​Demographics are, simply put, the characteristics of a population. Demographics can include the age range within a community, racial and cultural composition, and household types. Knowing the basic attributes of a community is essential to make decisions about programs, services, and policies needed to support community members.

Some groups in Canada face unequal access to factors associated with the social determinants of health, such as health care, education, and housing. If the demographics of vulnerable groups within a community are known, decision-makers can allocate resources and provide targeted services and programs specific to that community that could ultimately improve well-being.