Quebec, Canada Population Data & Demographics

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Quebec. It is a province in Canada that encompasses a land area of 1,298,599.75 km2. The province has a population density of 6.50 people per km2.

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

Quebec location on the map. View in Google Map

About Quebec

Located in the northeastern part of Canada, Quebec stands out as one of the country’s most vibrant and unique provinces. With a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty, it is a magnet for both locals and international visitors.

The population of Quebec, as of the latest census, is over 8.5 million residents. This number speaks to its role as a major economic, cultural, and political player in Canada. The blend of French and English heritage has given rise to a diverse population, firmly rooted in its past yet always looking forward.

As Canada’s largest province by area, Quebec boasts an array of landscapes. From the bustling metropolis of Montreal, known for its festivals and arts scene, to the historic Quebec City with its fortified walls, to the expansive northern tundras, the province is a marvel of contrasts. The St. Lawrence River, meandering through its heart, has played a pivotal role in shaping the economic and social fabric of the region.

The influence of Quebec is not merely limited to its geographic expanse or its population density. It extends to its distinct identity in the realm of Canadian politics and its powerful role in shaping the nation’s discourse. The Charter of the French Language, for example, is a testament to Quebec’s commitment to preserving its linguistic and cultural heritage in a predominantly English-speaking nation.

Education and healthcare are other pillars upon which Quebec places significant emphasis. Its array of esteemed universities and robust healthcare system are illustrative of a province committed to the welfare of its citizens. The natural resources sector, including forestry, mining, and hydroelectric power, further underscores its economic prowess and the importance it holds in the broader Canadian landscape.

One cannot discuss Quebec without acknowledging its vibrant arts scene. The world-renowned Montreal Jazz Festival, the cinematic endeavors of filmmakers like Denis Villeneuve, and the literary contributions of authors such as Louise Penny are all a testament to Quebec’s rich cultural tapestry.

Quebec, as a province, is much more than just a geographical entity on the Canadian map. Its robust population, expansive landscapes, economic might, and cultural contributions make it a cornerstone of the Canadian identity. Whether one is drawn to its history, its arts, or its natural wonders, Quebec invariably leaves an indelible mark on its visitors and residents alike.

Photos of Places & Sceneries in Quebec

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Quebec has a population of around 8,501,833 people. The province's population is in increased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Newfoundland and Labrador has increased by 4.13%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
8,164,3618,501,833 +4.13%

Population By Genders

The male population of Quebec is around 4,201,960 while the female population is around 4,299,870.

Of the 8,501,833 total population in Quebec, the largest gender is female with around 4,299,870 women within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
4,201,9604,299,870 +2.28%

Population by Age Characteristics

Quebec 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 province median age is 43.20.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
60 to 64 years307,710 7.30%317,900 7.40% 3.21%625,610 7.40%
55 to 59 years307,230 7.30%308,465 7.20% 0.40%615,690 7.20%
40 to 44 years286,405 6.80%286,160 6.70% 0.09%572,565 6.70%
35 to 39 years274,350 6.50%276,075 6.40% 0.62%550,425 6.50%
65 to 69 years264,020 6.30%277,950 6.50% 5.01%541,970 6.40%
30 to 34 years267,770 6.40%268,270 6.20% 0.19%536,040 6.30%
25 to 29 years266,455 6.30%260,700 6.10% 2.16%527,150 6.20%
50 to 54 years262,610 6.20%260,325 6.10% 0.87%522,935 6.20%
45 to 49 years259,565 6.20%256,905 6.00% 1.02%516,465 6.10%
10 to 14 years250,855 6.00%238,570 5.50% 4.90%489,425 5.80%
5 to 9 years245,295 5.80%233,665 5.40% 4.74%478,955 5.60%
20 to 24 years235,250 5.60%225,405 5.20% 4.18%460,660 5.40%
70 to 74 years217,985 5.20%237,910 5.50% 8.38%455,900 5.40%
15 to 19 years219,400 5.20%209,995 4.90% 4.29%429,400 5.10%
0 to 4 years217,145 5.20%205,840 4.80% 5.21%422,980 5.00%
75 to 79 years153,790 3.70%177,050 4.10% 13.14%330,840 3.90%
85 years and over75,305 1.80%139,115 3.20% 45.87%214,415 2.50%
80 to 84 years90,825 2.20%119,580 2.80% 24.05%210,405 2.50%
85 to 89 years50,610 1.20%81,150 1.90% 37.63%131,755 1.50%
90 to 94 years20,490 0.50%44,535 1.00% 53.99%65,020 0.80%
95 to 99 years3,875 0.10%11,790 0.30% 67.13%15,665 0.20%
100 years and over330 0.00%1,640 0.00% 79.88%1,975 0.00%

Broader Age Groups

If the province'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 63.00% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 20.60% and 16.40%, respectively.

