Joliette, Quebec Population & Demographics: Is It a Good Place to Live?

Data source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population — View the official Joliette census dataset on Statistics Canada

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Joliette. It is a town in Canada that encompasses a land area of 22.96 km2. The town has a population density of 931.20 people per km2.

We highlight the Joliette town's various population characteristics. From gender, age distribution, ethnicity, household and dwelling, and income to spoken languages, occupation, and religion.

Joliette on the Map

Joliette location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Joliette has a population of around 21,384 people. The town's population is in increased. Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Joliette has increased by ▲ 4.39%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
20,48421,384 +4.39%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.86% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Joliette's population is projected to reach approximately 22,324 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 972.30 people per km².

Population in 2021Projected Population in 2026Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
21,38422,324972.30

This projection is an estimate calculated by CAPopulation from the compound annual growth rate between the 2016 and 2021 censuses. Official 2026 complete census data expected to be released in late 2027.

Joliette Population Trend & Context

Joliette had a 2021 census population of 21,384 — an increase of 900 (▲ 4.39%) people from the 20,484 recorded in 2016.

The town's population has grown slightly over this period, reflecting broader growth trends among Quebec towns. The town's median age of 46.8 years — above the national median of 41.9 — suggests a mature, established community rather than a rapidly growing one.

Population By Genders

The male population of Joliette is around 10,090 while the female population is around 11,295.

Of the 21,384 total population in Joliette, the largest gender is female with around 11,295 female within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
10,09011,295 +10.67%

Is Joliette a Good Place to Live?

Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Joliette compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against Quebec, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.

Employment & Economy

8.4%
Unemployment rate
0.8 pts above the province
49.1%
Employment rate
10.2 pts below the province
53.6%
Participation rate
10.5 pts below the province

Income & Affordability

$52,800
Median household income
$19,700 below the province
20.9%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
9.0 pts above the province

Commute

74.8%
Commute under 30 minutes
8.5 pts above the province
85.4%
Commute by car
3.0 pts above the province
1.0%
Commute by public transit
8.0 pts below the province

Housing Character

30.4%
Single-detached houses
14.2 pts below the province
63.1%
Apartments (any building size)
16.7 pts above the province

Household Composition

1.90 people
Average household size
0.30people below the province
45.5%
One-person households
10.4 pts above the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Joliette Population Compared to Quebec

Quebec's population in 2021 was 8,501,833, spread across the area. Here's how Joliette compares to the town's key indicators:

IndicatorJolietteQuebec
Median household income$52,800$72,500
Unemployment rate8.4%7.6%
Median age46.843.2
Bachelor's degree or higher15.3%26.5%
Immigrants (%)6.2%14.6%

Population by Age Characteristics

Joliette has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 60 to 64 years old, accounting for 8.30% of the total population. The town median age is 46.80.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
60 to 64 years790 7.80%995 8.80% 20.60%1,785 8.30%
65 to 69 years745 7.40%920 8.10% 19.02%1,670 7.80%
55 to 59 years720 7.10%805 7.10% 10.56%1,525 7.10%
70 to 74 years615 6.10%745 6.60% 17.45%1,355 6.30%
25 to 29 years710 7.00%640 5.70% 9.86%1,350 6.30%
40 to 44 years630 6.20%620 5.50% 1.59%1,255 5.90%
30 to 34 years630 6.20%615 5.40% 2.38%1,245 5.80%
35 to 39 years630 6.20%605 5.40% 3.97%1,235 5.80%
75 to 79 years480 4.80%685 6.10% 29.93%1,165 5.40%
20 to 24 years550 5.50%610 5.40% 9.84%1,155 5.40%
50 to 54 years520 5.20%565 5.00% 7.96%1,090 5.10%
10 to 14 years550 5.50%535 4.70% 2.73%1,085 5.10%
45 to 49 years510 5.10%565 5.00% 9.73%1,075 5.00%
5 to 9 years510 5.10%490 4.30% 3.92%1,005 4.70%
0 to 4 years495 4.90%470 4.20% 5.05%970 4.50%
15 to 19 years475 4.70%495 4.40% 4.04%970 4.50%
85 years and over235 2.30%510 4.50% 53.92%745 3.50%
80 to 84 years290 2.90%415 3.70% 30.12%705 3.30%
85 to 89 years150 1.50%295 2.60% 49.15%450 2.10%
90 to 94 years65 0.60%155 1.40% 58.06%225 1.10%

Broader Age Groups

If the town's population is divided into broader age groups, most of the population falls into the 15 to 64 years age group. The group accounts for 59.30% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 26.40% and 14.30%, respectively.

If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Joliette are within the 15 to 64 years age group.

DataMaleFemaleTotal
15 to 64 years61.10%57.70%59.30%
65 years and over23.40%29.00%26.40%
0 to 14 years15.40%13.30%14.30%

Population of Joliette by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Joliette is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Joliette is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the town appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in Joliette are Canadian, which accounts for 35.14% of the total population, followed by French (22.61%), French Canadian (8.18%), Irish (4.57%), and First Nations (North American Indian) (2.08%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Joliette include Caucasian (White), Acadian, Italian, Scottish, and Christian, n.i.e..

