| A statistical look at the Canadian Francophonie
The Canadian Francophonie is the sum, so to speak (this being about numbers), of all the francophone communities around the country. Of course, most francophones live in Quebec, but there are also a million Canadians living in the other provinces and territories who have French as a mother tongue.
In Fusion, I did a breakdown of the 2001 statistics to identify how many Canadian residents outside Quebec had French as a mother tongue. I also promised to include the figures from the 2006 census on my website… Fortunately (for my peace of mind), I didn’t say exactly when that would be! It took much longer than expected, but here at last are the promised stats.
First, though, a word about the figures you’ll find below. I’ve used the same approach as I did in Fusion, which recognizes that people can have more than one mother tongue. Statistics Canada has acknowledged this reality for years now, as have experts in the linguistics field. So in order to have a complete picture of the Canadian Francophonie, I’m including everyone who has French as a mother tongue.
One last thing: school boards and other organizations sometimes compile stats in order to get a more precise idea of their target populations. If you’ve got access to such figures as well as permission to publish them, be sure to visit our Forum and share your information (including links) and insights. That way, we can all get to know the Canadian Francophonie a little better!
Canadian Francophonie outside Quebec
Census data from 1996, 2001 and 2006
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population of Canada outside Quebec
|
23,805,130
|
22,513,455
|
21,483,045
|
|
French mother tongue*
|
1,012,540
|
1,020,545
|
1,005,035
|
|
English mother tongue
|
17,882,775
|
17,067,335
|
16,304,180
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
5,261,560
|
4,492,825
|
3,940,705
|
|
Residents who have French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
939,995
|
941,560
|
936,505
|
|
French and English
|
55,290
|
62,515
|
57,355
|
|
French and NOL**
|
11,985
|
11,740
|
7,705
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
5,270
|
4,730
|
3,470
|
* French as a mother tongue, whether alone or in combination with other languages.
** NOL: non-official language.
Provinces and territories
Alberta
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
3,256,360
|
2,941,150
|
2,669,195
|
|
French mother tongue*
|
68,435
|
65,990
|
58,305
|
|
English mother tongue
|
2,576,665
|
2,412,190
|
2,159,275
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
583,525
|
497,205
|
423,815
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
61,225
|
58,645
|
52,375
|
|
French and English
|
5,405
|
5,780
|
4,945
|
|
French and NOL**
|
1,325
|
1,090
|
670
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
480
|
475
|
315
|
British Columbia
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
4,074,385
|
3,868,875
|
3,689,755
|
|
French mother tongue*
|
63,290
|
63,630
|
60,675
|
|
English mother tongue
|
2,875,775
|
2,865,300
|
2,785,020
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
1,094,530
|
939,945
|
801,760
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
54,740
|
54,400
|
53,035
|
|
French and English
|
5,920
|
6,780
|
6,035
|
|
French and NOL**
|
1,840
|
1,705
|
985
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
790
|
745
|
620
|
Manitoba
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
1,133,515
|
1,103,700
|
1,100,295
|
|
French mother tongue*
|
47,110
|
47,560
|
50,565
|
|
English mother tongue
|
838,415
|
839,765
|
813,060
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
236,315
|
232,775
|
220,850
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
43,960
|
44,340
|
47,660
|
|
French and English
|
2,630
|
2,675
|
2,535
|
|
French and NOL**
|
435
|
435
|
295
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
85
|
110
|
75
|
New Brunswick
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
719,650
|
719,710
|
729,625
|
|
French mother tongue*
|
237,575
|
243,690
|
245,095
|
|
English mother tongue
|
463,190
|
471,010
|
473,260
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
18,320
|
12,625
|
10,295
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
232,980
|
236,665
|
239,730
|
|
French and English
|
4,450
|
5,255
|
5,275
|
|
French and NOL
|
120
|
105
|
65
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
25
|
35
|
25
|
Newfoundland and Labrador
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
500,610
|
508,075
|
547,160
|
|
French mother tongue
|
2,225
|
2,450
|
2,595
|
|
English mother tongue
|
488,405
|
539,048
|
538,700
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
9,540
|
5,663
|
5,465
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
1,885
|
2,110
|
2,275
|
|
French and English
|
295
|
330
|
300
|
|
French and NOL
|
30
|
0
|
20
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
15
|
10
|
0
|
Northwest Territories and Nunavut*
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
70,380
|
63,715
|
64,120
|
|
French mother tongue
|
1,435
|
1,495
|
1,485
|
|
English mother tongue
|
39,310
|
36,480
|
35,835
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
29,045
|
26,750
|
25,925
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
1,340
|
1,345
|
1,360
|
|
French and English
|
60
|
105
|
100
|
|
French and NOL
|
35
|
25
|
15
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
0
|
20
|
10
|
* Nunavut was created in 1999, so I have combined the figures for the two territories to cover the census period 1996–2006.
