Ethnicity, Language and Immigration Thematic Series
Key facts on the French language in Ontario in 2021

This fact sheet gives an overview of the situation of French in Ontario in 2021. It begins by providing information on the changes in the number and proportion of the population who can have a conversation in French, whose first official language spoken is French, whose mother tongue is French, and who speak French at home or use French at work. Next, it presents information on French‑language instruction in primary and secondary schools, on French spoken among recent and established immigrants, as well as on the mobility and place of birth of individuals whose first official language spoken is French. Additional data on these topics can be found in the appendix.

The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the Census of Population. To learn more about census concepts and the historical comparability of data, please refer to the 2021 Census of Population Languages Reference Guide and the Instruction in the Minority Official Language Reference Guide.

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Highlights

• In Ontario, 1,558,670 residents (11.1% of the population) could have a conversation in French. This was the largest number ever observed in a census in the province. In contrast, the demographic weight of these residents was at its lowest level in 50 years.
• In 2021, 594,735 Ontarians (4.2% of the population) spoke French at least regularly at home. This includes all those who spoke French most often at home, whether predominantly (254,870 people, or 1.8% of the population) or equally with other languages (78,385 people, or 0.6%). Moreover, among people with French as one of their mother tongues, two-thirds (66.0%) spoke French regularly at home.
• In Ontario, 301,655 workers (4.6%) used French at least regularly at work. This includes all those who used French most often at work, whether predominantly (80,050 workers, or 1.2%) or equally with other languages (41,390 workers, or 0.6%).
• Roughly 1 in 17 immigrants (6.1%) could have a conversation in French in 2021. This proportion was lower than that of the non-immigrant population (13.5%).
• Around three in five Ontarians (58.7%) whose only first official language spoken was French in 2021 were born in Ontario.

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Ability to conduct a conversation in French

Data table for Chart 1



Data table for Chart 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 1. The information is grouped by Knowledge of official languages (appearing as row headers), 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Knowledge of official languages	1991	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021
	number
French and English	1,136,245	1,234,895	1,319,715	1,377,330	1,395,805	1,490,390	1,519,365
French only	54,245	46,940	42,305	49,210	42,980	40,045	39,310
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1991 to 2021.

• In 2021, 1,558,670 Ontarians (11.1% of the population) could have a conversation in French. This was the largest number ever recorded in a census in Ontario.
• Almost all (97.5%, or 1,519,365 people) could also do so in English. This number has risen steadily since 1991 (+383,120 people).
• A small proportion of these residents (2.5%, or 39,310 people) could converse in French, but not in English. This was down from 1991 (-14,935 people).
• Following a period of relative stability from 1991 to 2006 (11.9%), the demographic weight of Ontarians who could have a conversation in French fell to 11.3% in 2011. After rising to 11.5% in 2016, this proportion then fell again to 11.1% in 2021. This was the lowest proportion recorded since the 1971 Census.
• From 1991 to 2021, the number and proportion of Ontarians who could have a conversation in French increased among those who first learned English at home in childhood: 555,710 people (7.5%) could have a conversation in French in 1991, and it rose to 747,900 people (8.1%) in 2021.
• Among residents whose mother tongues are neither French nor English, the number of people who could have a conversation in French rose from 1991 to 2021 (+92,875). However, the proportion of people able to speak French among this population fell from 6.5% in 1991 to 5.8% in 2021.

Description for Map 1

This map shows the proportion of the population able to conduct a conversation in French in each census subdivision in the south and the east of Ontario in 2021.

In this map we use 6 distinct colours to signify different values. Grey is used to represent areas for which no data are available. There are 9 census subdivisions in this group.

Teal is used to represent areas in which less than 10% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 238 census subdivisions in this group.

Green is used to represent areas in which 10% to less than 20% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 32 census subdivisions in this group.

Yellow is used to represent areas in which 20% to less than 40% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 7 census subdivisions in this group.

Orange is used to represent areas in which 40% to less than 60% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 4 census subdivisions in this group.

Red is used to represent areas in which 60% or more of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 7 census subdivisions in this group.

The boundaries of census subdivisions have been delimited by a gray line. Their colour was assigned according to the table below.



Map table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Map table 1. The information is grouped by Census Subdivision (appearing as row headers), Population knowing French (appearing as column headers).

