Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec Population & Demographics: Is It a Good Place to Live?

Data source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population — View the official Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu census dataset on Statistics Canada

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. It is a city in Canada that encompasses a land area of 226.93 km2. The city has a population density of 431.30 people per km2.

We highlight the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu city's various population characteristics. From gender, age distribution, ethnicity, household and dwelling, and income to spoken languages, occupation, and religion.

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu on the Map

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu has a population of around 97,873 people. The city's population is in increased. Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu has increased by ▲ 2.90%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
95,11497,873 +2.90%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.57% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's population is projected to reach approximately 100,712 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 443.80 people per km².

Population in 2021Projected Population in 2026Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
97,873100,712443.80

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.

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Population Trend & Context

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu had a 2021 census population of 97,873 — an increase of 2,759 (▲ 2.90%) people from the 95,114 recorded in 2016.

The city's population has grown slightly over this period, reflecting broader growth trends among Quebec cities. The city's median age of 43.6 years closely mirrors the national median of 41.9, suggesting a demographic profile in line with the Canadian average.

Population By Genders

The male population of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is around 48,115 while the female population is around 49,755.

Of the 97,873 total population in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, the largest gender is female with around 49,755 female within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
48,11549,755 +3.30%

Is Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu a Good Place to Live?

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

Employment & Economy

5.8%
Unemployment rate
1.8 pts below the province
61.0%
Employment rate
1.7 pts above the province
64.8%
Participation rate
0.7 pts above the province

Income & Affordability

$74,500
Median household income
$2,000 above the province
9.6%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
2.3 pts below the province

Commute

66.7%
Commute under 30 minutes
0.4 pts above the province
91.7%
Commute by car
9.3 pts above the province
2.9%
Commute by public transit
6.1 pts below the province

Housing Character

50.1%
Single-detached houses
5.5 pts above the province
41.8%
Apartments (any building size)
4.6 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.20 people
Average household size
About the same as the province
33.7%
One-person households
1.4 pts below the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Population Compared to Quebec

Quebec's population in 2021 was 8,501,833, spread across the area. Here's how Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu compares to the city's key indicators:

IndicatorSaint-Jean-sur-RichelieuQuebec
Median household income$74,500$72,500
Unemployment rate5.8%7.6%
Median age43.643.2
Bachelor's degree or higher17.4%26.5%
Immigrants (%)4.4%14.6%

Population by Age Characteristics

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 60 to 64 years old, accounting for 7.40% of the total population. The city median age is 43.60.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
60 to 64 years3,460 7.20%3,745 7.50% 7.61%7,210 7.40%
55 to 59 years3,490 7.30%3,545 7.10% 1.55%7,035 7.20%
40 to 44 years3,310 6.90%3,270 6.60% 1.21%6,585 6.70%
65 to 69 years3,050 6.30%3,365 6.80% 9.36%6,410 6.50%
35 to 39 years3,040 6.30%3,130 6.30% 2.88%6,170 6.30%
50 to 54 years2,970 6.20%3,100 6.20% 4.19%6,070 6.20%
30 to 34 years3,050 6.30%2,990 6.00% 1.97%6,040 6.20%
10 to 14 years3,115 6.50%2,895 5.80% 7.06%6,010 6.10%
45 to 49 years2,935 6.10%2,965 6.00% 1.01%5,895 6.00%
25 to 29 years2,920 6.10%2,775 5.60% 4.97%5,695 5.80%
5 to 9 years2,885 6.00%2,700 5.40% 6.41%5,580 5.70%
70 to 74 years2,585 5.40%2,940 5.90% 12.07%5,525 5.60%
0 to 4 years2,610 5.40%2,440 4.90% 6.51%5,045 5.20%
15 to 19 years2,510 5.20%2,360 4.70% 5.98%4,865 5.00%
20 to 24 years2,355 4.90%2,320 4.70% 1.49%4,670 4.80%
75 to 79 years1,890 3.90%2,155 4.30% 12.30%4,050 4.10%
80 to 84 years1,070 2.20%1,520 3.10% 29.61%2,585 2.60%
85 years and over880 1.80%1,545 3.10% 43.04%2,425 2.50%
85 to 89 years575 1.20%910 1.80% 36.81%1,485 1.50%
90 to 94 years260 0.50%490 1.00% 46.94%750 0.80%
95 to 99 years35 0.10%130 0.30% 73.08%165 0.20%

Broader Age Groups

If the city'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 61.50% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 21.50% and 17.00%, respectively.

