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

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

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Gatineau. It is a town in Canada that encompasses a land area of 341.84 km2. The town has a population density of 851.40 people per km2.

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

Gatineau on the Map

Gatineau location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Gatineau has a population of around 291,041 people. The town's population is in increased. Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Gatineau has increased by ▲ 5.36%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
276,245291,041 +5.36%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.05% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Gatineau's population is projected to reach approximately 306,629 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 897.00 people per km².

Population in 2021Projected Population in 2026Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
291,041306,629897.00

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.

Gatineau Population Trend & Context

Gatineau had a 2021 census population of 291,041 — an increase of 14,796 (▲ 5.36%) people from the 276,245 recorded in 2016.

The town's population has grown steadily over this period, reflecting broader growth trends among Quebec towns. The town's median age of 40 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 Gatineau is around 141,590 while the female population is around 149,445.

Of the 291,041 total population in Gatineau, the largest gender is female with around 149,445 female within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
141,590149,445 +5.26%

Is Gatineau a Good Place to Live?

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

Employment & Economy

9.3%
Unemployment rate
1.7 pts above the province
60.5%
Employment rate
1.2 pts above the province
66.6%
Participation rate
2.5 pts above the province

Income & Affordability

$82,000
Median household income
$9,500 above the province
9.9%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
2.0 pts below the province

Commute

66.2%
Commute under 30 minutes
0.1 pts below the province
81.4%
Commute by car
1.0 pts below the province
10.7%
Commute by public transit
1.7 pts above the province

Housing Character

36.5%
Single-detached houses
8.1 pts below the province
42.3%
Apartments (any building size)
4.1 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.30 people
Average household size
0.10people above the province
34.5%
One-person households
0.6 pts below the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Gatineau Population Compared to Quebec

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

IndicatorGatineauQuebec
Median household income$82,000$72,500
Unemployment rate9.3%7.6%
Median age4043.2
Bachelor's degree or higher31.4%26.5%
Immigrants (%)15.5%14.6%

Population by Age Characteristics

Gatineau has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 55 to 59 years old, accounting for 7.10% of the total population. The town median age is 40.00.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
55 to 59 years9,950 7.00%10,675 7.10% 6.79%20,625 7.10%
40 to 44 years10,015 7.10%10,605 7.10% 5.56%20,620 7.10%
35 to 39 years9,890 7.00%10,595 7.10% 6.65%20,480 7.00%
30 to 34 years9,650 6.80%10,115 6.80% 4.60%19,760 6.80%
60 to 64 years9,310 6.60%10,350 6.90% 10.05%19,665 6.80%
25 to 29 years9,700 6.90%9,935 6.60% 2.37%19,635 6.70%
45 to 49 years9,325 6.60%9,385 6.30% 0.64%18,715 6.40%
10 to 14 years9,555 6.70%8,965 6.00% 6.17%18,520 6.40%
5 to 9 years9,335 6.60%9,105 6.10% 2.46%18,445 6.30%
50 to 54 years8,995 6.40%9,420 6.30% 4.51%18,420 6.30%
20 to 24 years8,525 6.00%8,660 5.80% 1.56%17,185 5.90%
65 to 69 years7,545 5.30%8,305 5.60% 9.15%15,850 5.40%
15 to 19 years8,110 5.70%7,670 5.10% 5.43%15,785 5.40%
0 to 4 years7,980 5.60%7,660 5.10% 4.01%15,640 5.40%
70 to 74 years5,865 4.10%6,725 4.50% 12.79%12,590 4.30%
75 to 79 years4,030 2.80%4,610 3.10% 12.58%8,645 3.00%
85 years and over1,585 1.10%3,665 2.50% 56.75%5,245 1.80%
80 to 84 years2,220 1.60%3,005 2.00% 26.12%5,225 1.80%
85 to 89 years1,055 0.70%2,110 1.40% 50.00%3,165 1.10%
90 to 94 years465 0.30%1,150 0.80% 59.57%1,615 0.60%
95 to 99 years65 0.00%365 0.20% 82.19%430 0.10%

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 65.60% of the population. The other age groups, 0 to 14 years and 65 years and over, account for 18.10% and 16.30%, respectively.