Census Subdivision		Population knowing FrenchMap table 1 Note 1
Code	Name	percentage
3502008	Hawkesbury	87.3
3502044	Casselman	85.1
3502023	Alfred and Plantagenet	83.9
3502001	East Hawkesbury	82.0
3502010	Champlain	79.7
3502025	The Nation	79.0
3502036	Clarence-Rockland	74.2
3502048	Russell	59.8
3501050	North Glengarry	59.0
3501005	South Glengarry	53.6
3501042	North Stormont	45.0
3501012	Cornwall	39.0
3506008	Ottawa	37.9
3501011	South Stormont	34.0
3507065	North Grenville	23.0
3501030	North Dundas	21.8
3547076	Petawawa	21.6
3509024	Beckwith	20.7
3509028	Carleton Place	18.6
3507052	Merrickville-Wolford	18.5
3509030	Mississippi Mills	17.7
3543072	Penetanguishene	16.9
3537064	Lakeshore	16.1
3543068	Tiny	15.7
3547075	Laurentian Valley	15.1
3509001	Montague	14.0
3547008	Greater Madawaska	14.0
3547064	Pembroke	14.0
3509039	Lanark Highlands	13.9
3547090	Laurentian Hills	13.9
3510010	Kingston	13.6
3526032	Welland	13.4
3501020	South Dundas	12.9
3547096	Deep River	12.8
3537048	Tecumseh	12.6
3547002	Arnprior	12.5
3507004	Edwardsburgh/Cardinal	12.3
3509010	Drummond/North Elmsley	11.5
3537034	LaSalle	11.4
3547056	Whitewater Region	11.4
3509015	Tay Valley	11.2
3507008	Prescott	11.1
3510005	Frontenac Islands	11.1
3524001	Oakville	11.1
3511005	Loyalist	10.8
3537028	Amherstburg	10.7
3509021	Perth	10.6
3507015	Brockville	10.5
3547003	McNab/Braeside	10.5
3507006	Augusta	10.2
3509004	Smiths Falls	9.6
3547098	Head, Clara and Maria	9.3
3507014	Elizabethtown-Kitley	9.1
3507040	Rideau Lakes	9.1
3543021	Essa	9.1
3547046	Horton	9.1
3512015	Quinte West	9.0
3523008	Guelph	8.9
3519046	Aurora	8.8
3523017	Erin	8.8
3507021	Leeds and the Thousand Islands	8.7
3507024	Gananoque	8.7
3530016	Waterloo	8.7
3547048	Renfrew	8.7
3547070	North Algona Wilberforce	8.7
3520005	Toronto	8.6
3524002	Burlington	8.6
3537039	Windsor	8.6
3518009	Whitby	8.4
3543074	Midland	8.4
3526047	Niagara-on-the-Lake	8.2
3542045	The Blue Mountains	8.2
3507042	Athens	8.0
3526011	Port Colborne	8.0
3507033	Westport	7.9
3510020	South Frontenac	7.9
3515014	Peterborough	7.9
3524009	Milton	7.9
3547035	Bonnechere Valley	7.8
3518029	Uxbridge	7.7
3523009	Guelph/Eramosa	7.7
3524015	Halton Hills	7.7
3513020	Prince Edward County	7.6
3518017	Clarington	7.6
3522012	Mono	7.6
3507017	Front of Yonge	7.5
3518005	Ajax	7.5
3519048	Newmarket	7.5
3538030	Sarnia	7.5
3541024	Kincardine	7.5
3542047	Meaford	7.5
3543031	Collingwood	7.5
3519038	Richmond Hill	7.4
3526028	Pelham	7.4
3541045	Saugeen Shores	7.4
3514021	Cobourg	7.3
3518001	Pickering	7.3
3543009	Springwater	7.3
3539036	London	7.2
3519044	Whitchurch-Stouffville	7.1
3523001	Puslinch	7.1
3514020	Port Hope	7.0
3536020	Chatham-Kent	7.0
3537013	Kingsville	7.0
3537016	Essex	6.9
3544027	Lake of Bays	6.9
3521005	Mississauga	6.8
3544042	Huntsville	6.8
3547043	Admaston/Bromley	6.8
3518020	Scugog	6.7
3519049	King	6.7
3538019	Petrolia	6.7
3542059	Owen Sound	6.7
3544018	Bracebridge	6.7
3510045	North Frontenac	6.6
3518013	Oshawa	6.6
3526053	St. Catharines	6.6
3543042	Barrie	6.6
3514004	Brighton	6.5
3515015	Selwyn	6.5
3537001	Pelee	6.5
3546024	Dysart et al	6.5
3519054	East Gwillimbury	6.4
3522001	East Garafraxa	6.4
3531011	Stratford	6.4
3538015	Brooke-Alvinston	6.4
3515013	Cavan Monaghan	6.3
3523025	Centre Wellington	6.3
3526043	Niagara Falls	6.3
3530013	Kitchener	6.3
3511030	Stone Mills	6.2
3512005	Belleville	6.2
3514019	Hamilton	6.2
3514024	Alnwick/Haldimand	6.2
3519028	Vaughan	6.2
3522014	Orangeville	6.1
3543023	Oro-Medonte	6.1
3511015	Greater Napanee	6.0
3526065	Grimsby	6.0
3538031	Point Edward	6.0
3546018	Algonquin Highlands	6.0
3521024	Caledon	5.9
3522016	Mulmur	5.9
3525005	Hamilton	5.9
3542053	Georgian Bluffs	5.9
3526014	Wainfleet	5.8
3526037	Thorold	5.8
3539033	Middlesex Centre	5.8
3547033	Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards	5.8
3510035	Central Frontenac	5.7
