Ethnicity, Language and Immigration Thematic Series
The French Language in Prince Edward Island, 2001 to 2016: Facts and Figures
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by Alejandro A. Páez Silva and Émilie Lavoie
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Correction notice
August 8, 2019
Corrections have been made to this product.
Please take note of the following changes:
All data and analysis found in this product are now based on the universe “Population excluding institutional residents”, except when pertaining to language of work. Furthermore, all references to the “official language minority” population have been removed so that the analysis now focuses on language characteristics.
The purpose of this document is to present an overview of the prevailing language trends observed between 2001 and 2016Note in Prince Edward Island. To this end, the document provides census-based information on the populationNote who reported having French as their first official language spoken, mother tongue, language spoken at home or language used at work as well as on the population who reported speaking French well enough to conduct a conversation.
Description for Map
This map shows the proportion of the population with French as their first official language spoken found in each Census Subdivision in Prince Edward Island in 2016.
In this map we use seven distinct colours to signify different values. Blue stripes are used to represent areas for which no data are available. There is 1 Census Subdivision in this group.
A solid teal colour is used to represent areas in which no one with French as their first official language spoken resides. There are 18 Census Subdivisions in this group.
A solid green colour is used to represent areas in which those with French as their first official language spoken constitute less than 2.5% of the total population. There are 65 Census Subdivisions in this group.
A solid yellow colour is used to represent areas in which those with French as their first official language spoken constitute between 2.5% and less than 5.0% of the total population. There are 15 Census Subdivisions in this group.
A solid orange colour was used to represent areas in which those with French as their first official language spoken constitute between 5% and less than 10% of the total population. There are 5 Census Subdivisions in this group.
A solid dark orange colour was used to represent areas in which those with French as their first official language spoken constitute between 10% and less than 50% of the total population. There are 5 Census Subdivisions in this group.
A solid red colour was used to represent areas in which those with French as their first official language spoken constitute between 50% and less than 75% of the total population. There are 3 Census Subdivisions in this group.
The borders of each Census Subdivision are delineated by a grey line and each Census Subdivision is assigned a colour based on the table below:
| Census Subdivisions | French as First Official Language Spoken - Number | French as First Official Language Spoken - Percent | Total Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1103027 | 200 | 74.1 | 270 |
| 1103026 | 680 | 61.3 | 1,110 |
| 1103029 | 235 | 56.6 | 415 |
| 1103028 | 130 | 18.4 | 705 |
| 1103031 | 118 | 15.6 | 755 |