Nova Scotia
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
903,090
|
897,570
|
899,970
|
|
French mother tongue
|
34,920
|
36,740
|
37,600
|
|
English mother tongue
|
832,105
|
838,283
|
836,240
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
34,620
|
25,376
|
24,490
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
32,540
|
34,025
|
35,040
|
|
French and English
|
2,100
|
2,555
|
2,405
|
|
French and NOL
|
140
|
125
|
100
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
140
|
35
|
55
|
Ontario
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
12,028,895
|
11,285,550
|
10,642,790
|
|
French mother tongue
|
532,855
|
533,965
|
520,860
|
|
English mother tongue
|
8,230,705
|
8,119,830
|
7,694,630
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
3,134,045
|
2,672,080
|
2,296,570
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
488,815
|
485,630
|
479,285
|
|
French and English
|
32,685
|
37,135
|
33,940
|
|
French and NOL
|
7,790
|
8,000
|
5,335
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
3,565
|
3,200
|
2,300
|
Prince Edward Island
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
134,205
|
133,000
|
132,855
|
|
French mother tongue
|
5,875
|
6,105
|
5,880
|
|
English mother tongue
|
125,265
|
125,650
|
124,800
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
2,960
|
2,000
|
2,060
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
5,345
|
5,665
|
5,555
|
|
French and English
|
495
|
440
|
315
|
|
French and NOL
|
25
|
0
|
10
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
Saskatchewan
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
953,845
|
963,150
|
976,615
|
|
French mother tongue
|
17,570
|
19,520
|
20,745
|
|
English mother tongue
|
811,730
|
827,355
|
816,950
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
118,465
|
126,045
|
126,785
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
16,055
|
17,775
|
19,080
|
|
French and English
|
1,130
|
1,375
|
1,405
|
|
French and NOL
|
245
|
255
|
190
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
140
|
115
|
70
|
Yukon
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
30,195
|
28,520
|
30,650
|
|
French mother tongue
|
1,225
|
1,060
|
1,230
|
|
English mother tongue
|
25,655
|
24,450
|
26,405
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
3,180
|
2,900
|
2,700
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
1,105
|
975
|
1,110
|
|
French and English
|
110
|
85
|
100
|
|
French and NOL
|
10
|
0
|
20
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Normal 0 21 false false false FR-CA X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
A statistical look at the Canadian Francophonie
The Canadian Francophonie is the sum, so to speak (this being about numbers), of all the francophone communities around the country. Of course, most francophones live in Quebec, but there are also a million Canadians living in the other provinces and territories who have French as a mother tongue.
In Fusion, I did a breakdown of the 2001 statistics to identify how many Canadian residents outside Quebec had French as a mother tongue. I also promised to include the figures from the 2006 census on my website… Fortunately (for my peace of mind), I didn’t say exactly when that would be! It took much longer than expected, but here at last are the promised stats.
First, though, a word about the figures you’ll find below. I’ve used the same approach as I did in Fusion, which recognizes that people can have more than one mother tongue. Statistics Canada has acknowledged this reality for years now, as have experts in the linguistics field. So in order to have a complete picture of the Canadian Francophonie, I’m including everyone who has French as a mother tongue.
One last thing: school boards and other organizations sometimes compile stats in order to get a more precise idea of their target populations. If you’ve got access to such figures as well as permission to publish them, be sure to visit our Forum and share your information (including links) and insights. That way, we can all get to know the Canadian Francophonie a little better!
Canadian francophones outside Quebec
Census data from 1996, 2001 and 2006
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population of Canada outside Quebec
|
23,805,130
|
22,513,455
|
21,483,045
|
|
French mother tongue*
|
1,012,540
|
1,020,545
|
1,005,035
|
|
English mother tongue
|
17,882,775
|
17,067,335
|
16,304,180
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
5,261,560
|
4,492,825
|
3,940,705
|
|
Residents who have French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
939,995
|
941,560
|
936,505
|
|
French and English
|
55,290
|
62,515
|
57,355
|
|
French and NOL**
|
11,985
|
11,740
|
7,705
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
5,270
|
4,730
|
3,470
|
* French as a mother tongue, whether alone or in combination with other languages.