3512051	Limerick	5.7
3515005	Otonabee-South Monaghan	5.7
3515037	North Kawartha	5.7
3543071	Tay	5.7
3522008	Amaranth	5.6
3532042	Woodstock	5.6
3537003	Leamington	5.6
3543064	Wasaga Beach	5.6
3544053	Muskoka Lakes	5.6
3519036	Markham	5.5
3530010	Cambridge	5.5
3534020	Central Elgin	5.5
3542015	Grey Highlands	5.4
3547030	Madawaska Valley	5.4
3538003	St. Clair	5.3
3543017	Innisfil	5.3
3515023	Douro-Dummer	5.2
3519070	Georgina	5.2
3526057	Lincoln	5.2
3526003	Fort Erie	5.1
3543005	Clearview	5.1
3538016	Enniskillen	5.0
3538035	Plympton-Wyoming	5.0
3543052	Orillia	5.0
3534021	St. Thomas	4.9
3546015	Minden Hills	4.9
3529006	Brantford	4.8
3530004	North Dumfries	4.8
3543014	Bradford West Gwillimbury	4.8
3543007	New Tecumseth	4.7
3521010	Brampton	4.6
3541069	Northern Bruce Peninsula	4.6
3543003	Adjala-Tosorontio	4.6
3514014	Cramahe	4.5
3515044	Trent Lakes	4.5
3518039	Brock	4.5
3530020	Wilmot	4.5
3530035	Woolwich	4.5
3541055	South Bruce Peninsula	4.5
3544065	Georgian Bay	4.5
3511035	Addington Highlands	4.4
3512076	Hastings Highlands	4.4
3514045	Trent Hills	4.4
3516010	Kawartha Lakes	4.4
3512020	Stirling-Rawdon	4.3
3540028	Goderich	4.3
3543015	Severn	4.3
3544002	Gravenhurst	4.3
3512001	Tyendinaga	4.2
3512054	Wollaston	4.2
3522010	Grand Valley	4.2
3539015	Strathroy-Caradoc	4.2
3539027	Thames Centre	4.2
3541015	Huron-Kinloss	4.2
3542029	Hanover	4.2
3512048	Tudor and Cashel	4.1
3522021	Shelburne	4.1
3532012	South-West Oxford	4.1
3512030	Tweed	4.0
3534030	Dutton/Dunwich	4.0
3541004	South Bruce	4.0
3542004	West Grey	4.0
3542005	Southgate	4.0
3543019	Ramara	4.0
3512026	Centre Hastings	3.9
3512061	Bancroft	3.9
3515003	Asphodel-Norwood	3.9
3523043	Minto	3.9
3529005	Brant	3.9
3534042	West Elgin	3.9
3531016	St. Marys	3.8
3532018	Ingersoll	3.8
3534024	Southwold	3.8
3539060	Lucan Biddulph	3.8
3541043	Arran-Elderslie	3.8
3542037	Chatsworth	3.8
3512058	Faraday	3.7
3512065	Carlow/Mayo	3.7
3514027	Alderville First Nation	3.7
3532027	Zorra	3.7
3541032	Brockton	3.7
3526021	West Lincoln	3.5
3546005	Highlands East	3.5
3547020	Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan	3.5
3538043	Warwick	3.4
3539002	Newbury	3.4
3528052	Norfolk County	3.3
3531013	Perth South	3.3
3539047	Adelaide-Metcalfe	3.3
3528018	Haldimand County	3.2
3532038	East Zorra-Tavistock	3.2
3532045	Blandford-Blenheim	3.2
3538040	Lambton Shores	3.2
3515030	Havelock-Belmont-Methuen	3.1
3530027	Wellesley	3.1
3532004	Tillsonburg	3.1
3536029	Moravian 47	3.1
3538018	Oil Springs	3.1
3539005	Southwest Middlesex	3.1
3540025	Central Huron	3.1
3547037	Pikwakanagan (Golden Lake 39)	3.1
3512046	Marmora and Lake	3.0
3512002	Deseronto	2.9
3515019	Curve Lake First Nation 35	2.8
3538007	Dawn-Euphemia	2.8
3540010	Bluewater	2.8
3539041	North Middlesex	2.7
3523033	Mapleton	2.6
3532002	Norwich	2.6
3512036	Madoc	2.5
3523050	Wellington North	2.5
3534011	Aylmer	2.5
3540063	Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh	2.5
3519076	Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation	2.2
3522019	Melancthon	2.2
3543069	Christian Island 30	2.2
3531030	Perth East	2.1
3531040	North Perth	2.1
3540005	South Huron	2.1
3531025	West Perth	2.0
3534005	Bayham	2.0
3534010	Malahide	2.0
3540040	Huron East	1.9
3540055	North Huron	1.8
3540046	Howick	1.7
3541060	Neyaashiinigmiing 27	1.7
3538056	Kettle Point 44	1.6
3540050	Morris-Turnberry	1.6
3515008	Hiawatha First Nation	1.5
3512004	Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory	1.4
3541057	Saugeen 29	1.3
3543050	Chippewas of Rama First Nation	1.0
3538025	Sarnia 45	0.8
3518022	Mississaugas of Scugog Island	0.0
3528035	New Credit (Part) 40A	0.0
3529021	New Credit (Part) 40A	0.0
3539018	Munsee-Delaware Nation 1	0.0
3544073	Moose Point 79	0.0
Note 1 Includes people knowing French only and people knowing French and English. Return to note 1 referrer

