Population of Quebec hits 8 million

The population of Quebec topped 8 million this year, an increase of 73,000 people over the year before.

The latest figures point to a slight slowdown in the population growth, which can be attributed to stagnant birthrates and more deaths because of the province’s aging population.

Fewer immigrants coming to Quebec also affected the numbers.

The official tally on Jan. 1, 2012, was 8,012,000 people, a gain of 0.91 per cent over 2011. The previous year, the population increased 0.95 per cent.

The greying of Quebec continues apace: in 10 years, the segment of the population over 65 has moved from 13 per cent to 16 per cent. The life expectancy of Quebecers is 79.7 years for men and 83.7 years for women.

The growth areas in the province showing the most marked increase for the years 2006-2011 are in regions adjacent to Montreal – Laval, Lanaudière, the Laurentians and the Montérégie.

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These areas had demographic growth on average above 1 per cent. Factors leading to this situation were migratory exchanges, higher fertility rates than the provincial average and immigration.

People continue to move away from Montreal and the fertility rate here is the lowest of all the regions in the province. On the other hand, the vast majority of immigrants choose to settle in Montreal, giving the city one of the youngest populations.

The demographic roundup with these findings put forward by l’Institut de la statistique du Quebec made a special mention of fertility disparity based on mother tongue taken from census data.

Those who spoke French or English had fertility rate of 1.5 children for the time frame 2001 to 2006. Those whose mother tongue was neither French or English recorded 1.8 children per woman. Women who spoke Native languages had 3 children per woman.

Immigrant status and fertility were also put under the microscope in the study. Women born outside of Canada had a fertility rate of 1.9 children versus 1.5 children for non-immigrants.