Statistics Canada Standard Statistical Units

A statistical unit is the unit of observation or measurement for which data are collected or derived. Listed below are the major statistical units about which information is collected in Statistic Canada Surveys. Other statistical units are also used and definitions for these will be added over time.

A. Statistical units in business surveys

Collecting, aggregating and analysing data mapped directly to the infinite variety of real world business structures would be an impossible task. Accordingly, statistical agencies develop statistical models, in which every business, from multi-national conglomerate to corner grocery store, can be represented in a standardised form.

The standardised model developed at Statistics Canada for business surveys consists of a four level hierarchy of Statistical Entities. The four Statistical Entity subtypes are - the Enterprise, the Company, the Establishment and the Location. Each subtype is associated with a particular class or level of economic data:

• Enterprise
• Company
• Establishment
• Location

B. Statistical units in social surveys

• Census family
• Couple family
• Couple family with children
• Dwelling
• Economic family
• Employed person
• Female

• Household
• Immigrant
• Person
• Person 15 years or over
• Private dwelling
• Private household
• Stepfamily

Source: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/concepts/units Accessed: 2017-03-14 11:45 AM