Description for Map 2

This map shows the proportion of the population able to conduct a conversation in French in each census subdivision in the north of Ontario in 2021.

In this map we use 6 distinct colours to signify different values. Grey is used to represent areas for which no data are available. There are 29 census subdivisions in this group.

Teal is used to represent areas in which less than 10% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 170 census subdivisions in this group.

Green is used to represent areas in which 10% to less than 20% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 21 census subdivisions in this group.

Yellow is used to represent areas in which 20% to less than 40% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 33 census subdivisions in this group.

Orange is used to represent areas in which 40% to less than 60% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 16 census subdivisions in this group.

Red is used to represent areas in which 60% or more of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 11 census subdivisions in this group.

The boundaries of census subdivisions have been delimited by a gray line. Their colour was assigned according to the table below.



Map table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Map table 2. The information is grouped by Census Subdivision (appearing as row headers), Population knowing French (appearing as column headers).

Census Subdivision		Population knowing FrenchMap table 2 Note 1
Code	Name	percentage
3556077	Mattice-Val Côté	96.3
3556076	Hearst	93.2
3557079	Dubreuilville	90.4
3556056	Moonbeam	79.7
3556070	Val Rita-Harty	79.6
3556066	Kapuskasing	77.6
3556052	Fauquier-Strickland	75.3
3556048	Smooth Rock Falls	71.5
3548055	Nipissing Ouest	68.5
3556073	Opasatika	67.5
3554036	Armstrong	64.6
3556092	Cochrane, Unorganized, North Part	59.1
3554029	Casey	52.9
3552004	St.-Charles	52.6
3556031	Iroquois Falls	52.5
3554058	McGarry	51.7
3556042	Cochrane	51.7
3552001	French River / Rivière des Français	51.3
3552092	Chapleau	51.0
3556027	Timmins	50.5
3554014	Harris	46.2
3552013	Markstay-Warren	44.6
3548019	Mattawan	43.3
3554020	Temiskaming Shores	42.9
3554026	Harley	42.9
3552093	Sudbury, Unorganized, North Part	41.4
3548021	Mattawa	40.8
3554038	Thornloe	38.9
3548013	Papineau-Cameron	38.6
3556014	Black River-Matheson	37.6
3553005	Grand Sudbury	37.5
3548034	East Ferris	36.7
3554001	Coleman	35.9
3554062	Larder Lake	35.6
3548027	Bonfield	34.5
3554021	Hudson	33.0
3558075	Greenstone	31.1
3554057	Matachewan 72	30.8
3557076	Wawa	30.7
3557038	Blind River	30.2
3554066	Gauthier	30.0
3548091	Nipissing, Unorganized, South Part	28.6
3554042	James	28.6
3554034	Hilliard	27.9
3554068	Kirkland Lake	27.8
3554056	Matachewan	26.4
3548094	Nipissing, Unorganized, North Part	26.1