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

DataMaleFemaleTotal
15 to 64 years63.90%62.10%63.00%
Median age of the population42.00%44.00%43.20%
Average age of the population41.80%43.70%42.80%
65 years and over19.10%22.10%20.60%
0 to 14 years17.00%15.80%16.40%

Explore Quebec Through Videos

Population of Quebec by Ethnicity and Origin

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

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in the province are Canadian, which accounts for 29.03% of the total population, followed by French (21.41%), French Canadian (7.09%), Irish (4.86%), and Italian (3.81%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include Scottish, English, Haitian, Caucasian (White), and First Nations (North American Indian).

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
Canadian28.74%29.32%29.03%
French21.76%21.07%21.41%
French Canadian7.04%7.13%7.09%
Irish4.69%5.04%4.86%
Italian3.82%3.80%3.81%
Scottish2.26%2.38%2.32%
English2.15%2.12%2.14%
Haitian1.78%1.97%1.88%
Caucasian (White)1.84%1.77%1.80%
First Nations (North American Indian)1.57%1.75%1.66%

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 1,671,920 of Quebec's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 1 person household.

Household Size

About 17.55% of the population lives in 1 person households. 2 persons households ranked second, accounting for 17.30% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 6.40%, 5.70%, and 3.05%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
1 person1,317,50517.55%
2 persons1,295,73017.30%
3 persons480,1356.40%
4 persons427,6055.70%
5 or more persons228,0603.05%

Income in Quebec

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

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Quebec is $40,800.

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

Most of Quebec population or around 5,202,030 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 4,841,510 and 3,975,715 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Quebec's median household income is $72,500, according to 2020 data.

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

Education Levels in Quebec

This data sheds light on the distribution of Quebec 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.

65.80% or most of the Quebec population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 26.50% of the population has a Bachelor's degree or higher, 19.20% has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 15.00% has No certificate, diploma or degree.

Only using 25% sample data.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree3,555,5603,781,1107,336,66565.80%
Bachelor's degree or higher1,315,0051,621,1602,936,16526.50%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate1,107,4101,127,4702,234,87519.20%
No certificate, diploma or degree960,310821,4051,781,70515.00%

Employment in Quebec

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

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is at 4.84% which is pretty low.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate59.27%
Unemployment rate4.84%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the province who work as an employee. The majority of Quebec's population (around 71.90%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the province, there are 324,555 men and 206,165 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 530,720.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed324,555206,165530,720

Employment Industry Sectors

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

Quebec 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 10%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Health care and social assistance122,675494,52514%
Retail trade248,905265,18512%
Manufacturing320,715128,40510%
Professional, scientific and technical services193,365151,9858%
Educational services104,300236,5908%
Construction254,79541,2407%
Public administration144,705146,0557%
Accommodation and food services109,950122,5305%
Transportation and warehousing161,11548,3305%
Other services (except public administration)89,730100,7354%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services104,69566,6454%
Finance and insurance74,02095,9604%
Wholesale trade96,67050,6703%
Information and cultural industries57,49536,6302%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting55,05523,9902%
Arts, entertainment and recreation38,81033,8902%
Real estate and rental and leasing35,45027,5751%
Utilities22,6808,3301%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction21,2003,6951%
Management of companies and enterprises2,6752,9350%

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the province. 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 work1,351,3601,400,9302,752,28567.10%
Worked at home435,285462,480897,77021.90%
No fixed workplace address333,730108,305442,03510.80%
Worked outside Canada5,9802,3808,3550.20%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Quebec 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 Quebec residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

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

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
15 to 29 minutes34.80%
Less than 15 minutes31.50%
30 to 44 minutes19.90%
45 to 59 minutes7.40%
60 minutes and over6.50%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Quebecshed 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 province's social fabric. We can gain insights into Quebec's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
55.80%
Married or living common-law
44.20%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights province'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 Quebec. About 6,909,570 people living in the province speak French, 1,088,820 people speak English, 329,515 people speak English and French language, and 79,000 people speak Neither English nor French language.

LanguagePopulation
French6,909,570
English1,088,820
English and French329,515
Neither English nor French79,000

Religion

Quebec is predominantly Christian. About 5,385,240 of its population is Christian (2,596,385 males and 2,596,385 females).

The second largest religion in the province is Muslim with 5.1% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Jewish and Buddhist, both represent 1.0% and 0.6% of the population, while Hindu represent 0.6% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian64.8%
Islam5.1%
Jewish1.0%
Buddhist0.6%
Hindu0.6%
Sikh0.3%