We ask all applicants to complete a voluntary, confidential survey about themselves to help us measure diversity in public appointments. There was a 91% response rate in the last year.
As of September 1, 2025, the data reflects:
Except where noted, City-wide demographic statistics are taken from the Statistics Canada 2016 Census of Population; the Public Appointments Secretariat is currently reviewing and updating the City-wide demographic statistics.
We asked applicants to disclose their gender.
| Gender | Applicants | Interviewed | Appointees | City-wide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 49% | 38.2% | 48.0% | 52.0% |
| Male | 49.6% | 60.5% | 50.0% | 48.0% |
| Trans | 0.5% | 1.3% | 0.0% | not available* |
| Not listed | 1.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | not available* |
*Questions on trans and non-binary gender identity are not addressed in the Census and therefore the city-wide statistics are not available.
We asked applicants to disclose their age based on categories used by Statistics Canada.
| Age | Applicants | Interviewed | Appointees | City-wide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 3.8% | 2.6% | 2.0% | 11.5% |
| 25-34 | 17.6% | 15.8% | 7.8% | 20.3% |
| 35-44 | 27.7% | 25.0% | 25.5% | 16.8% |
| 45-54 | 21.8% | 13.2% | 27.5% | 17.5% |
| 55-64 | 17.6% | 18.4% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| 65+ | 11.5% | 12.3% | 19.6% | 19.0% |
Public appointees to City boards must be at least 18 years of age.
Aboriginal/Indigenous Peoples are those who identify as members of First Nations (status, non-status, treaty or non-treaty), Inuit or Métis communities in Canada. We asked applicants “Based on this description, do you consider yourself to be an Aboriginal/Indigenous person?”
| Aboriginal/Indigenous Peoples | Applicants | Interviewed | Appointees | City-wide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 1.1% | 5.4% | 2.0% | 0.9-2.8%* |
*Studies using different research methods to identify the city’s Aboriginal population have yielded results that suggest the Census figures under-represent the population. The range presented here has the Census figure as 0.9 per cent and the “Our Health Counts Toronto” estimate as 2.8 per cent.
Ethnic/racial groups are defined by race or colour only, not by country of birth, citizenship or religious affiliation. We asked applicants, “Please identify which of the following best describes your ethnicity or race.”
| Ethnicity/Race | Applicants | Interviewed | Appointees | City-wide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 15.4% | 14.9% | 8.0% | 8.9% |
| East Asian | 8.8% | 6.8% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Latino | 2.2% | 2.7% | 2.0% | 2.9% |
| Middle Eastern | 5.5% | 13.5% | 6.0% | 3.6% |
| South Asian | 20.1% | 14.9% | 6.0% | 12.6% |
| Southeast Asian | 1.9% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 7.2% |
| White | 41.7% | 40.8% | 62.0% | 48.5% |
| Not listed | 4.4% | 6.8% | 4.0% | 3.1% |
The term disability covers a broad range and degree of conditions, some visible and some invisible. A disability may have been present at birth, caused by an accident, or developed over time. These include physical disabilities, hearing or vision disabilities, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, chronic illness and mental health disabilities and addictions. A disability may be permanent, temporary or episodic which may result in experiencing disadvantage or barriers to full participation in society.
We asked applicants, “Based on this description, do you consider yourself to be a person with a disability?”
| Disability | Applicants | Interviewed | Appointees | City-wide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 17.4% | 21.6% | 22.0% | 12.8%* |
*Data for the percentage of people City-wide who have a disability is taken from Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Disability, 2012. Toronto-specific data acquired courtesy of the Community Data Program.
2SLGBTQ+ is an abbreviation used to represent a broad array of identities including, two-spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer. We asked applicants, “Based on this description, do you consider yourself to be 2SLGBTQ+?”
| 2SLGBTQ+ | Applicants | Interviewed | Appointees | City-wide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 12.6% | 4.9% | 24.1% | 5 - 10%* |
*A 2012 Forum Research poll found that 5 per cent of Canadians identify as LGBT. Previous City of Toronto estimates have been 10 per cent.
Highlights for this update include: