According to the 2006 Census, the People’s Republic of China was the leading source country of newcomers to Canada, just as in 2001.

155,105 — The number of people from China (excluding special administrative regions) who immigrated to Canada between 2001 and 2006. The early 1990s witnessed the highest number of immigrants from China in recent history (the latter half of the 20th century to the present).

7,430 — The number of people from Hong Kong who came to Canada between 2001 and 2006. Census results from 2006 showed that most immigrants from Hong Kong came to Canada in the 1980s and the 1990s.

285 — The number of people from Macau who came to Canada between 2001 and 2006.

35,445 — The number of people from South Korea who came to Canada between 2001 and 2006. This period and the early 1990s witnessed the most immigration from South Korea.

435 — The number of people from Mongolia who came to Canada between 2001 and 2006, the period with the greatest immigration from this country in recent history.

10,715 — The number of people from Taiwan who came to Canada between 2001 and 2006. Immigration from Taiwan has been in decline since 1991.

100,230 — The number of people from Southeast Asia who came to Canada between 2001 and 2006. Immigration from this region (which includes Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) peaked during the 1990s.

10,545 — The number of people from Vietnam who came to Canada between 2001 and 2006. Immigration from Vietnam peaked in the 1970s to the 1990s.

Source: 2006 Census, custom tabulation provided by Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division.

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A new home in a new city

Here are the top 10 destinations of recent immigrants to Canada who arrived between 2001 and 2006, by census metropolitan area (CMA).

From China (including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau):

• Toronto
• Vancouver
• Montréal
• Calgary
• Ottawa-Gatineau
• Edmonton
• Hamilton
• Kitchener
• Winnipeg
• Windsor

From Taiwan:

• Vancouver
• Toronto
• Montréal
• Calgary
• Victoria
• Ottawa–Gatineau
• Edmonton
• Kingston
• Halifax
• Abbotsford

From South Korea:

• Toronto
• Vancouver
• Calgary
• Montréal
• Winnipeg
• Edmonton
• Hamilton
• Abbotsford
• London
• Kitchener

Source: 2006 Census, custom tabulation provided by Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division.

See also: Immigration in Canada: A Portrait of the Foreign-born Population, 2006 Census: Findings.

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Place of birth

In addition to the year of immigration, the census collects information on place of birth.

466,940 — The number of people in Canada in 2006 who reported that they were born in the People’s Republic of China.

215,430 — The number of people in Canada in 2006 who reported that they were born in Hong Kong.  

6,000 — The number of people in Canada in 2006 who reported that they were born in Macau.

65,205 — The number of people in Canada in 2006 who reported that they were born in Taiwan.

98,395 — The number of people in Canada in 2006 who reported that they were born in South Korea.

Source: 2006 Census, custom tabulation provided by Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division.

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Mother tongue

The first language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the individual at the time of the census is known as mother tongue.

According to the 2006 Census, Chinese languages, as a group, were Canada’s third most common mother tongue, behind English and French.

Many respondents reported a specific Chinese mother tongue such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Taiwanese, Chaochow (Teochow), Fukien and Shanghainese, while many others reported the less specific “Chinese.”

More than 1 million — The number of people in Canada who reported one of the Chinese languages as their mother tongue in 2006. This was an increase of 18.5%, from 2001. Two out of three people whose mother tongue is a Chinese language arrived in Canada in the 25 years leading up to 2006.

3.3% — The proportion of the total population of Canada in 2006 whose mother tongue was a Chinese language. This was up from 2.9% in the 2001 census.

18.6% — The proportion of people whose mother tongue was neither English nor French—and who were not born in Canada—whose mother tongue was a Chinese language. This was followed by Italian (6.6%), Punjabi (5.9%), Spanish (5.8%), German (5.4%), Tagalog (4.8%) and Arabic (4.7%).

Source: “2006 Census: Immigration, citizenship, language, mobility and migration,” The Daily, Tuesday, December 4, 2007.

420,000 — The number of people in the Toronto census metropolitan area (CMA) who reported a Chinese language as their mother tongue in 2006.

332,000 — The number of people in the Vancouver CMA who reported a Chinese language as their mother tongue in 2006.

42,000 — The number of people in the Vancouver CMA who reported Korean as their mother tongue in 2006.