3557040	The North Shore	25.5
3557039	Spanish	24.6
3548044	North Bay	24.3
3554024	Kerns	22.7
3554094	Timiskaming, Unorganized, West Part	22.7
3549066	Callander	22.6
3548073	Nipissing 10	22.3
3554008	Cobalt	21.8
3552028	Baldwin	21.6
3548031	Chisholm	21.3
3552026	Espanola	20.9
3549077	Dokis 9	20.0
3556033	Abitibi 70	20.0
3557041	Elliot Lake	19.8
3548022	Calvin	18.9
3557091	White River	18.8
3558066	Manitouwadge	18.8
3554006	Latchford	18.3
3557096	Hornepayne	18.3
3554049	Evanturel	18.0
3552056	Chapleau Cree Fox Lake	16.7
3548069	Temagami	16.3
3552031	Nairn and Hyman	16.0
3558059	Marathon	15.7
3551021	Billings	14.6
3552052	Mattagami 71	14.3
3554032	Brethour	14.3
3552023	Sables-Spanish Rivers	13.9
3554052	Englehart	12.5
3560001	Ignace	12.0
3554054	Chamberlain	11.3
3549060	Powassan	11.2
3558054	Terrace Bay	10.4
3554044	Charlton and Dack	10.2
3558028	Shuniah	9.7
3557061	Sault Ste. Marie	9.3
3557004	Hilton	9.2
3552036	Killarney	8.9
3549071	Nipissing	8.8
3557095	Algoma, Unorganized, North Part	8.8
3557066	Prince	8.7
3557073	Mississagi River 8	8.4
3551017	Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands	8.1
3551027	Gordon/Barrie Island	8.1
3557035	Huron Shores	8.1
3558004	Thunder Bay	8.1
3551011	Assiginack	8.0
3553040	Wahnapitei 11	8.0
3551028	Burpee and Mills	7.8
3560042	Red Lake	7.8
3560010	Kenora	7.6
3551006	Central Manitoulin	7.2
3549076	French River 13	7.1
3551094	Manitoulin, Unorganized, West Part	6.8
3558012	Gillies	6.8
3557011	Laird	6.7
3560027	Dryden	6.7
3551026	Gore Bay	6.6
3560090	Kenora, Unorganized	6.6
3549032	Parry Sound	6.5
3552054	Duck Lake 76B	6.5
3549036	Carling	6.4
3560021	Machin	6.4
3557001	Jocelyn	6.3
3557021	Bruce Mines	6.3
3558090	Thunder Bay, Unorganized	6.2
3558011	Oliver Paipoonge	6.1
3557019	Plummer Additional	6.0
3557051	Macdonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional	6.0
3560032	Ear Falls	5.9
3549096	Parry Sound, Unorganized, Centre Part	5.8
3557072	Serpent River 7	5.8
3558051	Schreiber	5.8
3559011	Alberton	5.8
3558019	Conmee	5.7
3549028	McKellar	5.6
3549095	Parry Sound, Unorganized, North East Part	5.6
3551001	Tehkummah	5.6
3558001	Neebing	5.6
3549056	South River	5.5
3558044	Nipigon	5.5
3557014	Tarbutt and Tarbutt Additional	5.3
3558034	Dorion	5.3
3549005	The Archipelago	5.1
3558016	O'Connor	5.1
3549078	Magnetewan 1	5.0
3557006	Hilton Beach	5.0
3552051	Whitefish Lake 6	4.9
3557008	St. Joseph	4.9
3559042	Rainy River	4.8
3549031	McDougall	4.7
3557016	Johnson	4.7
3557028	Thessalon	4.7
3560034	Sioux Lookout	4.7
3549043	Magnetawan	4.6
3549012	McMurrich/Monteith	4.4
3548072	Bear Island 1	4.2
3549014	Perry	4.2
3549022	Burk's Falls	4.2
3559090	Rainy River, Unorganized	4.2
3551041	Sucker Creek 23	4.0
3558061	Pic Mobert South	4.0
3559012	Fort Frances	4.0
3549003	Seguin	3.9