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

DataMaleFemaleTotal
15 to 64 years66.00%65.20%65.60%
0 to 14 years19.00%17.20%18.10%
65 years and over15.00%17.60%16.30%

Population of Gatineau by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Gatineau is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Gatineau 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 Gatineau are Canadian, which accounts for 26.23% of the total population, followed by French (24.12%), Irish (8.24%), French Canadian (6.94%), and Scottish (4.18%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Gatineau include English, First Nations (North American Indian), German, Caucasian (White), and Italian.

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
Canadian25.97%26.48%26.23%
French24.43%23.82%24.12%
Irish8.04%8.44%8.24%
French Canadian6.94%6.95%6.94%
Scottish4.21%4.15%4.18%
English4.18%3.77%3.97%
First Nations (North American Indian)2.83%3.12%2.98%
German2.53%2.57%2.55%
Caucasian (White)2.46%2.44%2.45%
Italian1.90%1.79%1.85%

Indigenous Identity in Gatineau

About 4.10% of Gatineau's population (11,705 people) identify with an Indigenous identity, compared to 95.90% who report a non-Indigenous identity.

Of the Indigenous population, 2,180 people (0.80% of the total population) hold Registered or Treaty Indian status.

Indigenous identity
4.10%
Non-Indigenous identity
95.90%

Immigration Profile

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

About 15.5% of Gatineau's population are immigrants (44,185 people).

The top countries of origin for Gatineau's immigrant population are Haiti (2,530), Lebanon (2,450), France (2,050), Morocco (1,985), Colombia (1,710).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
Haiti2,530
Lebanon2,450
France2,050
Morocco1,985
Colombia1,710

93.6% of Gatineau's residents (267,450 people) are Canadian citizens, and 6.4% are not.

By generation status, 18.2% of residents are first generation (born outside Canada), 10.8% are second generation, and 71.0% are third generation or more.

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 46,215 of Gatineau's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 1 person household.

Household Size

About 17.25% of the population lives in 1 person households. 2 persons households ranked second, accounting for 16.55% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 7.00%, 6.00%, and 3.25%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
1 person43,58517.25%
2 persons41,88016.55%
3 persons17,6757.00%
4 persons15,1356.00%
5 or more persons8,2003.25%

Family and Household Structure in Gatineau

Of census families in Gatineau, 79.2% are couple families and 20.8% are one-parent families. The average census family has 2.9 people.

Couple families
79.22%
One-parent families
20.78%

34.5% of households in Gatineau are one-person households, 46.2% are couple-family households, 11.0% are one-parent-family households, and 1.6% are multigenerational households.

Household TypeHouseholdsPercentage
One-person households43,58034.5%
Couple-family households58,46046.2%
One-parent-family households13,91511.0%
Multigenerational households1,9651.6%

Income in Gatineau

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

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Gatineau is $47,200.

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 Gatineau population or around 40,130 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 33,720 and 28,215 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Gatineau's median household income is $82,000, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Gatineau's median household income is 2,000 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 Gatineau

This data sheds light on the distribution of Gatineau 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.

70.40% or most of the Gatineau population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 18.00% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 11.60% 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 degree51,50558,985110,49070.40%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate14,20514,02028,23018.00%
No certificate, diploma or degree10,3357,82518,16011.60%

Above national average 34.7% of Gatineau's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Gatineau

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

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Gatineau is at 9.25% which is very high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate60.46%
Unemployment rate9.25%

Work Activity During the Reference Year

Of the population aged 15 and over in Gatineau, 38.8% worked full year full time in the reference year, 27.8% worked part year and/or part time, and 33.4% did not work.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work ActivityPopulationPercentage
Worked full year full time90,53538.8%
Worked part year and/or part time64,70527.8%
Did not work77,89533.4%

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 Gatineau's population (around 73.10%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 8,830 men and 5,520 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 14,355.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed8,8305,52014,355

