Quebec Population Overview (2026)
Quebec is a province located in eastern Canada. It borders Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, New Brunswick to the southeast, and has a maritime boundary with Nunavut. To the south, it shares an international border with the U.S. states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.
Quebec is Canada’s largest province by land area and the second-most populous province. According to the 2021 Census, Quebec had a population of 8,501,833 (8.5 million). Based on Statistics Canada’s Q4 2025 estimates, the population is approximately 9,058,089 (9.1 million), which is treated as the 2026 population estimate.
👉 Projected Population of Quebec (2026): ~9.1 million
read about religion in Quebec
Quebec Population Growth (2021–2026)
Quebec recorded a population growth rate of approximately 6.5% between 2021 and 2026, adding around 556,000 residents during this period. Population growth has been driven mainly by international immigration, urban concentration in the Montreal metropolitan area, and steady natural increase.
Quebec Census Q4 2025 Snapshot
| Indicator | Data |
|---|---|
| Total Population | 9,058,089 |
| Percentage Change (2021–2026) | ~6.5% |
| Population Rank | 2nd |
| Total Land Area | 1,365,129 sq km (527,079 sq mi) |
| Area Rank | 1st |
| Population Density | 6.6 per sq km (17.2 per sq mi) |
| Capital City | Quebec City |
| Largest City | Montreal |
Source: Statistics Canada
Quebec Population Projection (2020–2100)
Quebec’s population is projected to grow steadily but at a slower pace than Ontario, reflecting lower fertility rates and an aging population. Long-term growth will continue to be supported primarily by immigration, particularly in major urban centers.
Quebec Population Projection
| Year | Quebec Population (Projected) |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 8.6 million |
| 2025 | 9.0 million |
| 2030 | 9.5 million |
| 2040 | 10.1 million |
| 2050 | 10.6 million |
| 2060 | 11.0 million |
| 2070 | 11.3 million |
| 2080 | 11.6 million |
| 2090 | 11.8 million |
| 2100 | 12.0 million |
Projected Population of Quebec (2100): ~12 million
Historical Population of Quebec
From 1851 to 2021, Quebec’s population experienced significant long-term growth shaped by industrialization, urbanization, and demographic transitions. The population increased from 892,061 in 1851 to 8.5 million by 2021, representing a net increase of nearly 7 million people.
Growth accelerated notably during the mid-20th century, while more recent decades have seen moderate but stable expansion. Between 2016 and 2021, Quebec’s population grew by 4.1%, reflecting sustained demographic momentum.
Quebec Population by Census Year (1851–2021)
| Census Year | Population | Absolute Change | Percentage Change |
| 1851 | 892,061 | – | – |
| 1861 | 1,111,566 | 219,505 | 24.61 |
| 1871 | 1,191,516 | 79,950 | 7.19 |
| 1881 | 1,359,027 | 167,511 | 14.06 |
| 1891 | 1,488,535 | 129,508 | 9.53 |
| 1901 | 1,648,898 | 160,363 | 10.77 |
| 1911 | 2,005,776 | 356,878 | 21.64 |
| 1921 | 2,360,665 | 354,889 | 17.69 |
| 1931 | 2,874,255 | 513,590 | 21.76 |
| 1941 | 3,331,882 | 457,627 | 15.92 |
| 1951 | 4,055,681 | 723,799 | 21.72 |
| 1956 | 4,628,378 | 572,697 | 14.12 |
| 1961 | 5,259,211 | 630,833 | 13.63 |
| 1966 | 5,780,845 | 521,634 | 9.92 |
| 1971 | 6,027,765 | 246,920 | 4.27 |
| 1976 | 6,234,445 | 206,680 | 3.43 |
| 1981 | 6,438,403 | 203,958 | 3.27 |
| 1986 | 6,532,460 | 94,057 | 1.46 |
| 1991 | 6,895,963 | 363,503 | 5.56 |
| 1996 | 7,138,795 | 242,832 | 3.52 |
| 2001 | 7,237,479 | 98,684 | 1.38 |
| 2006 | 7,546,131 | 308,652 | 4.26 |
| 2011 | 7,903,001 | 356,870 | 4.73 |
| 2016 | 8,164,361 | 423,099 | 5.35 |
| 2021 | 8,501,833 | 337,472 | 4.1 |
Source: Statistics Canada
Largest Cities in Quebec by Population
Top Cities in Quebec with a population over 100 thousand.
| # | City | Population |
| 1 | Montreal | 1,762,976 |
| 2 | Quebec | 538,738 |
| 3 | Laval | 431,208 |
| 4 | Gatineau | 281,501 |
| 5 | Longueuil | 245,033 |
| 6 | Sherbrooke | 165,005 |
| 7 | Saguenay | 144,989 |
| 8 | Lévis | 144,808 |
| 9 | Trois-Rivières | 135,863 |
| 10 | Terrebonne | 113,226 |
read more about Top Cities in Quebec
Key Takeaways
Quebec is Canada’s second-most populous province, with an estimated population of around 9.1 million in 2026.
The province recorded moderate population growth (~6.5%) between 2021 and 2026, slower than Ontario but stable.
Immigration, particularly to the Montreal metropolitan area, is the primary driver of recent population growth.
Quebec’s population is projected to continue growing steadily, reaching approximately 10.6 million by 2050 and around 12 million by 2100.
Despite being Canada’s largest province by land area, Quebec has a low population density, with most residents concentrated in southern urban regions near the Canada–US border.
Sources
All population data is sourced from official Canadian and international statistical agencies:
English
Español
Português
Deutsch