3558041	Red Rock	3.9
3548001	South Algonquin	3.8
3549019	Armour	3.8
3549048	Sundridge	3.8
3551045	M'Chigeeng 22	3.8
3559001	Atikokan	3.8
3560049	Pickle Lake	3.8
3549018	Kearney	3.6
3549054	Machar	3.6
3558060	Pic Mobert North	3.6
3549046	Strong	3.5
3549024	Ryerson	3.4
3549051	Joly	3.4
3549039	Whitestone	3.3
3549072	Shawanaga 17	3.2
3551042	Sheguiandah 24	3.2
3558069	Rocky Bay 1	3.2
3559016	La Vallee	3.2
3559019	Emo	2.9
3560069	Rat Portage 38A	2.9
3557074	Garden River 14	2.8
3560008	Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls	2.8
3560089	The Dalles 38C	2.8
3559040	Dawson	2.5
3560061	Wabaseemoong	2.5
3556106	Moosonee	2.3
3551040	Whitefish River 4	2.2
3559031	Morley	2.0
3559051	Big Grassy River 35G	2.0
3560024	Eagle Lake 27	2.0
3559066	Seine River 23A	1.9
3557071	Sagamok	1.8
3559026	Manitou Rapids 11	1.7
3559047	Lake of the Woods	1.6
3559063	Couchiching 16A	1.6
3558062	Pic River 50	1.4
3560086	Summer Beaver	1.4
3556093	Fort Albany (Part) 67	1.3
3559024	Chapple	1.3
3551043	Wikwemikong Unceded	1.1
3558003	Fort William 52	1.0
3560055	Osnaburgh 63B	1.0
3560004	Whitefish Bay 32A	0.8
3556094	Factory Island 1	0.7
3556095	Constance Lake 92	0.7
3560051	Attawapiskat 91A	0.6
3560056	Lac Seul 28	0.5
3560070	Deer Lake	0.5
3560071	Sandy Lake 88	0.2
3549073	Parry Island First Nation	0.0
3551044	Sheshegwaning 20	0.0
3551100	Zhiibaahaasing 19A	0.0
3556102	New Post 69A	0.0
3557026	Thessalon 12	0.0
3557078	Gros Cap 49	0.0
3558063	Pays Plat 51	0.0
3558064	Lake Helen 53A	0.0
3558065	Gull River 55	0.0
3558067	Ginoogaming First Nation	0.0
3558068	Long Lake 58	0.0
3558076	Aroland	0.0
3558080	Ojibway Nation of Saugeen (Savant Lake)	0.0
3558085	Osnaburgh 63A	0.0
3558097	Whitesand	0.0
3559053	Saug-A-Gaw-Sing 1	0.0
3559060	Neguaguon Lake 25D	0.0
3559061	Rainy Lake 18C	0.0
3559064	Rainy Lake 26A	0.0
3559068	Rainy Lake 17A	0.0
3560005	Whitefish Bay 33A	0.0
3560046	Slate Falls	0.0
3560052	Marten Falls 65	0.0
3560053	Fort Hope 64	0.0
3560054	Cat Lake 63C	0.0
3560057	Wabigoon Lake 27	0.0
3560058	English River 21	0.0
3560059	Weagamow Lake 87	0.0
3560060	Northwest Angle 33B	0.0
3560063	Sabaskong Bay 35D	0.0
3560064	Shoal Lake 34B2	0.0
3560065	Lake of the Woods 37	0.0
3560066	Kenora 38B	0.0
3560067	Poplar Hill	0.0
3560068	Shoal Lake 39A	0.0
3560075	Kitchenuhmaykoosib Aaki 84	0.0
3560076	Sachigo Lake 1	0.0
3560078	Fort Severn 89	0.0
3560079	Webequie	0.0
3560080	North Spirit Lake	0.0
3560082	Shoal Lake (Part) 40	0.0
3560083	Whitefish Bay 34A	0.0
3560084	Wabauskang 21	0.0
3560085	Wunnumin 1	0.0
3560088	Wapekeka 2	0.0
3560091	Peawanuck	0.0
3560093	Neskantaga	0.0
3560095	Bearskin Lake	0.0
3560096	Kasabonika Lake	0.0
3560098	Kingfisher Lake 1	0.0
3560104	Kee-Way-Win	0.0
Note 1 Includes people knowing French only and people knowing French and English. Return to note 1 referrer