** NOL: non-official language.
Provinces and territories
Alberta
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
3,256,360
|
2,941,150
|
2,669,195
|
|
French mother tongue*
|
68,435
|
65,990
|
58,305
|
|
English mother tongue
|
2,576,665
|
2,412,190
|
2,159,275
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
583,525
|
497,205
|
423,815
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
61,225
|
58,645
|
52,375
|
|
French and English
|
5,405
|
5,780
|
4,945
|
|
French and NOL**
|
1,325
|
1,090
|
670
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
480
|
475
|
315
|
British Columbia
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
4,074,385
|
3,868,875
|
3,689,755
|
|
French mother tongue*
|
63,290
|
63,630
|
60,675
|
|
English mother tongue
|
2,875,775
|
2,865,300
|
2,785,020
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
1,094,530
|
939,945
|
801,760
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
54,740
|
54,400
|
53,035
|
|
French and English
|
5,920
|
6,780
|
6,035
|
|
French and NOL**
|
1,840
|
1,705
|
985
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
790
|
745
|
620
|
Manitoba
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
1,133,515
|
1,103,700
|
1,100,295
|
|
French mother tongue*
|
47,110
|
47,560
|
50,565
|
|
English mother tongue
|
838,415
|
839,765
|
813,060
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
236,315
|
232,775
|
220,850
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
43,960
|
44,340
|
47,660
|
|
French and English
|
2,630
|
2,675
|
2,535
|
|
French and NOL**
|
435
|
435
|
295
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
85
|
110
|
75
|
New Brunswick
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
719,650
|
719,710
|
729,625
|
|
French mother tongue*
|
237,575
|
243,690
|
245,095
|
|
English mother tongue
|
463,190
|
471,010
|
473,260
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
18,320
|
12,625
|
10,295
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
232,980
|
236,665
|
239,730
|
|
French and English
|
4,450
|
5,255
|
5,275
|
|
French and NOL
|
120
|
105
|
65
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
25
|
35
|
25
|
Newfoundland and Labrador
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
500,610
|
508,075
|
547,160
|
|
French mother tongue
|
2,225
|
2,450
|
2,595
|
|
English mother tongue
|
488,405
|
539,048
|
538,700
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
9,540
|
5,663
|
5,465
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
1,885
|
2,110
|
2,275
|
|
French and English
|
295
|
330
|
300
|
|
French and NOL
|
30
|
0
|
20
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
15
|
10
|
0
|
Northwest Territories and Nunavut*
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
70,380
|
63,715
|
64,120
|
|
French mother tongue
|
1,435
|
1,495
|
1,485
|
|
English mother tongue
|
39,310
|
36,480
|
35,835
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
29,045
|
26,750
|
25,925
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
1,340
|
1,345
|
1,360
|
|
French and English
|
60
|
105
|
100
|
|
French and NOL
|
35
|
25
|
15
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
0
|
20
|
10
|
* Nunavut was created in 1999, so we have combined the figures for the two territories to cover the census period 1996–2006.
Nova Scotia
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
903,090
|
897,570
|
899,970
|
|
French mother tongue
|
34,920
|
36,740
|
37,600
|
|
English mother tongue
|
832,105
|
838,283
|
836,240
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
34,620
|
25,376
|
24,490
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
32,540
|
34,025
|
35,040
|
|
French and English
|
2,100
|
2,555
|
2,405
|
|
French and NOL
|
140
|
125
|
100
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
140
|
35
|
55
|
Ontario
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
12,028,895
|
11,285,550
|
10,642,790
|
|
French mother tongue
|
532,855
|
533,965
|
520,860
|
|
English mother tongue
|
8,230,705
|
8,119,830
|
7,694,630
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
3,134,045
|
2,672,080
|
2,296,570
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
488,815
|
485,630
|
479,285
|
|
French and English
|
32,685
|
37,135
|
33,940
|
|
French and NOL
|
7,790
|
8,000
|
5,335
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
3,565
|
3,200
|
2,300
|
Prince Edward Island
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
134,205
|
133,000
|
132,855
|
|
French mother tongue
|
5,875
|
6,105
|
5,880
|
|
English mother tongue
|
125,265
|
125,650
|
124,800
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
2,960
|
2,000
|
2,060
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
5,345
|
5,665
|
5,555
|
|
French and English
|
495
|
440
|
315
|
|
French and NOL
|
25
|
0
|
10
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
Saskatchewan
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
953,845
|
963,150
|
976,615
|
|
French mother tongue
|
17,570
|
19,520
|
20,745
|
|
English mother tongue
|
811,730
|
827,355
|
816,950
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
118,465
|
126,045
|
126,785
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
16,055
|
17,775
|
19,080
|
|
French and English
|
1,130
|
1,375
|
1,405
|
|
French and NOL
|
245
|
255
|
190
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
140
|
115
|
70
|
Yukon
|
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
Total population
|
30,195
|
28,520
|
30,650
|
|
French mother tongue
|
1,225
|
1,060
|
1,230
|
|
English mother tongue
|
25,655
|
24,450
|
26,405
|
|
Other mother tongues
|
3,180
|
2,900
|
2,700
|
|
Residents with French as a mother tongue
|
2006
|
2001
|
1996
|
|
French only
|
1,105
|
975
|
1,110
|
|
French and English
|
110
|
85
|
100
|
|
French and NOL
|
10
|
0
|
20
|
|
French, English and NOL
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
