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French outside Quebec.
Outside Quebec, French as a mother tongue is most common in New Brunswick (29.5%). Among metropolitan areas outside Quebec, Moncton leads. IRCC targets 9% French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec in 2026.
Data 2021 CensusNext update Census 2026 (from Feb. 2027)
French mother tongue by province (excluding Quebec)
| Province or territory | French mother tongue | People | Bilingual (English and French) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0.4% | 2,215 | 5.1% |
| Prince Edward Island | 3.0% | 4,560 | 12.7% |
| Nova Scotia | 2.9% | 27,340 | 10.3% |
| New Brunswick | 29.5% | 225,560 | 34.0% |
| Ontario | 3.3% | 463,120 | 10.8% |
| Manitoba | 2.8% | 36,740 | 8.3% |
| Saskatchewan | 1.1% | 12,565 | 4.7% |
| Alberta | 1.5% | 64,855 | 6.1% |
| British Columbia | 1.2% | 57,420 | 6.6% |
| Yukon | 4.5% | 1,785 | 14.2% |
| Northwest Territories | 2.8% | 1,130 | 10.6% |
| Nunavut | 1.4% | 520 | 3.8% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population.
Metropolitan areas outside Quebec with the highest share
| Metropolitan area | French mother tongue |
|---|---|
| Moncton | 31.5% |
| Ottawa - Gatineau | 27.2% |
| Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury | 22.8% |
| Fredericton | 6.4% |
| Saint John | 3.5% |
| Winnipeg | 3.0% |
| Kingston | 2.9% |
| St. Catharines - Niagara | 2.5% |
| Belleville - Quinte West | 2.4% |
| Halifax | 2.2% |
| Windsor | 2.2% |
| Thunder Bay | 1.9% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population. Ottawa - Gatineau includes the Quebec side (Gatineau).