About one in six Canadian adults – roughly four million people – have been victims of racism, a survey suggests.

Conversely, one in 10 respondents said they wouldn't want people from another race as next-door neighbours, according to the Ipsos-Reid study to be released Monday.

A greater number –13 per cent – told pollsters they would never marry or have a relationship with someone from another race.

The study was commissioned by the Dominion Institute to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The survey results challenge Canadians' perception that the country is a model of tolerance and multiculturalism, according to the institute's director, Rudyard Griffiths.

"We knew that racism was a problem of the last generation. Well, according to four million of our fellow citizens, they feel that they've been the victim of racism," Griffiths told the Canadian Press.

"I think that shows that we can't be kind of complacent about the need to challenge racism whenever it rears its ugly head."

Most respondents in the study said they didn't think the amount of racism in their communities had changed much in the past five years.

Nearly 15 per cent of the 1,001 people surveyed said they thought skin colour made a difference at work.

The results of the survey, conducted March 12 to 15, are considered accurate to within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.