How poverty rates differed by language in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario in 2021

Release date: March 12, 2026

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Infographic: How poverty rates differed by language in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario in 2021 — Description: How poverty rates differed by language in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario in 2021

At the national level, the poverty rate^{Note 1} of the Canadian-born population aged 25 and over was 6.0% in 2021.

**Provincial poverty rate**

Quebec: 5.0%

New Brunswick: 6.5%

Ontario: 5.8%

In Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario, the poverty rate was lower among those who knew both English and French than among those who knew only one of these languages.

**Quebec**

The poverty rate in Quebec was higher among the population with an English mother tongue, especially among those who knew only English.

Table 1
Poverty rate of the Quebec population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Table summary
This table displays the results of Poverty rate of the Quebec population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Overall poverty rate, Knowledge of English only, Knowledge of French only and Knowledge of English and French, calculated using poverty rate units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Overall poverty rate Knowledge of English only Knowledge of French only Knowledge of English and French

poverty rate

Note ...

not applicable

Total population 5.0% 9.5% 5.5% 4.3%

English mother tongue 6.8% 9.6% ... not applicable 5.7%

French mother tongue 4.9% ... not applicable 5.5% 4.0%

**New Brunswick**

The poverty rates of the bilingual population in New Brunswick were similar, whether their mother tongue is English or French

Table 2
Poverty rate of the New Brunswick population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Table summary
This table displays the results of Poverty rate of the New Brunswick population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Overall poverty rate, Knowledge of English only, Knowledge of French only and Knowledge of English and French, calculated using poverty rate units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Overall poverty rate Knowledge of English only Knowledge of French only Knowledge of English and French

poverty rate

Note ...

not applicable

Total population 6.5% 7.1% 8.5% 5.3%

English mother tongue 6.8% 7.0% ... not applicable 5.1%

French mother tongue 6.0% ... not applicable 8.5% 5.2%

**Ontario**

In Ontario, the population who knew only French had a higher poverty rate than the population who knew only English

Table 3
Poverty rate of the Ontario population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Table summary
This table displays the results of Poverty rate of the Ontario population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Overall poverty rate, Knowledge of English only, Knowledge of French only and Knowledge of English and French, calculated using poverty rate units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Overall poverty rate Knowledge of English only Knowledge of French only Knowledge of English and French

poverty rate

Note ...

not applicable

Total population 5.8% 6.0% 8.1% 4.8%

English mother tongue 5.9% 6.0% ... not applicable 4.7%

French mother tongue 4.9% 7.6% 8.2% 4.7%

**Note:** In this infographic, the reference population is made up of persons 25 years and over who were born in Canada, excluding the population of the territories. The bilingual population comprises people who know English and French well enough to have a conversation.

**Source:** Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021.

Notes

Footnote 1.

The poverty rate refers to the proportion of the population living below the poverty line, according to the market basket measure. For more information, see the following Statistics Canada products: *Quality of life indicator: Poverty* and *Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021 – Market Basket Measure (MBM)*.

Return to note 1 referrer

Table 1
Poverty rate of the Quebec population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Table summary
This table displays the results of Poverty rate of the Quebec population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Overall poverty rate, Knowledge of English only, Knowledge of French only and Knowledge of English and French, calculated using poverty rate units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	Overall poverty rate	Knowledge of English only	Knowledge of French only	Knowledge of English and French
Note ... not applicable
Total population	5.0%	9.5%	5.5%	4.3%
English mother tongue	6.8%	9.6%	... not applicable	5.7%
French mother tongue	4.9%	... not applicable	5.5%	4.0%

Table 2
Poverty rate of the New Brunswick population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Table summary
This table displays the results of Poverty rate of the New Brunswick population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Overall poverty rate, Knowledge of English only, Knowledge of French only and Knowledge of English and French, calculated using poverty rate units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	Overall poverty rate	Knowledge of English only	Knowledge of French only	Knowledge of English and French
Note ... not applicable
Total population	6.5%	7.1%	8.5%	5.3%
English mother tongue	6.8%	7.0%	... not applicable	5.1%
French mother tongue	6.0%	... not applicable	8.5%	5.2%

Table 3
Poverty rate of the Ontario population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Table summary
This table displays the results of Poverty rate of the Ontario population, by knowledge of official languages and mother tongue Overall poverty rate, Knowledge of English only, Knowledge of French only and Knowledge of English and French, calculated using poverty rate units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	Overall poverty rate	Knowledge of English only	Knowledge of French only	Knowledge of English and French
Note ... not applicable
Total population	5.8%	6.0%	8.1%	4.8%
English mother tongue	5.9%	6.0%	... not applicable	4.7%
French mother tongue	4.9%	7.6%	8.2%	4.7%

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Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

Date modified:: 2026-03-12

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How poverty rates differed by language in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario in 2021