Québec: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Québec: The median total income of households in Québec was C$70,500 in 2020, as reported in the 2021 Census, 10th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the median for Canada was C$84,000.
- Education in Québec: 35.7% of people aged 25 to 64 in Québec held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 29th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, above the national 32.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in Québec: 10.5% of people in private households in Québec, 56,125 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), 35th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
What is the population of Québec?
Statistics Canada estimates that Québec (the municipality) had 592,658 residents on 1 July 2025, 14th largest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; that was 0.8% more than a year earlier (587,959) and 7.2% more than on 1 July 2021 (552,835).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow fast is Québec growing?
Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025 the population of Québec changed by +7.2%, 21st slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada as a whole grew 8.9%, to 41,651,653, and Québec held 1.42% of that total.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people lived in Québec at the 2021 Census?
The 2021 Census counted 549,459 people in Québec, +3.3% on the 531,902 counted in 2016 (15th slowest growth of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; Canada: +5.2%). It covers 452 square kilometres, or 1,215 people per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the median age in Québec?
The median age in Québec was 43.2 years at the 2021 Census, joint 17th oldest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 41.6); 22.8% of residents were 65 or older and 14.7% were under 15 (Canada: 19.0% and 16.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWho runs Québec?
In Canada, cities and towns are run by regional or upper-tier municipalities: Mostly councillors sent from lower-tier councils; some heads elected directly. Regional planning, transit, water and policing in some areas.
How local power works in Canada
Cities of a similar size in Canada
- Montréal 1,915,366
- Ottawa - Gatineau 1,700,014
- Calgary 1,612,834
- Edmonton 1,238,295
- Ottawa 1,188,114
- Winnipeg 850,260
- Brampton 777,759
- Mississauga 764,597
- Vancouver 740,454
- Surrey 703,531
- Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo 701,568
- Hamilton 640,465
- Halifax 516,822
- St. Catharines-Niagara 503,670
- London 494,785
- Laval 461,509
Up a level: all cities in Canada · Canada · government and power
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census subdivisions, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CSD, gender total, counts and rates), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 46d086943a5e…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 17-10-0155-01: Population estimates, July 1, by census subdivision, 2021 boundaries (Web Data Service extract, 2021-2025; request saved as popest-17100155-csd.request.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 95b5a4929299…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 14-10-0459-01: Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted (Web Data Service extract: unemployment and employment rates, latest 13 months; request saved as lfs-14100459-cma.request.json, geography names in lfs-14100459-metadata.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f4399c9fdfa…)
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