56,000 — The number of people in the Calgary CMA who reported a Chinese language as their mother tongue in 2006.

39,000 — The number of people in the Edmonton CMA who reported a Chinese language as their mother tongue in 2006.

27,000 — The population of the Ottawa-Gatineau CMA who reported a Chinese language as their mother tongue in 2006.

Source: The Evolving Linguistic Portrait, 2006 Census: Highlights.

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Chinese (and many other) languages in Canada

1,012,065 — The number of people in Canada whose mother tongue is a Chinese language.

361,450 — The number of people in Canada whose mother tongue is Cantonese.

170,950 — The number of people in Canada whose mother tongue is Mandarin.

4,515 — The number of people in Canada whose mother tongue is Fukien.

456,705 — The number of people in Canada who simply reported Chinese (not otherwise specified) as their mother tongue.

141,630 — The number of people in Canada whose mother tongue is Vietnamese.

125,575 — The number of people in Canada whose mother tongue is Korean.

Source: Summary tables, Population by mother tongue, by province and territory (2006 Census).

See also: Summary tables, Population by mother tongue, by census metropolitan area (2006 Census); 2006 Census Dictionary, More information on Knowledge of non-official languages.

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Red flowers

The chrysanthemum is an important flower in Asian cultures. A flower in bloom symbolizes rebirth and good fortune.

14.8 million — The number of chrysanthemum stems (of all colours, including red) produced in Canada in 2008.

9.6 million — The number of potted chrysanthemum plants produced in Canada in 2008.

Source: Greenhouse, sod and nursery industries, 2008.

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Asia’s contributions to Canadian cuisine

Rice

7.0 kg — The amount of rice available for consumption per person in Canada in 2008.

Chinese cabbage

0.45 kg — The amount of Chinese cabbage available for consumption per person in Canada in 2008.

Note: These data have been adjusted for retail, household, cooking and plate loss.

Source: Food Statistics, 2008.

Tofu

Tofu is made of processed soybeans.

7th — The rank of Canada when it comes to world production of soybeans. China ranks 4th.

First domesticated in China, soybeans were adopted as a diet staple through many parts of Asia including Japan, Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Nepal and north India between the 1st and 16th centuries. It appears the soybean first reached North America in 1765. By 1855 the seeds were grown in Canada.

While important Asian soybean foods included soy milk, miso, tempeh, natto and tofu, it was soy sauce that first drew the attention of the West to the bean. During the 17th century, soy sauce was a popular item in East-West trade. It was the prospect of producing soy sauce from the beans that was behind the earliest use in the West.

Soybean oil, extracted from the bean through crushing, is used not only in its original liquid form in cooking and food products but also in solidified form as margarine or shortening. In addition to traditional soy products, many modern foods employ soymeal as an additive, meat alternative or meat extender. Soybeans are also in animal rations and many industrial products.

Source: “The soybean, agriculture's jack-of-all-trades, is gaining ground across Canada,” found in the publication Canadian Agriculture at a Glance.

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Ginseng

Wild ginseng was known to Aboriginals for centuries. A Jesuit priest was the first European to document the plant in the early 18th century, and not long after exports began to China. At that time, their export value was second only to fur. Today, cultivated ginseng is considered a neutraceutical.

$73.3 million — The value of farm cash receipts for ginseng in Canada in 2008.

Sources: Growing herbs for the medicine chest; CANSIM, table 002-0001 (Net Farm Income); The Media Room’s Spotlight on “Functional foods and nutraceuticals.”

You can also find data on soybeans and ginseng on the “Crops” page, located in the 2006 Census of Agriculture module.

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Canada in 2017

Here are the ethno-cultural population projections for 2017 (a year of the Rooster!), the year Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary:

One-half — The proportion of all visible minorities in Canada that would belong to the South Asian or Chinese visible minority groups by 2017. The projections show that the population of each group would be around 1.8 million.

One in five — The proportion of Canada’s population that could be a member of a visible minority by 2017.

Source: “Study: Canada's visible minority population in 2017,” The Daily, Tuesday, March 22, 2005.

See also: “Study: Projections of the diversity of the Canadian population, 2006 to 2031,” The Daily, Tuesday, March 9, 2010; Statistics by subject, Ethnic diversity and immigration.

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