They exist on four levels: the top-level (first-level) divisions are Canada's provinces and territories; these are divided into second-level census divisions, which in turn are divided into third-level census subdivisions (often corresponding to municipalities) and fourth-level dissemination areas.
[6] Census subdivisions generally correspond to the municipalities of Canada, as determined by provincial and territorial legislation.
[7] Statistics Canada has created census subdivisions in cooperation with the provinces of British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia as equivalents for municipalities.
[9] Dissemination areas are the smallest standard geographic unit in Canada and cover the entire country.
Statistics Canada has stated that Toronto, Oshawa and Hamilton could be merged into a single CSA were such an approach utilized.
[11] Statistics Canada has described the Greater Golden Horseshoe as the country's largest urban area.
[16] The population centre level of geography is further divided into the following three groupings based on population:[14] A "designated place" (DPL) is usually a small community that does not meet the criteria used to define incorporated municipalities or urban areas (areas with a population of at least 1,000 and no fewer than 400 persons per square kilometre), but for which Statistics Canada or a provincial government has requested that similar demographic data be compiled.