- Demographics of Quebec
-
The demographics of Quebec constitutes a complex and sensitive issue, especially as it relates to the National Question of Canada.
Quebec is the only province in Canada to feature a francophone (French-speaking) majority, and where anglophones (English-speakers) constitute an officially recognized minority group.
However, while francophones currently constitute approximately a little under 80% of the overall population, they also conversely feature a low birthrate, especially in the cities of Montreal and Quebec. If such trends continue, researchers predict that the low birthrate amongst francophones and the lack of adoption of the French language and assimilation into the francophone culture by allophone (those whose primary language is neither English nor French) immigrants will cause the French-speaking population on the island of Montreal to dive below the 50 percent mark in the coming decades, but not the Montreal metropolitan census area as a whole.[1]
A recent decline in the francophone birth rate, and perceived weakening position of the French language in Montreal, led to the passing of the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) by the provincial government in order to protect the status of the French language as well as to increase the francophone population in the future. While the use of French throughout Quebec has been strengthened, the proportion of Montreal residents who are native French speakers has continued to decline due to an influx of immigrants.[2] However, due to the Charter of the French Language, children of allophone immigrants are enrolled in the francophone public school system. Thus, they usually become fluent in French as well as in English.
Quebec is also home to "one of the world's most valuable founder populations", the Quebec Founder Population.[3] Founder populations are very valuable to medical genetic research as they are pockets of low genetic variability which provide a useful research context for discovering gene-disease linkages. The Quebec Founder Population arose through the influx of people into Quebec from France in the 17th century to mid-18th century; though this influx was large, a high proportion of the immigrants either died or returned to France, leaving a founder population of approximately 2,600 people.[3][4] About seven million Canadians (along with several million French Americans in the United States) are descendants of these original 2,600 colonists.[3]
Contents
Population
Population since 1851:
Year Population Five-year
% changeTen-year
% changeRank among
provinces1851 892,061 n/a n/a 2 1861 1,111,566 n/a 24.6 2 1871 1,191,516 n/a 7.2 2 1881 1,359,027 n/a 14.1 2 1891 1,488,535 n/a 9.5 2 1901 1,648,898 n/a 10.8 2 1911 2,005,776 n/a 21.6 2 1921 2,360,665 n/a 17.8 2 1931 2,874,255 n/a 21.8 2 1941 3,331,882 n/a 15.9 2 1951 4,055,681 n/a 21.8 2 1956 4,628,378 14.1 n/a 2 1961 5,259,211 13.6 29.7 2 1966 5,780,845 9.9 24.9 2 1971 6,027,765 4.3 14.6 2 1976 6,234,445 3.4 7.8 2 1981 6,438,403 3.3 6.8 2 1986 6,532,460 1.5 4.8 2 1991 6,895,963 5.6 7.1 2 1996 7,138,795 3.5 9.3 2 2001 7,237,479 1.4 5.0 2 2006 7,546,131 4.3 5.7 2 Source: Statistics Canada [1][2]
Vital statistics
Age structure: (2001 census)
Age Groups Total Male Female 0–4 years 375,770 192,280 183,490 5–9 years 457,225 232,650 224,575 10–14 years 458,585 234,140 224,445 15–24 years 949,475 481,990 467,485 25–34 years 921,770 459,960 461,810 35–44 years 1,243,970 617,510 626,460 45–54 years 1,109,945 548,080 561,865 55–64 years 760,905 370,960 389,945 65–74 years 547,185 248,740 298,445 75–84 years 318,185 120,940 197,245 85 years and over 94,450 25,580 68,870 Total 7,237,480 3,532,845 3,704,635 Source : Statistics Canada [5]
Quebec's fertility rate is now higher than the Canadian average. At 1.74 children per woman in 2008,[6] it is above the Canada-wide rate of 1.59, and has increased for five consecutive years, reaching its highest level since 1976.[6] However, it is still below the replacement fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman. This contrasts with its fertility rates before 1960, which were among the highest of any industrialized society. For example, between 1951 and 1961, the population grew nearly 30% with minimal immigration, a natural growth rate matched today only by some African countries.
Although Quebec is home to only 23.9% of the population of Canada, the number of international adoptions in Quebec is the highest of all provinces of Canada. In 2001, 42% of international adoptions in Canada were carried out in Quebec.
Population growth rate: 0.7% (2006)
Birth rate: 9.9% (2005)
Synthetic fertility index: 1.61 (2006)
Death rate: 7.4% (2003)
Net migration rate: 4.1% (2003)
Infant mortality rate: 0.46% (2004)
Stillbirth rate: 3.8% -- 3.5% notwithstanding requested abortions (2002)
Life expectancy: In 2002, life expectancy was 76.3 years for males and 81.9 years for females.
Urbanisation: In 2001, 80.4% of Quebecers lived in urban areas.
Literacy: International Adult Literacy Survey 47% Prose, 42% Document, 40% Quantitative (1996) Note: This is not the official literacy rate, and should not be used in comparisons with rates calculated using different procedures.
