Poverty and living standards in Québec, Canada: official figures
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%.
How many children in Québec live in poverty?
7.6% of children under 18 in Québec lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), 9th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 16.2% (Canada: 15.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the low-income cut-off rate in Québec?
By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 6.2% of people in Québec were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Québec are in core housing need?
5.4% of households in Québec, 14,230, were in core housing need in 2021, meaning their home was unaffordable, crowded or in need of major repairs and they could not afford an acceptable local alternative; that was 6th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Québec spend too much on housing?
16.1% of households in Québec spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, joint 8th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many renters in Québec struggle with housing costs?
Among renter households in Québec in 2021, 24.3% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 9.8% were in core housing need and 10.5% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 8.4% spent 30% or more and 1.4% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Québec compares with other cities in Canada
Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Québec ranks 35 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Markham | 10.8% |
| 33 | Regina | 10.8% |
| 34 | Brantford | 10.8% |
| 35 | Québec | 10.5% |
| 36 | Oshawa | 10.2% |
| 37 | Kelowna | 10.1% |
| 38 | Edmonton | 10.0% |
Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Québec ranks 61 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Delta | 8.1% |
| 59 | Laval | 7.8% |
| 60 | Langley | 7.8% |
| 61 | Québec | 7.6% |
| 62 | Saguenay | 7.4% |
| 63 | Ajax | 7.2% |
| 64 | Milton | 7.1% |
Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)
Québec ranks 64 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households in core housing need, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Chatham-Kent | 7.2% |
| 62 | Laval | 6.4% |
| 63 | Gatineau | 5.5% |
| 64 | Québec | 5.4% |
| 65 | Terrebonne | 4.5% |
| 66 | Sherbrooke | 4.2% |
| 67 | Lévis V | 3.6% |
Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)
Québec ranks 61 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Longueuil | 17.3% |
| 59 | Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury | 17.2% |
| 60 | Sherbrooke | 16.4% |
| 61 | Québec | 16.1% |
| 62 | Cape Breton | 16.1% |
| 63 | Thunder Bay | 16.0% |
| 64 | Gatineau | 15.8% |
More on Québec: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · all cities in Canada
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…)
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