The Canadian Social Survey (CSS) is a quarterly survey conducted by Statistics Canada. The goal is to understand social issues more rapidly by conducting surveys on different topics every three months. In doing so, we can release data at a more detailed level by pooling the quarterly data over the course of a year.
The Canadian Social Survey (CSS) collects information on a variety of social topics such as health, well-being, quality of life, confidence in institutions, activities, time-use, and emergency preparedness. The CSS provides data at the national level (excluding the territories). To date, this ongoing series has consisted of the following surveys:
- COVID-19 and Well-being
- Well-being, Activities and Perception of Time
- Well-being, Unpaid Work and Family Time
- Well-being, and Family Relationships
- Well-being, Shared Values and Trust
- Well-being and Caregiving
- Quality of Life and Cost of Living
- Quality of Life and Energy Use
- Quality of Life, Virtual Health Care and Trust
- Quality of Life, Renter Experiences and Trust
- Quality of Life, Health and Compassionate Communities
- Quality of Life, Health and Impacts of Rising Prices
The information you provide may be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes. In addition, information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may be retained and used.
Collection period:
Collection methods:
Survey participation:
Confidentiality
Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
Data sharing agreements and record linkage
To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada will combine the information you provide with information from the Statistical Building Register, Census, health data, personal tax data and the Longitudinal Immigration Database.
Statistics Canada may also combine the information you provide with other survey or administrative data sources.
Topics covered in the survey
The surveys in this series ask questions on topics such as
- health
- well-being
- impacts of COVID-19
- leisure activities
- time-use
- emergency preparedness
- paid and unpaid work
- family time
- intentions to have children
- trust in people and media
- shared values
- confidence in Canadian institutions
- paid and unpaid caregiving
- impacts of rising prices
- energy use
- delivery of virtual health care
- evictions
- non-profit boards.
Published data
To see results from the Canadian Social Survey (CSS), please click on the following links:
- Canadian Social Survey: COVID-19 and well-being
- Canadian Social Survey: Well-being, Activities and Perception of Time
- Canadian Social Survey: Well-being, Unpaid Work and Family Time
- Canadian Social Survey: Well-being and Family Relationships
- Almost half of Canadians report a strong sense of belonging to their local community
- More than half of women provide care to children and care-dependent adults in Canada
- One in four Canadians are unable to cover an unexpected expense of $500
- Canadian Social Survey: Quality of Life and Energy Use, second quarter 2023
- Canadian Social Survey: Energy use
- Canadian Social Survey – Quality of Life, Virtual Health Care and Trust, 2023
- Confidence in institutions and the media, 2023
Survey-specific questions
- What is the Canadian Social Survey?
- How was I selected to participate?
- Why are you collecting this information and what will it be used for?
- How long does it take to participate in a Canadian Social Survey?
- What are the benefits of participating in a Canadian Social Survey?
- I do not want to participate because I don't have time. Is my participation mandatory?
- How will you safeguard the confidentiality of my information?
What is the Canadian Social Survey?
The Canadian Social Survey is a Statistics Canada initiative that involves conducting surveys on different topics every three months. By pooling the quarterly data over the course of a year, we can release data at a more detailed level.
This is an experimental project and part of a larger effort to modernize our data collection methods and activities. The goal is to collect important data on Canadian society more efficiently, more rapidly, and at a lower cost compared to traditional survey methods. Thank you for your participation.
How was I selected to participate?
Households across Canada were selected randomly. The invitation letter includes instructions on how to identify the person within the household who has been selected to participate.
Why are you collecting this information and what will it be used for?
The purpose of the Canadian Social Survey is to rapidly gain a better understanding of a variety of social topics and provide data to Canadians, at the national level (excluding the territories). The data will be used by government departments and organizations to inform a variety of sources such as research, analyses, and policy making related to the topics covered in the Canadian Social Survey.
How long does it take to participate in a Canadian Social Survey?
The survey takes a maximum of twenty minutes to complete. It can be completed online, which means you can participate at any time that is convenient for you throughout the collection period.
What are the benefits of participating in a Canadian Social Survey?
Participating in this survey helps us to implement a new method of data collection that will provide information on Canadian society more quickly and cost-effectively.
I do not want to participate because I don't have time. Is my participation mandatory?
While we would greatly appreciate your support, participation is not mandatory. Please note, however, that each survey only takes a maximum of twenty minutes of your time, and you can do it online whenever it is convenient for you.
How will you safeguard the confidentiality of my information?
As with all Statistics Canada surveys, any information you provide will remain confidential pursuant to the Statistics Act.
Statistics Canada takes the privacy of Canadians very seriously. Published data can never identify you or your household.
To find out more about the measures in place to safeguard the confidentiality of your information, visit Statistics Canada's Trust Centre.