Languages
Main article: Language demographics of QuebecMother tongue language
Mother tongue language (Statistics Canada: 2006,[7] 2001,[8] 1996[9]) Language(s) 2006 2001 1996 Population Percentage (%) Population Percentage (%) Population Percentage (%) French 5,877,660 79 5,761,765 80.8 5,742,575 80.4 English 575,555 7.7 557,040 7.8 568,405 8 Both English and French 43,335 0.6 50,060 0.7 97,225 1.4 Non-official languages 939,350 12.6 756,710 10.6 730,595 10.2 Total population 7,435,905 100 7,125,580 100 7,138,795 100 Language spoken at home
Language spoken most often at home (Statistics Canada: 2006[7]) Language Population Percentage (%) French 6,027,735 84.4 English 744,430 10.4 Both English and French 52,325 0.7 Non-official languages 518,320 7.3 Both French and a non-official language 54,490 0.7 Both English and a non-official language 26,560 0.4 French, English and a non-official language 12,035 0.2 Total population 7,435,905 100 Knowledge of official languages
Knowledge of official languages (Statistics Canada: 2006[7]) Language Population Percentage (%) French only 4,010,880 53.9 English only 336,785 4.5 Both English and French 3,017,860 40.6 Neither English or French 70,375 0.9 Total population 7,435,905 100 Ethnic origin
Ethnic origin Population Percent Canadien / Canadian 4,474,115 60.1% French 2,151,655 28.9% Irish 406,085 5.5% Italian 299,655 4.0% English 245,155 3.3% North American Indian 219,815 3.0% Scottish 202,515 2.7% Québécois 140,075 1.9% German 131,795 1.8% Chinese 91,900 1.24% Haitian 91,435 1.23% Spanish 72,090 0.97% Jewish 71,380 0.96% Greek 65,985 0.89% Polish 62,800 0.84% Lebanese 60,950 0.83% Portuguese 57,445 0.77% Belgian 43,275 0.58% East Indian 41,600 0.56% Romanian 40,320 0.54% Russian 40,155 0.54% Moroccan 36,700 0.49% American (USA) 36,695 0.49% Métis 36,280 0.49% Vietnamese 33,815 0.45% Acadian 32,950 0.44% Ukrainian 31,955 0.43% African (Black) 30,170 0.41% Filipino 25,680 0.35% Algerian 25,150 0.34% British Isles 23,445 0.32% Armenian 23,230 0.31% Dutch (Netherlands) 23,015 0.31% Hungarian (Magyar) 22,585 0.30% Swiss 20,280 0.27% Egyptian 17,950 0.24% Salvadoran 15,770 0.21% Syrian 14,925 0.20% Ethnic origin Population Percent Colombian 14,845 0.20% Mexican 14,215 0.19% Berbers 13,415 0.18% Inuit 12,915 0.17% Iranian 12,370 0.17% Peruvian 12,335 0.17% Jamaican 11,935 0.16% Pakistani 11,710 0.16% Chilean 11,585 0.16% Turk 11,385 0.15% Austrian 11,295 0.15% Sri Lankan 10,750 0.14% Congolese 10,190 0.14% Cambodian 10,175 0.14% Welsh 9,815 0.13% Black 9,520 0.13% Tunisian 7,870 0.11% Bulgarian 6,955 0.09% Guatemalan 6,880 0.09% Laotian 6,425 0.09% Norwegian 6,350 0.09% Bangladeshi 6,095 0.08% Yugoslav 6,090 0.08% Swedish 5,975 0.08% Afghan 5,855 0.08% Lithuanians 5,665 0.08% Korean 5,555 0.07% Czech 5,540 0.07% West Indian 5,420 0.07% Barbadian 5,340 0.07% Croatian 5,330 0.07% Latin/Central/South American 5,270 0.07% European 5,130 0.07% Danish 5,130 0.07% Palestinian 4,940 0.07% Trinidadian/Tobagan 4,810 0.06% Japanese 4,560 0.06% Slovak 4,560 0.06%
Percentages are calculated as a proportion of the total number of respondents (7,435,905) and may total more than 100 percent due to dual responses.
