Skip to content

SDMX

What is SDMX?

SDMX, which stands for Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange is an international initiative that aims at standardizing and modernizing (“industrializing”) the mechanisms and processes for the exchange of statistical data and metadata among international organizations and their member countries.

Simply, SDMX is a new technology that simplifies the transmission of statistical data. SDMX is a standard and technology to style and transmit data using machine-to-machine language. It is a:

  • Logical model to describe and structure content
  • Standard for automatic communication
  • Technology supporting standardization

SDMX at STC

Currently, Census Profile information is available at all geography levels via an SDMX API. This providers a modern, streamlines method of connecting to Statistic's Canada Census data.

In the near future, all CODAR products will be available via an SDMX API. A small example is included below.

Learn more about the 2021 Census Profile SMDX API


NOTE: This feature is still under exploration. As GAE continues to explore and learn about SDMX, we are excited about the possibilities it offers to improve our ability to derive insights from data.

API Example

STC Census Profile SDMX Python API
import pandas as pd
import pandasdmx as sdmx
info = {
  "id": "STC_CP",
  "url": "https://api.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/profile/sdmx/rest",
  "name": "STC Census Profiles"
}
sdmx.add_source(info, id=None, override=True)
stc = sdmx.Request('STC_CP')
resp = stc.data('df_pr')
#df_pr- Canada, provinces and territories dataflow
data = resp.to_pandas()
#returns a series with a multi-index, "2-d series; 3-d data frame"
data
The code above returns this multi-index data frame: sdmx_frame After conditioning of the Ref_Area column, you can then join it to a spatial data frame or geography layer.

Dataflow code Name of Dataflow
DF_PR * Canada, provinces and territories
used in example above
DF_ADA aggregate dissemination area
DF_CD census divisions
DF_CMACA census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations
DF_CSD census subdivisions (municipalities)
DF_CT census tracts
DF_DA dissemination areas
DF_DPL designated places
DF_ER economic regions
DF_FED federal electoral districts (2013 Representation Order)
DF_POPCNTR population centres

SDMX API CHEAT SHEET : The SDMX Technical Working Group has also published a two-page cheat sheet (PDF, 83 KB) that summarizes the main points of the SDMX 2.1 RESTful API.