This recent study analyses the disparities in literacy levels between francophones and anglophones in Canada. It is based on data from the 1994 International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), the development and management of which were co-ordinated by Statistics Canada. Like many earlier surveys, the 1994 IALS identified sizable differences in literacy levels between francophones and anglophones. With respect to their performance on all three scales of literacy (prose, document, or quantitative literacy), francophones did less well on skill tests than anglophones.

This study uses several variables from the survey to identify factors that could explain such disparities between the two linguistic groups. For example, level of education plays a major role, as do age, sex and reading and writing habits. Historical factors are also important, especially given the substantial progress in education achieved by francophones between 1971 and 1996. This progress was such that among young people, there is almost no gap in literacy test scores between the linguistic groups. The study also examines substantial differences in literacy between Quebec francophones, living in a majority situation, and francophones living outside Quebec in a minority situation.

Literacy in Canada: Disparity between francophones and anglophones (89-573-XIE, free) is now available on Statistics Canada's Web site (http://www.statcan.ca). For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data analysis of this release, contact Jean-Pierre Corbeil, Demography Division, Statistics Canada, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa ON K1A 0T6, Tel. (613) 951-2315, E-mail : corbjea@statcan.ca