Only groups with 0.06 percent or more of respondents are shown.[10]Ethnicity according to the older more general system of classification is shown below:
Origins 2001 % North American 4,989,230 70.02% French 2,123,185 29.80% British Isles 547,790 7.69% Southern European 409,095 5.74% Aboriginal 159,900 2.24% Western European 153,750 2.16% Arab (including Lebanese) 135,750 1.91% East and Southeast Asian 132,280 1.86% Origins 2001 % Eastern European 130,410 1.83% Caribbean 108,475 1.52% Other European 86,450 1.21% Latin, Central and South American 65,150 0.91% South Asian 62,585 0.88% African 48,715 0.68% West Asian 40,960 0.57% Northern European 15,295 0.21%
Percentages are calculated as a proportion of the total number of respondents (7,125,580) and may total more than 100% due to dual responses
Only groups of more than 0.02% are shown[11]Aboriginal status
The 2006 census counted a total aboriginal population of 108,425 (1.5%) including 65,085 North American Indians (0.9%), 27,985 Métis (0.4%), and 10,950 Inuit (0.15%). It should be noted however, that there is a significant undercount, as many of the biggest Indian bands regularly refuse to participate in Canadian censuses for political reasons regarding the question of aboriginal sovereignty. In particular, the largest Mohawk Iroquois reserves (Kahnawake, Akwesasne and Kanesatake) were not counted.’’{Percentages are calculated as a proportion of the total number of respondents (7,435,905)}’’[12]
Visible minorities
Visible minority 2006 % 2001 % 1996 % Black 152,195 2.14% 131,970 1.87% Arab/West Asian 85,770 1.20% 79,710 1.13% Arab 73,345 1.03% N N West Asian 12,425 0.17% N N Latin American 59,515 0.84% 51,440 0.73% South Asian 59,505 0.84% 47,590 0.68% Visible minority 2006 % 2001 % 1996 % Chinese 56,830 0.80% 50,360 0.71% Southeast Asian/Filipino 62,665 0.88% 56,945 0.81% Southeast Asian 44,115 0.62% 42,130 0.60% Filipino 18,550 0.26% 14,815 0.21% Korean 4,410 0.06% 3,930 0.06% Japanese 2,830 0.04% 3,035 0.04%
Percentages are calculated as a proportion of the total number of respondents (7,125,580)
Only groups with more than 0.02% of respondents are shown [13]Religion
Quebec is unique among the provinces in its overwhelmingly Roman Catholic population. This is a legacy of colonial times when only Roman Catholics were permitted to settle in New France.
Religion Denomination Congregation Proportion Catholic Christian 5,939,795 83.6% Roman Catholic 5,930,385 83.23% Ukrainian Catholic 3,430 0.05% Protestant Christian 335,595 4.71% Anglican 85,475 1.20% United Church of Canada 52,950 0.74% Baptist 35,455 0.50% Jehovah’s Witnesses 29,040 0.41% Pentecostal 22,670 0.32% Lutheran 9,640 0.14% Presbyterian 8,770 0.12% Methodist 8,725 0.12% Adventist 6,690 0.09% Mormon 4,440 0.06% Unitarian 1,140 0.02% Mission de l'Esprit Saint 765 0.01% Orthodox Christian 100,375 1.41% Greek Orthodox 50,020 0.70% Armenian Orthodox 4,935 0.07% Russian Orthodox 2,185 0.03% Coptic Orthodox 2,010 0.03% Antiochian Orthodox 1,050 0.01% Ukrainian Orthodox 985 0.01% Serbian Orthodox 920 0.01% Other Christian 56,755 0.80% Muslim 108,620 1.52% Jewish 89,920 1.26% Buddhist 41,375 0.58% Hindu 24,530 0.34% Sikh 8,220 0.12% Other Eastern Religions 3,425 0.05% Bahá'í 1,155 0.02% Pagan 1,330 0.02% Aboriginal spirituality 740 0.01% No religious affiliation 413,185 5.80% No religion 400,325 5.62% Atheist 4,335 0.06% Agnostic 1,260 0.02%
Percentages are calculated as a proportion of the total number of respondents (7,125,580 in 2001). Only groups of more than 0.01% are shown. [14]See also
- Demographics of Canada
- Demographic history of Quebec
- Demolinguistics of Quebec
- Demographics of Montreal
- Cahiers québécois de démographie academic journal
- Immigration to Canada
- List of Canadian provinces and territories by population
References
- ^ What constitutes a francophone? by Anna Bratulic, the McGill Reporter
- ^ Quebec entry in Encarta. Archived 2009-10-31.
- ^ a b c Amber LePage-Monette. "Powerful Population". BioScienceWorld.ca. Promotive Communications. http://www.bioscienceworld.ca/PowerfulPopulation. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- ^ Flanagan, Nina (August 2005). "Bioresearch Highlights Significance of SNPs". Genetic Engineering News (Mary Ann Liebert) 25 (14): pp. 1, 27–29. http://www.genengnews.com/articles/chitem.aspx?aid=1006&chid=1. Retrieved 2008-08-18
- ^ Statistics profile for Quebec
- ^ a b http://www.stat.gouv.qc.ca/salle-presse/communiq/2009/avril/avril0914_an.htm
- ^ a b c Statistics Canada. "2006 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2466023&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=Montreal&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
- ^ Statistics Canada. "2001 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=24&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&Data=Count&SearchText=Qu%E9bec&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=24. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
- ^ Statistics Canada. "1996 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil/Details/details1pop.cfm?SEARCH=BEGINS&PSGC=24&SGC=46200&A=&LANG=E&Province=24&PlaceName=Montreal&CSDNAME=Montr%C3%A9al&CMA=462&SEARCH=BEGINS&DataType=1&TypeNameE=Census%20Metropolitan%20Area&ID=365. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
- ^ Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data.
- ^ Ethnic Origin (232), Sex (3) and Single and Multiple Responses (3) (2001 Census)
- ^ Aboriginal Population Profile (2006 Census)
- ^ Visible Minority Groups (15), Sex (3) and Age Groups (8)(Census 2001)
- ^ Religion (95) and Immigrant Status (Census 2001)
External links
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