| 1103057 | 10 | 15.4 | 65 |
| 1103056 | 183 | 12.5 | 1,455 |
| 1103059 | 80 | 11.2 | 715 |
| 1103024 | 75 | 8.6 | 870 |
| 1103058 | 130 | 7.8 | 1,670 |
| 1103019 | 40 | 7.0 | 575 |
| 1103062 | 10 | 6.9 | 145 |
| 1103018 | 10 | 6.3 | 160 |
| 1103023 | 15 | 4.8 | 310 |
| 1103025 | 638 | 4.4 | 14,510 |
| 1102037 | 28 | 4.2 | 655 |
| 1102046 | 25 | 4.1 | 605 |
| 1102044 | 68 | 3.9 | 1,735 |
| 1102045 | 13 | 3.8 | 330 |
| 1103015 | 10 | 3.3 | 300 |
| 1102041 | 20 | 3.3 | 605 |
| 1103016 | 35 | 3.3 | 1,065 |
| 1103011 | 35 | 3.0 | 1,155 |
| 1103008 | 10 | 3.0 | 335 |
| 1103052 | 30 | 2.9 | 1,040 |
| 1103032 | 20 | 2.8 | 715 |
| 1102048 | 10 | 2.7 | 375 |
| 1102050 | 5 | 2.5 | 200 |
| 1101049 | 15 | 2.4 | 620 |
| 1102006 | 10 | 2.3 | 440 |
| 1101036 | 23 | 2.3 | 995 |
| 1102065 | 5 | 2.2 | 225 |
| 1103033 | 5 | 2.2 | 225 |
| 1102031 | 20 | 2.2 | 920 |
| 1103014 | 35 | 2.2 | 1,615 |
| 1102075 | 758 | 2.2 | 35,115 |
| 1102028 | 50 | 2.1 | 2,345 |
| 1101044 | 5 | 2.1 | 235 |
| 1102070 | 8 | 2.1 | 355 |
| 1102049 | 28 | 2.1 | 1,320 |
| 1103005 | 15 | 2.1 | 725 |
| 1102080 | 198 | 2.0 | 9,650 |
| 1101019 | 10 | 2.0 | 490 |
| 1103036 | 10 | 2.0 | 495 |
| 1102040 | 23 | 2.0 | 1,130 |
| 1101032 | 15 | 1.9 | 770 |
| 1103054 | 15 | 1.9 | 770 |
| 1103049 | 25 | 1.9 | 1,285 |
| 1101002 | 5 | 1.9 | 260 |
| 1101051 | 10 | 1.9 | 530 |
| 1102038 | 15 | 1.9 | 805 |
| 1102039 | 15 | 1.7 | 860 |
| 1102085 | 93 | 1.7 | 5,350 |
| 1102014 | 35 | 1.7 | 2,045 |
| 1102026 | 30 | 1.7 | 1,765 |
| 1101048 | 5 | 1.7 | 300 |
| 1102004 | 5 | 1.6 | 305 |
| 1101026 | 5 | 1.6 | 320 |
| 1103035 | 5 | 1.5 | 325 |
| 1102054 | 25 | 1.5 | 1,640 |
| 1102036 | 13 | 1.5 | 825 |
| 1101038 | 5 | 1.4 | 350 |
| 1102033 | 5 | 1.4 | 355 |
| 1102043 | 5 | 1.4 | 355 |
| 1103006 | 10 | 1.4 | 720 |
| 1101016 | 10 | 1.4 | 740 |
| 1103051 | 15 | 1.4 | 1,110 |
| 1102056 | 10 | 1.3 | 745 |
| 1102052 | 38 | 1.3 | 2,850 |
| 1101009 | 15 | 1.3 | 1,185 |
| 1101028 | 5 | 1.3 | 400 |
| 1103009 | 13 | 1.3 | 1,000 |
| 1101042 | 5 | 1.2 | 405 |
| 1103034 | 10 | 1.2 | 810 |
| 1103041 | 10 | 1.2 | 815 |
| 1102029 | 10 | 1.2 | 850 |
| 1101046 | 5 | 1.2 | 430 |
| 1102008 | 10 | 1.1 | 895 |
| 1103012 | 20 | 1.1 | 1,790 |
| 1101034 | 5 | 1.1 | 460 |
| 1103048 | 5 | 1.1 | 460 |
| 1101039 | 5 | 1.1 | 475 |
| 1102042 | 10 | 1.0 | 985 |
| 1102012 | 10 | 0.9 | 1,095 |
| 1101024 | 5 | 0.9 | 555 |
| 1102058 | 5 | 0.9 | 585 |
| 1101031 | 5 | 0.7 | 690 |
| 1103042 | 5 | 0.7 | 765 |
| 1101014 | 5 | 0.6 | 790 |
| 1103001 | 5 | 0.6 | 835 |
| 1101001 | 5 | 0.5 | 930 |
| 1101018 | 10 | 0.5 | 1,885 |
| 1102009 | 5 | 0.5 | 945 |
| 1101004 | 0 | 0.0 | 300 |
| 1101006 | 0 | 0.0 | 815 |
| 1101008 | 0 | 0.0 | 745 |
| 1101011 | 0 | 0.0 | 205 |
| 1101021 | 0 | 0.0 | 270 |
| 1101022 | 0 | 0.0 | 280 |
| 1101029 | 0 | 0.0 | 330 |
| 1101041 | 0 | 0.0 | 250 |
| 1102001 | 0 | 0.0 | 555 |
| 1102030 | 0 | 0.0 | 50 |
| 1102032 | 0 | 0.0 | 75 |
| 1102034 | 0 | 0.0 | 265 |
| 1102051 | 0 | 0.0 | 170 |
| 1102057 | 0 | 0.0 | 200 |
| 1102059 | 0 | 0.0 | 210 |
| 1103038 | 0 | 0.0 | 260 |
| 1103044 | 0 | 0.0 | 285 |
| 1103046 | 0 | 0.0 | 555 |
| 1101050 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
- In 2016, there were 4,665 persons for whom French was their first official language spoken. Collectively, they represented 3.3% of Prince Edward Island’s total population.