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

DataMaleFemaleTotal
15 to 64 years62.40%60.70%61.50%
65 years and over19.70%23.20%21.50%
0 to 14 years17.90%16.10%17.00%

Population of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu by Ethnicity and Origin

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

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu are Canadian, which accounts for 39.11% of the total population, followed by French (23.11%), French Canadian (8.63%), Irish (5.40%), and Caucasian (White) (2.47%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu include Italian, First Nations (North American Indian), Scottish, English, and German.

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
Canadian38.48%39.74%39.11%
French23.52%22.71%23.11%
French Canadian8.56%8.68%8.63%
Irish5.13%5.67%5.40%
Caucasian (White)2.53%2.40%2.47%
Italian2.13%2.29%2.21%
First Nations (North American Indian)2.12%2.16%2.15%
Scottish1.75%1.83%1.79%
English1.63%1.56%1.59%
German1.33%1.28%1.31%

Indigenous Identity in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

About 1.48% of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's population (1,415 people) identify with an Indigenous identity, compared to 98.52% who report a non-Indigenous identity.

Of the Indigenous population, 250 people (0.30% of the total population) hold Registered or Treaty Indian status.

Indigenous identity
1.48%
Non-Indigenous identity
98.52%

Immigration Profile

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

About 4.4% of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's population are immigrants (4,205 people).

The top countries of origin for Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's immigrant population are France (730), Algeria (255), Morocco (215), Afghanistan (175), Colombia (150).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
France730
Algeria255
Morocco215
Afghanistan175
Colombia150

98.3% of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's residents (94,025 people) are Canadian citizens, and 1.7% are not.

By generation status, 5.3% of residents are first generation (born outside Canada), 5.1% are second generation, and 89.5% are third generation or more.

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 21,495 of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 17.70% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 16.85% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 6.70%, 5.85%, and 2.90%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
2 persons15,20017.70%
1 person14,45516.85%
3 persons5,7456.70%
4 persons5,0355.85%
5 or more persons2,4752.90%

Family and Household Structure in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

Of census families in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, 83.0% are couple families and 17.0% are one-parent families. The average census family has 2.8 people.

Couple families
83.05%
One-parent families
16.95%

33.7% of households in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu are one-person households, 50.2% are couple-family households, 9.3% are one-parent-family households, and 1.6% are multigenerational households.

Household TypeHouseholdsPercentage
One-person households14,46033.7%
Couple-family households21,54550.2%
One-parent-family households3,9959.3%
Multigenerational households6801.6%

Income in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

Analyzing income distribution in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is $42,400.

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 city's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu population or around 12,515 people falls in the $50,000 to $79,999 group. The next largest groups are the $10,000 to $29,999, and $30,000 to $49,999 with around 12,370 and 12,055 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's median household income is $74,500, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's median household income is 9,500 dollars below the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the city'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 city's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

This data sheds light on the distribution of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 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.

66.40% or most of the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 20.60% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 13.00% has a No certificate, diploma or degree. (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 degree15,62517,92033,55066.40%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate5,4254,97010,39020.60%
No certificate, diploma or degree3,9052,6506,55513.00%

Below national average 19.3% of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is at 5.77% which is quite high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate61.04%
Unemployment rate5.77%

Work Activity During the Reference Year

Of the population aged 15 and over in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, 35.8% worked full year full time in the reference year, 29.4% worked part year and/or part time, and 34.8% did not work.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work ActivityPopulationPercentage
Worked full year full time28,32535.8%
Worked part year and/or part time23,27029.4%
Did not work27,48534.8%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the city who work as an employee. The majority of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's population (around 76.60%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the city, there are 3,190 men and 2,215 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 5,405.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed3,1902,2155,405

