Demographics of Quebec

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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 over 80% of the overall population, they also conversely feature the lowest birth rate in North America. 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 or French) immigrants will cause the French-speaking population in Quebec to dive below the 50 percent mark in the coming decades. ^[1]

The decline in the francophone birth rate and the weakening position of the French languge in Montreal directly led to the passing of the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) by the Government of Quebec in order to protect the status of the French language as well as to increase the numbers of francophones in the future. While the use of French throughout Quebec has been strengthened, the French language continues to decline in Montreal due to the influx of new immigrants. ^[2]

1 Current Statistics
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Current Statistics

Population: The current population of Quebec is 7 546 131 individuals (2006 national census). [1]

Age structure:

Population growth rate: 0.64% (2003)

Birth rate: 9.8‰ (2003)

Synthetic fertility index: 1.48 (2003)

Death rate: 7.4‰ (2003)

Net migration rate: 4.1‰ (2003)

Infant mortality rate: 4.6‰ (2001-2002)

Stillbirth rate: 3.8‰ -- 3.5‰ notwithstanding requested abortions (2002)

Life expectancy: In 2002, the life expectancy of Quebec men was of 76.3 years and 81.9 years for women.

Urbanity: In 2001, 80.4% of Quebecers were living in urban areas.

Languages:

By mother tongue: In 1996, 81.5% spoke French, 8.8% spoke English, and 9.7% spoke another language.

In the Greater Montreal Area, 67.8% had French as a mother tongue, 13.8% English, and 18.4% another language.

By language most used at home: In 1996, 82.8% used French, 10.8% used English, and 6.4% used another language.

In the Greater Montreal Area, 70.6% used French, 17.6% used English, and 11.8% used another language.

Ethnic origin:

Canadian 68.7%, French 29.6%, Irish 4.1%, Italian 3.5%, English 3.1%, Scottish 2.2%, Amerindian 1.8%, Quebecer 1.3%, German 1.2%, Jewish 1.1%, Haitian 1.0% (2001)

Note: The 2001 Census offered options for ethnic origins that have been highly questioned. Use data with care.

French 40.9%, Briton 9.1% (1996)

Religious belief:

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.