Census divisions are the second-level administrative units in Canada's geographic hierarchy, with 293 such divisions established across the country. These divisions serve primarily as statistical boundaries created and maintained by Statistics Canada for the purpose of organizing and disseminating census data. In most provinces, census divisions correspond to existing local government units such as counties, regional municipalities, or regional districts, while in others they represent purely statistical areas without administrative functions. The divisions facilitate the collection and analysis of demographic, economic, and social data at a sub-provincial level. While some census divisions align with actual administrative bodies that deliver services like regional planning, waste management, or public transit, others exist solely as geographic frameworks for statistical reporting and have no governance role whatsoever.