1871 Canadian census
| 1871 Canadian census | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| General information | ||
| Country | Dominion of Canada | |
| Authority | Department of Agriculture (Census Branch) | |
| Website | bac-lac.gc.ca (1871) | |
| Results | ||
| Total population | 3,485,761 | |
| Most populous | Ontario (1,620,851) | |
| Least populous | New Brunswick (285,594) | |
The 1871 Canadian census marked the first regularly scheduled collection of national statistics of the Canadian population on April 2, 1871, as required by section 8 of the British North America Act. The constitution required a census to be taken in 1871 and every tenth year thereafter. Parliament implemented the requirements of the constitution through the Census Act of May 12, 1870. In the first census, the population of Canada was enumerated to be 3,485,761.
All inhabitants of Canada were included, including Aboriginals. While this was the first national census of Canada, only four provinces were enumerated: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Other areas of Canada continued to be enumerated in separate censuses. The results of the 1871 census, in both English and French, were reported in a five-volume set.
The following census was the 1881 census.