Data Reference Standard on Person(s): Sex Assigned at Birth

1. Preamble

1.1 This data reference standard provides Government of Canada departments with a standard list of values to categorize data on person(s).
1.2 The list reflects the classifications of sex assigned at birth and is designed to provide common data variables of the reported sex at birth, typically assigned based on a person’s reproductive system and other physical characteristics.
1.3 This data reference standard is to be read in conjunction with the Disaggregated Data Action Plan.
1.4 This list of values is intended to standardize the way sex assigned at birth classifications are coded in systems and datasets. The numbering system is a one-digit code.
- 1.4.1 Appendix A lists reference data that includes the one-digit codes for designating sex assigned at birth.
- 1.4.2 Not included in this data reference standard is the lived or current sex of person(s).
1.5 The steward of this data reference standard will review the reference data in Appendix A as required to ensure it remains current.
- 1.5.1 Data reference standard steward: Statistics Canada
- 1.5.2 Data reference standard custodian: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Office of the Chief Information Officer of Canada

3.1 This data reference standard provides details on the requirements set out in subsection 4.4 of the Directive on Service and Digital.
3.2 Service owners, data practitioners and other individuals who interact with data must:
- 3.2.1 Apply the reference data linked in Appendix A by using the codes in the table column called “Code” when storing and sharing data on sex assigned at birth.
- 3.2.2 Using the terminology in Appendix A when publishing data on sex assigned at birth.

4.1 This data reference standard applies to the departments described in section 6 of the Directive on Service and Digital.
4.2 This data reference standard applies to datasets and systems developed after the effective date of this data reference standard.

5.1 This data reference standard should be read in conjunction with the following:

Policy instruments

Legislation

Additional information

6.1 For interpretation of any aspect of this data reference standard, contact ServiceDigital-ServicesNumerique@tbs-sct.gc.ca.
6.2 For support or advice on the measurement of “sex at birth of person” or related data variables, contact statcan.csds-cnsd.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.

This data reference standard is available in machine-readable formats.

**Table 1:** **Reference** **data for sex assigned at birth**
Code^{table 1 note *}	English title	French title	English definition	French definition
Table 1 Notes Table 1 Note 1 Numerical code that is aligned with the Statistics Canada departmental data standard on sex at birth of person. Return to table 1 note * referrer
1	Male	Sexe masculin	This category includes persons whose reported sex at birth is male.	Cette catégorie comprend les personnes dont le sexe à la naissance déclaré est masculin.
2	Female	Sexe féminin	This category includes persons whose reported sex at birth is female.	Cette catégorie comprend les personnes dont le sexe à la naissance déclaré est féminin.
3	Intersex	Intersexe	This category includes persons whose reported sex at birth is intersex.	Cette catégorie comprend les personnes dont le sexe à la naissance déclaré est intersexe.

2026-03-13