Population
A mainly French-speaking
society
A pluralist society
Aging of the population
Minorities
Native peoples
In 2004, Québec had a population of 7 542 800.
A mainly French-speaking
society
French-speaking Quebecers
Québec's more than 7 million inhabitants make up a mainly
French-speaking society. Many of the roughly 6 million
French-speakers are descended from colonists who came from France
in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today,
Quebecers are meeting the challenge of living in French and
maintaining a French-speaking society in North America, which is
home to 300 million English-speakers.
English-speaking Quebecers
English-speaking Quebecers are descended mainly from British
immigrants, but also from other ethnic groups seeking a better life
in North America. Other immigrants left the United States after the
American War of Independence, out of loyalty for the mother
country. At present, there are more than 590 000
English-speakers in Québec, who live above all in the Montréal
area. They enjoy various recognized rights, such as an
English-language school system from kindergarten up to and
including university, a hospital network, means of communication
and so on.
Immigrants
The population of Québec also includes some 600,000 immigrants
who have come from Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia since the
beginning of the century. They have contributed significantly to
Québec's cultural diversity and vitality. Québec admitted almost
40,000 immigrants every year.
The first inhabitants
There are some 82,825 Native peoples in Québec, descendants of
North America's first inhabitants. Of this number, 72,770 are
Amerindians and 10,055 are Inuit.
Top of page
A pluralist society
The current notion of a pluralist society has resulted from more
extensive trade between countries. It is now understood to mean the
possibility of freely choosing one's lifestyle, beliefs, values and
belonging to specific interest groups.
Since 1970, immigration has become highly diversified in Québec.
Contact with new citizens has enriched Québec society from a
cultural, social, economic, scientific and technological
standpoint.
Québec defines itself as a pluralist society. It is open to an
array of influences, from other cultures, while honoring basic
democratic values. Québec's pluralism grew out of a government
policy statement that promotes an approach centred on civic
relations.
Québec's openness expresses a wish to go beyond exclusive
reference to cultural origin and simple coexistence of diverse
peoples. Québec has adopted a wider vision, one of civic relations.
The individual successively or simultaneously integrates various
identities, i.e. occupational, familial, ethnic and so on.
Québec encourages its people to express their diversity in a
context where, citizens share the same feeling of belonging to
Québec society and express this feeling through a respect for
common laws and institutions.
Greater Montréal, the capital of diversity
Diversity is especially visible in the Greater Montréal region,
where nearly half of all Quebecers live. Greater Montréal accounts
for 67 % of Quebecers whose mother tongue is French, and
14.3 % of Quebecers whose mother tongue is English. Italian,
Spanish and Greek are the other main languages spoken.
Top of page
Aging of the population
As is the case in most industrialized nations, the population of
Québec is aging. This process is characterized by the speed in
which it is taking place.
Compared with the other provinces of Canada, the United States
and the European nations, the population of Québec is relatively
young. However, demographic trends such as the birthrate, mortality
and migration suggest that within 40 years or so, it will rank
among the oldest populations.
In 1996, Quebecers 65 years of age or over accounted for roughly
12 % of the population. This proportion is expected to climb
to 20 % by the year 2031, ranking Québec among the oldest
populations.
As the direct consequence of the shift from a high birthrate and
to a low birthrate and the increase in life expectancy, aging is
having undisputed socio-economic consequences. In 1986, there were
seven Quebecers between the ages of 15 and 64 for every person 65
or over; by the year 2031, there will only be 2.2 persons. Issues
such as the choice of retirement age, the transition to this stage
of life, and the financial situation of retirees are receiving
growing attention.
From a socio-demographic perspective, the most striking
phenomenon is the substantial increase in the number of elderly
people 80 or over and the predominance of women among the
elderly.
Top of page
Minorities
The population of Québec is growing increasingly diversified. In
1991, 16 % of Quebecers claimed to be of origins other than
French, British or aboriginal. In 1986, the proportion was only
13 %. An examination of Québec's total population gains
between 1986 and 1991, i.e. 356,000 inhabitants, reveals that
78 % of the gains are attributable to Quebecers who claim to
be of origins other than French, British or aboriginal.
French origin
In 1991, some 75 % of the Québec population claimed to be
solely of French origin. In a population that was, until now,
fairly homogeneous, this rapid diversification is a characteristic
of contemporary Québec. Between 1986 and 1991, the relative
importance of individuals of French origin declined 3 %, or by
73,500 people.
Immigration's contribution
The diversity of Quebecers' origins has broadened the most
extensively in the Montréal area. In 1986, the proportion of
residents who claimed to be of other origins was 25 %; in
1991, it was 30 %. The communities made up of past waves of
immigration are the largest ones. Mention should be made of the
Italian (over 225,000), Jewish (nearly 100,000), German (90,000),
Greek (56,000), Portuguese and Polish (over 40,000)
communities.
Among the leading groups, some more than doubled in number
between 1986 and 1991, i.e. the Lebanese to 38,000, the Haitian
community to 41,000, and Latin Americans to 36,000.
During the same period, the Chinese, southern and western Asian
communities grew by over 50 %. Smaller communities also grew
significantly, e.g. Filipinos and Koreans.
Top of page
Native peoples
When the Europeans settled along the St Lawrence River in the
16th century, the aboriginal peoples had already been
living there for several thousand years, either in complex
societies or in small family groups. Each nation had its own
language, beliefs and culture. Good relations were established
between the newcomers and the Native peoples, who exchanged their
know-how. Through their knowledge of the land, the Amerindians
helped the Europeans and their descendants to adapt to the new
northern conditions.
Over the centuries, due to economic and political reasons,
relations between the Native peoples and the other inhabitants of
Québec became increasingly rare. However, since 1980, social,
cultural, educational and political exchanges between Native and
non-Native Quebecers have intensified.
Recognition of rights
In 1985, by a resolution of the National Assembly, the Québec
government became the first government in Canada to recognize the
aboriginal nations. The acts as a liaison
between the Native peoples and the Québec government. In virtue of
the resolution, the government recognized the right of the
aboriginal peoples to autonomy in Québec, the right to their
culture, language and traditions, the right to own and control
land, the right to hunt, fish, harvest and participate in the
management of wildlife resources, and the right to participate in
the economic development of Québec and to benefit from such
development.
The 11 aboriginal nations
At present, the 10 Amerindian nations and the Inuit nation,
totalling 67,000 inhabitants, account for approximately 1 % of
Québec's population. Over half the Native population is under the
age of 30. There are 55 Native communities in Québec.
Consult other
Maps of Amerindian and Inuit communities
The Amerindians usually live on reserves or establishments
administered by a band council made up of a chief and councillors.
Moreover, some 21,000 aboriginal people live outside the
communities in Québec, mainly in Montréal. The Inuit, formerly
called the Eskimos, live in the far northern part of Québec, on the
coast of Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay. They live in 14 villages
directed by a mayor and a northern village council that assume
responsibilities similar to those of other Québec
municipalities.
Varied ways of life
The 11 aboriginal nations are distinct. Even within a given
nation, the way of life and socio-economic situation can vary
markedly from one community to another. The Amerindians of Québec
belong to two linguistic and cultural families, the Algonquian and
the Iroquoian. The Abenakis, Algonquins, Attikameks, Crees,
Malecites, Micmacs, Montagnais and Naskapis are part of the
Algonquian culture. The Huron-Wendats and Mohawks are part of the
Iroquoian culture. The Inuit are of different origin and culture.
Most of the aboriginal nations use their mother tongue and French
or English as a second language.
Top of page
