General Social Survey (Canada) / General Social Statistics Program

Surveys from a sample selected across the 10 provinces. The 2 primary objectives are a) to gather data on social trends in order to monitor changes in the living conditions and wellbeing of Canadians over time; and b) to provide immediate information on specific social policy issues of current or emerging interest. Each survey contains a core topic, focus or exploratory questions and a standard set of socio-demographic questions used for classification. More recent cycles have also included some qualitative questions which explore perceptions. For all cycles except Cycle 16, the population aged 15 and older has been sampled. Cycle 16 only sampled persons aged 45 and older. Until 1998, the sample size was approximately 10,000 persons. This was increased in 1999 to 25,000.

Starting in 2022, the General Social Survey is now referred to as the General Social Statistics Program (GSSP) to better reflect that data will be integrated from administrative data, statistical modelling and alternative data collection approaches, in addition to a detailed survey on a given topic. 

Cycle 1, Health and social support, 1985.
Cycle 2, Time use, social mobility and language use, 1986
Cycle 3, Personal risk, 1988
Cycle 4, Education, work and retirement, 1989
Cycle 5, Family and friends, 1990
Cycle 6, Health, 1991
Cycle 7, Time use, 1992
Cycle 8, Personal risk, 1993
Cycle 9, Education, work and retirement, 1994
Cycle 10. Family, 1995
Cycle 11, Social and community support, 1996
Cycle 12, Time use, 1998
Cycle 13, Victimization, 1999
Cycle 14, Access to and use of information communication, 2000
Cycle 15, Family history, 2001
Cycle 16, Aging and social support, 2002
Cycle 17, Social engagement, 2003
Cycle 18, Victimization, 2004.
Cycle 19, Time use, 2005.
Cycle 20, Family Transitions, 2006.
Cycle 21, Family, Social Support and Retirement, 2007.
Cycle 22, Social Networks, 2008.
Cycle 23, Victimization, 2009.
Cycle 24, Time-Stress and Well-Being, 2010.
Cycle 25, Families, 2011.
Cycle 26, Social Support and Aging, 2012
Cycle 27, Giving, Volunteering, Participating, 2013
Cycle 28, Victimization, 2014
Cycle 29, Time Use, 2015.
Cycle 30, Canadians at Work and Home, 2016.
Cycle 31. Families.  2017.
Cycle 32. Caregiving and Care Receiving. 2018 
Cycle 33. Giving, Volunteering and Participating. 2018.
Cycle 34: Canadian's Safety. 2019 
Cycle 35 - Social Identity. 2020

2022 - Time Use