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2006 Census: Portrait of the Canadian Population in 2006: Population of the provinces and territories
Quebec: second-highest growth rate since the end of the baby boom
Quebec's population grew three times faster between 2001 and 2006 (+4.3%) than in the previous intercensal period (+1.4%). The province experienced its highest growth rate since the 5.6% increase between 1986 to 1991, and its second highest since the end of the baby boom in the mid-1960s. The difference between Quebec's population growth and the national average of 5.4% was also the smallest in 40 years.
The upswing was due to an increase in international immigration and to smaller net losses in migration exchanges with other provinces. The number of births was up in 2006, according to the province's vital statistics, but since the increase occurred at the very end of the intercensal period, it had little impact on overall population growth between 2001 and 2006.
The 2006 Census counted 7,546,131 people in Quebec, 308,652 more than in 2001. Quebec accounted for 23.9% of Canada's total population in 2006, down from 24.1% in the previous census. The decline is part of a downward trend that has been continuous since the 1966 Census, when Quebec's share of the total population was 28.9%.
