Quebec is one of 13 provinces and territories of Canada located in the east-central region of the country. It is second-most populous province, largest by area, distinct French-speaking culture , with an economy based on aerospace, technology, natural resources.
Quebec is a province located in east-central Canada. Quebec is the largest province in Canada in terms of area and the second-largest administrative division after Nunavut. The province is bordered by Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay to the west, Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay to the north, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the provinces of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador to the east. It also shares a border with the U.S. states New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine and maritime borders with Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Nunavut.
Quebec has a varied climate based on its geography:
• Northern Region
Subarctic climate with long, harsh winters and shorter, cooler summers.
• Southern Region
Milder climate, particularly in coastal areas, with moderate temperatures.
• Great Lakes Effect
Areas near the Great Lakes experience milder winters and more precipitation due to lake-effect snow and moisture.
Major aerospace manufacturing hub, home to Bombardier and numerous aviation companies.
Vast hydroelectric power generation, forestry, and mining operations including iron ore and gold.
Growing tech sector in Montreal, particularly in AI, gaming, and multimedia production.
Leading producer of dairy products and maple syrup, with significant crop farming in the St. Lawrence Valley.
Average Age
42 years
Median Age
43 years
Female (50.6%)
Male (49.4%)
The 2021 census found the racial and ethnic composition of Quebec was:
White (74.8%)
Black (4.8%)
Arab (3.2%)
Latin American (2.9%)
Chinese (2.7%)
South Asian (2.6%)
Southeast Asian (2.1%)
Indigenous (2.3%)
Filipino (1.2%)
Other (3.4%)
French (77.5%)
English (13.0%)
Other (9.5%)
Average Household Income
$76,800
Median Household Income
$68,900
Poverty Rate
10.9%
Home to Indigenous peoples including the Algonquin, Iroquois, Huron, and Innu for thousands of years before European contact.
Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City, establishing the first permanent French settlement in North America.
The British conquered New France during the Seven Years' War, culminating in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
The Quebec Act preserved French civil law and recognized the Catholic Church, helping shape Quebec's distinct cultural identity.
The Lower Canada Rebellion (Patriotes Rebellion) against British colonial rule reflected growing French-Canadian nationalism.
The Quiet Revolution transformed Quebec from a rural society dominated by the Catholic Church into a modern secular state with strong nationalist sentiments.