Canadian indexes of social resilience and vulnerability to natural hazards

Detailed information for 2021

The Canadian indexes of social resilience and vulnerability were created to provide area-based information on resilience and vulnerability to natural hazards and disasters across Canada.

Data release - May 27, 2025

• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

The Canadian Index of Social Resilience (CISR) aims to reflect a community's ability to respond to and recover from natural hazards. In contrast, the Canadian Index of Social Vulnerability (CISV) aims to reflect the social vulnerability of an area based on factors that have the potential to amplify the impact of disasters on populations.

Before the CISR and CISV were built, indicator frameworks were developed for social resilience and social vulnerability, respectively. Indicators were selected because of their demonstrated association with social resilience or social vulnerability. The selection was informed by the theoretical and research literature, existing indexes, availability of relevant data and engagement with subject-matter experts.

The CISR and the CISV were created using data from Dissemination areas (DAs) across the country. The selected indicators were included in a principal component analysis, which is a statistical technique that allows a large number of indicators to be collapsed into a smaller number of interpretable components. Based on the results of the principal component analysis, DA-level scores were calculated for each index. Higher CISR scores correspond to DAs that are more resilient and higher CISV scores correspond to DAs that are more vulnerable.

These indexes can be used to better understand areas which may experience the largest disproportional social impacts from natural hazards.

Reference period: 2021

Collection period: May through July

Subjects

• Environment
• Health
• Income, pensions, spending and wealth
• Low income and inequality
• Society and community

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population consists of all Dissemination Areas (DAs) from the 2021 Census of Population.

The observed population excludes: all of the DAs with populations of less than 40, and all of the DAs with a total non-response rate equal to or greater than 50%.

Instrument design

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Sampling

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Data sources

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected from other Statistics Canada surveys and/or other sources.

Microdata from the 2021 Census of Population was used to create the CISR and CISV. Please refer to Census of Population, record number 3901, for more information related to data collection activities.

Error detection

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Imputation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Estimation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Quality evaluation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

For reasons of data quality and confidentiality, 326 DAs with a census total non-response rate equal to or greater than 50% and 427 DAs with a population of less than 40 were excluded from the creation of the indexes.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Data accuracy

Response rates:
Due to the fact that Census of Population microdata were used in the creation of the CISR and the CISV, the indexes would be impacted by the response rates for the Census. Please refer to Census of Population, record number 3901, for information on Census response rates.

Non-sampling error:
Non-sampling errors for the CISR and the CISV would be subject to those of the Census such as questionnaire design, data collection operations, and processing of data in edit and imputation. For further information on Census non-sampling errors, please refer to Census of Population, record number 3901.

Non-response bias:
The CISR and the CISV would be impacted by non-response bias as experienced by the Census of Population. For information on Census non-response bias, please refer to Census of Population, record number 3901.

Coverage error:
The CISR and the CISV would be subject to the same coverage error as the Census of Population. For information, please refer to Census of Population, record number 3901.