Employment Industry Sectors

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

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (14%) works in the health care and social assistance sector. The Retail trade sector comes second at 12%, followed by Manufacturing at 12%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Health care and social assistance1,1056,29014%
Retail trade3,1453,22512%
Manufacturing4,5001,79012%
Construction3,9456259%
Educational services1,0252,6757%
Public administration1,9451,3907%
Professional, scientific and technical services1,5701,5606%
Transportation and warehousing1,8606755%
Accommodation and food services1,1651,3605%
Other services (except public administration)1,0451,0804%
Finance and insurance6901,2154%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services1,0857704%
Wholesale trade1,1254303%
Information and cultural industries5503352%
Real estate and rental and leasing3653601%
Arts, entertainment and recreation3252851%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting2651751%
Utilities235951%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction130100%
Management of companies and enterprises30250%

Labour Market Snapshot

A quick snapshot of where Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.

Top employer sectors in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu: Health care and social assistance (14%), Retail trade (12%), Manufacturing (12%)

Top occupation categories in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu: Sales and service occupations (24%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (20%), Business, finance and administration occupations (17%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the city. 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 work16,92017,86534,78072.00%
Worked at home3,6254,2557,88016.30%
No fixed workplace address4,2851,2555,54011.50%
Worked outside Canada600700.10%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 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 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

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

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
Less than 15 minutes39.40%
15 to 29 minutes27.30%
30 to 44 minutes19.60%
45 to 59 minutes8.60%
60 minutes and over5.10%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 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 city's social fabric. We can gain insights into Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
57.18%
Married or living common-law
42.82%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights city'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 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. About 92,690 people living in the city speak French, 3,000 people speak English, 995 people speak English and French language, and 150 people speak Neither English nor French language.

LanguagePopulation
French92,690
English3,000
English and French995
Neither English nor French150

Knowledge of Official Languages

About 43.7% of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's population is bilingual, knowing both English and French. 0.6% know English only, 55.5% know French only, and 0.2% know neither official language.

Knowledge of Official LanguagesPopulationPercentage
English only5800.6%
French only53,74555.5%
English and French42,34543.7%
Neither English nor French1650.2%

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
French92.5%94.4%
Non-official languages3.1%1.3%
English2.5%2.4%

Religion

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is predominantly Christian. About 65,910 of its population is Christian (31,515 males and 34,395 females).

The second largest religion in the city is Muslim with 1.4% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Buddhist and Hindu, both represent 0.2% and 0.0% of the population, while Jewish represent 0.0% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian68.9%
Islam1.4%
Buddhist0.2%
Hindu0.0%
Jewish0.0%
Sikh0.0%

Points of Interest in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

Hospitals

Schools

Parks

Libraries

Community Centres

Places to Visit in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

Museums

Attractions

Historic Sites

Theatres

Green Spaces in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Nearest Cities to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

Frequently Asked Questions about Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu has a population of 97,873 people, making it the 11th city in Quebec. The population increased moderately from 95,114 in 2016, an increase of 2,759 people or 2.90%. The city has a population density of 431.3 people per km² across a land area of 226.93 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's population grew by 2.90% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 95,114 to 97,873 people, a gain of 2,759 residents. This modest growth reflects patterns seen in many other Quebec cities during this period. The median age of 43.60 years suggests a mature, established community. The relatively high proportion of one-person households (33.7%) 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.

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu has a population density of approximately 431.30 people per square kilometre.

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu covers a land area of approximately 226.93 km².

The median age of the population in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is 43.60 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is Canadian.

The median household income in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is $74,500, based on 2020 data.

French is the most common first official language spoken in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

Christian is the predominant religion in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

According to the 2021 Census, 1.5% of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's population identifies with an Indigenous identity.

98.3% of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu's residents are Canadian citizens, based on 2021 Census data.

One-parent families make up 17.0% of census families in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, according to the 2021 Census.

Multigenerational households make up 1.6% of all households in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, per the 2021 Census.

43.7% of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu'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 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, 35.8% 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.