- In the 2001 to 2016 period, the number of persons for whom French is their first official language spoken decreased both in absolute terms, by 11.6%, and relative terms by 0.6 percentage points. As a number, this decrease represents 610 fewer persons.
| 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2001 to 2016 Growth |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number | percent | number | percent | number | percent | number | percent | percent | |
| Total PopulationTable 1 Note 1 | 133,385 | 100.0 | 134,205 | 100.0 | 138435 | 100.0 | 141,015 | 100.0 | 5.7 |
| French as First Official Language SpokenTable 1 Note 2 | 5,275 | 4.0 | 5,135 | 3.8 | 4,815 | 3.5 | 4,665 | 3.3 | -11.6 |
| Knowledge of FrenchTable 1 Note 3 | 16,090 | 12.1 | 17,160 | 12.8 | 17,135 | 12.4 | 17,955 | 12.7 | 11.6 |
| Knowledge of Only French | 100 | 0.1 | 60 | 0.0 | 130 | 0.1 | 120 | 0.1 | 20.0 |
| Knowledge of English and French | 15,990 | 12.0 | 17,100 | 12.7 | 17,005 | 12.3 | 17,835 | 12.6 | 11.5 |
| French as Mother TongueTable 1 Note 3 | 6,110 | 4.6 | 5,885 | 4.4 | 5,685 | 4.1 | 5,395 | 3.8 | -11.7 |
| French Spoken at HomeTable 1 Note 4 | 5,220 | 3.9 | 5,240 | 3.9 | 5,545 | 4.0 | 5,540 | 3.9 | 6.1 |
| French Spoken Most Often at HomeTable 1 Note 5 | 2,935 | 2.2 | 2,820 | 2.1 | 2,765 | 2.0 | 2,635 | 1.9 | -10.2 |
| Only French Spoken at HomeTable 1 Note 6 | 1,595 | 1.2 | 1,515 | 1.1 | 1,330 | 1.0 | 1,165 | 0.8 | -27.0 |
| Mostly French Spoken at HomeTable 1 Note 7 | 1,125 | 0.8 | 1,160 | 0.9 | 1,130 | 0.8 | 1,100 | 0.8 | -2.2 |
| French Spoken Equally Often With Another Language at HomeTable 1 Note 8 |
215 | 0.2 | 145 | 0.1 | 305 | 0.2 | 370 | 0.3 | 72.1 |
| French Spoken Regularly at Home (In addition to the main language) |
2,285 | 1.7 | 2,420 | 1.8 | 2,780 | 2.0 | 2,905 | 2.1 | 27.1 |
|
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- As of 2016, 17,955 persons reported being able to conduct a conversation in French, either exclusively or with another language. They represented 12.7% of the province’s total population that year.
- In the 15 years since 2001, the number of persons who report being able to conduct a conversation in French has increased by 1,865 persons which represents an 11.6% increase.
- English-French bilingualism is on the rise in Prince Edward Island. In fact, in 2016, 17,835 persons reported being able to conduct a conversation in English and French representing a bilingualism rate of 12.6%.
- Compared to 2001, English-French bilingualism has increased by 11.5% (+1,845 persons). Similarly, in relative terms, English-French bilingualism has increased by 0.7 percentage points over the same period.