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
Canadian33.83%36.35%35.14%
French23.52%21.83%22.61%
French Canadian8.11%8.29%8.18%
Irish4.13%4.96%4.57%
First Nations (North American Indian)2.19%2.01%2.08%
Caucasian (White)2.04%1.83%1.95%
Acadian1.22%1.50%1.37%
Italian1.58%0.98%1.29%
Scottish1.17%1.31%1.25%
Christian, n.i.e.1.28%1.26%1.25%

Indigenous Identity in Joliette

About 2.39% of Joliette's population (490 people) identify with an Indigenous identity, compared to 97.61% who report a non-Indigenous identity.

Of the Indigenous population, 240 people (1.20% of the total population) hold Registered or Treaty Indian status.

Indigenous identity
2.39%
Non-Indigenous identity
97.61%

Immigration Profile

Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Joliette's population profile.

About 6.2% of Joliette's population are immigrants (1,260 people).

The top countries of origin for Joliette's immigrant population are Colombia (165), France (145), Congo, Democratic Republic of the (145), Syria (95), Algeria (55).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
Colombia165
France145
Congo, Democratic Republic of the145
Syria95
Algeria55

96.3% of Joliette's residents (19,720 people) are Canadian citizens, and 3.7% are not.

By generation status, 7.6% of residents are first generation (born outside Canada), 4.1% are second generation, and 88.3% are third generation or more.

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 5,305 of Joliette's population live in a apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys. In addition, most of them are living in 1 person household.

Household Size

About 22.75% of the population lives in 1 person households. 2 persons households ranked second, accounting for 16.70% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 4.90%, 3.55%, and 2.05%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
1 person4,81022.75%
2 persons3,53516.70%
3 persons1,0404.90%
4 persons7553.55%
5 or more persons4302.05%

Family and Household Structure in Joliette

Of census families in Joliette, 76.8% are couple families and 23.2% are one-parent families. The average census family has 2.7 people.

Couple families
76.78%
One-parent families
23.22%

45.5% of households in Joliette are one-person households, 36.8% are couple-family households, 10.3% are one-parent-family households, and 0.9% are multigenerational households.

Household TypeHouseholdsPercentage
One-person households4,80545.5%
Couple-family households3,89036.8%
One-parent-family households1,09010.3%
Multigenerational households950.9%

Income in Joliette

Analyzing income distribution in Joliette can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Joliette is $34,800.

A region's per capita data sheds light on the average income earned per person living in it. Since per capita income is calculated by dividing the region's total income by its population, it quantifies the population's economic situation on an individual basis.

Such data offers insights into the town's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Joliette population or around 2,915 people falls in the $10,000 to $29,999 group. The next largest groups are the $30,000 to $49,999, and $50,000 to $79,999 with around 2,380 and 1,825 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Joliette's median household income is $52,800, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Joliette's median household income is 31,200 dollars below the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the town's economic landscape as well as the living standards of its population.

Analyzing such data enables researchers, policymakers, and businesses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the town's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Joliette

This data sheds light on the distribution of Joliette residents across educational milestones.

Such information is crucial in shaping the province’s policies on education, workforce development strategies, and initiatives that aim to improve access to quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

57.40% or most of the Joliette population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 22.70% of the population has a No certificate, diploma or degree, and 19.90% has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate. (Individual figures may not sum to exactly 100% due to Statistics Canada's random rounding of small-area 25% sample data.)

Population aged 25 to 64 years, using 25% sample data. Individual values may not sum exactly to totals due to Statistics Canada's random rounding.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree2,7053,2755,98057.40%
No certificate, diploma or degree1,3709902,36022.70%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate1,0859852,07019.90%

Below national average 16.5% of Joliette's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Joliette

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Joliette. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Joliette is at 8.41% which is very high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate49.08%
Unemployment rate8.41%

Work Activity During the Reference Year

Of the population aged 15 and over in Joliette, 27.2% worked full year full time in the reference year, 26.7% worked part year and/or part time, and 46.1% did not work.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work ActivityPopulationPercentage
Worked full year full time4,74527.2%
Worked part year and/or part time4,64526.7%
Did not work8,02546.1%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the town who work as an employee. The majority of Joliette's population (around 75.10%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 480 men and 330 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 805.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed480330805

Employment Industry Sectors

The Joliette industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Joliette is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.

Joliette has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (18%) works in the health care and social assistance sector. The Retail trade sector comes second at 15%, followed by Manufacturing at 11%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Health care and social assistance3101,38518%
Retail trade62576015%
Manufacturing82521011%
Educational services2405458%
Construction600657%
Accommodation and food services2603156%
Other services (except public administration)2352305%
Professional, scientific and technical services2352205%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services2951154%
Public administration1601954%
Transportation and warehousing275554%
Wholesale trade210453%
Finance and insurance70952%
Information and cultural industries90401%
Real estate and rental and leasing70501%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting65401%
Arts, entertainment and recreation65301%
Utilities10200%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction2000%
Management of companies and enterprises000%

Labour Market Snapshot

A quick snapshot of where Joliette residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.