Employment Industry Sectors

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

Gatineau has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (26%) works in the public administration sector. The Health care and social assistance sector comes second at 13%, followed by Retail trade at 10%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Public administration18,43522,29026%
Health care and social assistance4,57514,84013%
Retail trade8,3907,40510%
Educational services4,1158,5158%
Construction10,1001,2107%
Professional, scientific and technical services4,6053,5005%
Accommodation and food services3,9204,0955%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services4,5352,4405%
Other services (except public administration)2,5303,2054%
Transportation and warehousing3,9258953%
Manufacturing3,2159203%
Finance and insurance1,7851,8352%
Arts, entertainment and recreation1,4851,2552%
Information and cultural industries1,3507951%
Wholesale trade1,5104451%
Real estate and rental and leasing1,1907601%
Utilities5151600%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting4402000%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction260150%
Management of companies and enterprises40500%

Labour Market Snapshot

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

Top employer sectors in Gatineau: Public administration (26%), Health care and social assistance (13%), Retail trade (10%)

Top occupation categories in Gatineau: Sales and service occupations (23%), Business, finance and administration occupations (22%), Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (17%)

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 work39,29540,87080,16556.90%
Worked at home19,72025,35545,07532.00%
No fixed workplace address12,2053,28515,49511.00%
Worked outside Canada150652100.10%

Commuting

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

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Gatineau 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
15 to 29 minutes38.10%
Less than 15 minutes28.10%
30 to 44 minutes21.60%
45 to 59 minutes6.90%
60 minutes and over5.30%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Gatineau 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 Gatineau's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
53.47%
Married or living common-law
46.53%

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 Gatineau. About 225,055 people living in the town speak French, 48,760 people speak English, 11,860 people speak English and French language, and 1,830 people speak Neither English nor French language.

LanguagePopulation
French225,055
English48,760
English and French11,860
Neither English nor French1,830

Knowledge of Official Languages

About 65.0% of Gatineau's population is bilingual, knowing both English and French. 8.4% know English only, 25.9% know French only, and 0.7% know neither official language.

Knowledge of Official LanguagesPopulationPercentage
English only24,2008.4%
French only74,42025.9%
English and French186,95565.0%
Neither English nor French1,9400.7%

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
French71.1%72.1%
Non-official languages11.9%6.3%
English11.8%15.8%

Religion

Gatineau is predominantly Christian. About 178,850 of its population is Christian (83,975 males and 94,875 females).

The second largest religion in the town is Muslim with 5.2% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Buddhist and Hindu, both represent 0.4% and 0.2% of the population, while Jewish represent 0.1% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian62.6%
Islam5.2%
Buddhist0.4%
Hindu0.2%
Jewish0.1%
Sikh0.1%

Points of Interest in Gatineau

Schools

Parks

Libraries

Community Centres

Places to Visit in Gatineau

Museums

Attractions

Historic Sites

Theatres

Green Spaces in Gatineau

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Nearest Towns to Gatineau

Frequently Asked Questions about Gatineau

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Gatineau has a population of 291,041 people, making it the 4th town in Quebec. The population increased significantly from 276,245 in 2016, an increase of 14,796 people or 5.36%. The town has a population density of 851.4 people per km² across a land area of 341.84 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.

Gatineau's population grew by 5.36% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 276,245 to 291,041 people, a gain of 14,796 residents. This growth is above average compared to many other Quebec towns during this period. The median age of 40.00 years suggests a mature, established community. The relatively high proportion of one-person households (34.5%) 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.

Gatineau has a population density of approximately 851.40 people per square kilometre.

Gatineau covers a land area of approximately 341.84 km².

The median age of the population in Gatineau is 40.00 years.

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

The median household income in Gatineau is $82,000, based on 2020 data.

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

Christian is the predominant religion in Gatineau.

According to the 2021 Census, 4.1% of Gatineau's population identifies with an Indigenous identity.

93.6% of Gatineau's residents are Canadian citizens, based on 2021 Census data.

One-parent families make up 20.8% of census families in Gatineau, according to the 2021 Census.

Multigenerational households make up 1.6% of all households in Gatineau, per the 2021 Census.

65.0% of Gatineau'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 Gatineau, 38.8% 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.