- In 2016, there were 5,395 persons who reported having French as a mother tongueNote , either exclusively or in combination with other languages. Collectively, they represented 3.8% of the province’s total population.
- Compared to 2001, there has been a decrease in the size and proportion of the population with French as their mother tongue. Specifically, 715 fewer persons reported having French as their mother tongue in 2016 than in 2001, down 11.7%. Similarly, their size as a proportion of the total population has decreased from 4.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2016.
Data table for Chart 1
| 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| number | ||||
| Only French Spoken at Home | 1,595 | 1,515 | 1,330 | 1,165 |
| Mostly French Spoken at Home | 1,125 | 1,160 | 1,130 | 1,100 |
| French Spoken Equally Often With Another Language at Home |
215 | 145 | 305 | 370 |
| French Spoken Secondarily at Home (In addition to the main language) |
2,285 | 2,420 | 2,780 | 2,905 |
| Sources: Statistics Canada, censuses of population, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016. | ||||
- As of 2016, 5,540 persons reported speaking French at home at least regularly, up 6.1% in 15 years. As a whole, they represented 3.9% of Prince Edward Island’s total population that year, remaining unchanged as a proportion since 2001.
- Among those who reported speaking French at least regularly at home, 2,635 persons reported speaking French most often while 2,905 reported speaking French as their secondary language at home (in addition to the main language). In relative terms, these populations represented 1.9% and 2.1% of the total population of the province that year.
- In the 15 years leading to 2016, the number of persons who reported speaking French most often decreased by 300 persons or 10.2%. By comparison, over the same period, the number of persons who reported speaking French as a secondary language at home increased by 620 persons or 27.1%.
- Although there has been a net reduction in the size of the population who report speaking French most often at home, the number of persons who report speaking French equally often with another language at home has, in fact, increased by 155 persons, a figure which translates to a 72.1% increase.
| 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2001 to 2016 Growth |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number | percent | number | percent | number | percent | number | percent | percent | |
| Working PopulationTable 2 Note 1 | 79,980 | 100.0 | 82,405 | 100.0 | 85,310 | 100.0 | 85,275 | 100.0 | 6.6 |
| French Used at WorkTable 2 Note 2 | 4,005 | 5.0 | 4,550 | 5.5 | 3,860 | 4.5 | 3,900 | 4.6 | -2.6 |
| French Used Most Often at WorkTable 2 Note 3 | 1,395 | 1.7 | 1,495 | 1.8 | 1,545 | 1.8 | 1,440 | 1.7 | 3.2 |
| Only French Used at WorkTable 2 Note 4 | 310 | 0.4 | 340 | 0.4 | 365 | 0.4 | 375 | 0.4 | 21.0 |
| Mostly French Used at WorkTable 2 Note 5 | 795 | 1.0 | 720 | 0.9 | 825 | 1.0 | 690 | 0.8 | -13.2 |
| French Used Equally Often With Another Language at WorkTable 2 Note 6 |
290 | 0.4 | 435 | 0.5 | 355 | 0.4 | 375 | 0.4 | 29.3 |
| French Used Regularly at Work (In addition to the main language) |
2,610 | 3.3 | 3,055 | 3.7 | 2,315 | 2.7 | 2,460 | 2.9 | -5.7 |
|
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- In 2016, 3,900 workers reported using French at work at least regularly. Collectively, they represented 4.6% of the province’s total working population.
- In the 2001 to 2016 period, the number of persons who reported using French at work at least regularly slightly decreased by 105 workers or 2.6%.
- Among those who used French at work in 2016, 1,440 workers reported using French most often at work whereas 2,460 workers reported using French as a secondary language at work. Respectively, these two populations represented 1.7% and 2.9% of Prince Edward Island’s total working population.
- Between 2001 and 2016, the number of persons who reported using French most often at work slightly increased by 45 workers which represents a 3.2% increase. By contrast, the number of persons who reported using French as a secondary language at work (in addition to the main language) decreased by 150 workers or 5.7%.
Notes
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