Top employer sectors in Joliette: Health care and social assistance (18%), Retail trade (15%), Manufacturing (11%)

Top occupation categories in Joliette: Sales and service occupations (29%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (18%), Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (14%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the town. It provides a snapshot of workplaces, showing their geographic distribution and the flow of workers across different areas.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work LocationMenWomenTotalPercentage
Usual place of work3,1903,5256,71578.50%
Worked at home46044590510.60%
No fixed workplace address69521090510.60%
Worked outside Canada200200.20%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Joliette residents travel to school or work. It highlights the frequency of different modes of transportation like walking, cycling, carpooling, and public transit.

The data is pivotal in the making of transportation policies as well as the development of transit systems. Ultimately commuting data contributes to improving the quality of life of Joliette residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Joliette spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the town's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the town.

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
Less than 15 minutes51.90%
15 to 29 minutes22.90%
30 to 44 minutes12.50%
60 minutes and over7.10%
45 to 59 minutes5.40%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Joliette shed light on its societal dynamics. It captures the diverse types of marital statuses of the population.

Long-term commitments, such as common-law partnerships, civil unions, and marriages, reflect the town's social fabric. We can gain insights into Joliette's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
45.72%
Married or living common-law
54.28%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights town's linguistic diversity, showing elegances of solo language as well as bilingual harmonies. Other than language, it also shows the cultural landscape in Canada.

French is the most spoken official language in Joliette. About 20,510 people living in the town speak French, 310 people speak English, 140 people speak English and French language, and 75 people speak Neither English nor French language.

LanguagePopulation
French20,510
English310
English and French140
Neither English nor French75

Knowledge of Official Languages

About 30.9% of Joliette's population is bilingual, knowing both English and French. 0.3% know English only, 68.3% know French only, and 0.4% know neither official language.

Knowledge of Official LanguagesPopulationPercentage
English only700.3%
French only14,37568.3%
English and French6,51030.9%
Neither English nor French850.4%

Mother Tongue & Home Language

Useful for newcomers researching an area: this shows the language residents first learned at home in childhood (mother tongue) and the language they speak most often at home now, which can differ as families settle in.

LanguageMother TongueSpoken Most Often at Home
French92.3%94.7%
Non-official languages4.6%2.8%
English1.1%0.9%

Religion

Joliette is predominantly Christian. About 13,420 of its population is Christian (6,120 males and 7,295 females).

The second largest religion in the town is Muslim with 2.4% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Buddhist and Hindu, both represent 0.3% and 0.0% of the population, while Jewish represent 0.0% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian65.6%
Islam2.4%
Buddhist0.3%
Hindu0.0%
Jewish0.0%
Sikh0.0%

Points of Interest in Joliette

Hospitals

Schools

Parks

Libraries

Community Centres

Places to Visit in Joliette

Museums

Historic Sites

Stadiums

Theatres

Green Spaces in Joliette

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Nearest Towns to Joliette

Frequently Asked Questions about Joliette

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Joliette has a population of 21,384 people, making it the 54th town in Quebec. The population increased moderately from 20,484 in 2016, an increase of 900 people or 4.39%. The town has a population density of 931.2 people per km² across a land area of 22.96 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.

Joliette's population grew by 4.39% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 20,484 to 21,384 people, a gain of 900 residents. This modest growth reflects patterns seen in many other Quebec towns during this period. The median age of 46.80 years suggests an aging population. The relatively high proportion of one-person households (45.5%) may indicate young adults leaving for larger centres. Official 2026 Census data, which will confirm whether this trend continued, is expected from Statistics Canada in February 2027.

Joliette has a population density of approximately 931.20 people per square kilometre.

Joliette covers a land area of approximately 22.96 km².

The median age of the population in Joliette is 46.80 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Joliette is Canadian.

The median household income in Joliette is $52,800, based on 2020 data.

French is the most common first official language spoken in Joliette.

Christian is the predominant religion in Joliette.

According to the 2021 Census, 2.4% of Joliette's population identifies with an Indigenous identity.

96.3% of Joliette's residents are Canadian citizens, based on 2021 Census data.

One-parent families make up 23.2% of census families in Joliette, according to the 2021 Census.

Multigenerational households make up 0.9% of all households in Joliette, per the 2021 Census.

30.9% of Joliette's population knows both English and French, based on 2021 Census data on knowledge of official languages.

Of the population aged 15 and over in Joliette, 27.2% worked full year full time in the 2021 Census reference year.

Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca) conducted the 2026 Census of Population in May 2026. However, census data goes through an extensive processing, validation, and quality-assurance period before public release. Based on the release plan, the 2026 Census results begin rolling out on February 10, 2027, with complete community-level profiles available by December 1, 2027. Until then, this page uses 2021 Census data as its primary source, supplemented by a population projection estimate for 2026 calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from the 2016–2021 Census period.