• In 2021, in 233 of Ontario’s 539 municipalities,^Note less than 5% of the population could conduct a conversation in French. However, in 30 municipalities, 50% or more residents knew French.
• The municipalities with a population of more than 500 that had the highest proportion of people who knew French were all located in northern Ontario: Mattice-Val Côté (96.3%), Hearst (93.2%) and Dubreuilville (90.4%).
• The municipalities that had the highest number of people who knew French were Ottawa (381,310), Toronto (239,470) and Greater Sudbury (61,500).

French as first official language spoken

Data table for Chart 2



Data table for Chart 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 2. The information is grouped by First official language spoken (appearing as row headers), 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).

First official language spoken	1991	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021
	number
French only	483,445	480,650	489,910	497,150	500,275	504,130	484,425
French and English	52,410	62,300	75,610	80,890	84,230	92,940	98,270
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1991 to 2021.

• In 2021, 484,425 Ontarians (3.4% of the population) had French as their only first official language spoken and 98,270 residents (0.7%) had French and English as their first official languages spoken.
• The number of residents with French as their only first official language spoken rose consistently from 1996 to 2016 (+23,480), but then fell from 2016 to 2021 (-19,705).
• From 1991 to 2021, their demographic weight fell steadily from 4.8% to 3.4%.
• In the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents with French as their only first official language spoken was higher in some census agglomerations (CAs) and census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in the northeastern part of the province, such as Timmins (32.4%) and Greater Sudbury (22.7%), as well as in some CAs and CMAs close to the Quebec border, such as Hawkesbury^Note (74.4%), Cornwall (18.1%) and Ottawa^Note (14.9%).
• The number of Ontario residents with French and English as their first official languages spoken nearly doubled from 52,410 in 1991 to 98,270 in 2021.
• Of these residents, three-quarters were living in the CMAs of Toronto (49.5%) or Ottawa (27.3%) in 2021.

French as a mother tongue

Data table for Chart 3



Data table for Chart 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 3. The information is grouped by Mother tongue (appearing as row headers), 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Mother tongue	1991	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021
	number
French only	485,395	479,285	485,630	488,815	493,300	490,715	463,120
French in combination with other languages	36,405	41,570	48,335	44,045	67,865	77,620	128,740
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1991 to 2021.

• In 2021, 591,855 Ontarians (4.2% of the population) had French as one of their mother tongues. While this number varied little from 1991 to 2006 (+11,065 people), it increased steadily from 2006 to 2021 (+58,995 people).
• In 2021, 78.2% of these residents (463,120 people) had French as their only mother tongue, while 21.8% (128,740 people) had French along with other languages.
• The demographic weight of this population fell consistently from 5.2% in 1991 to 4.4% in 2006. After a period of relative stability, it stood at 4.2% in 2021.
• Among married people or common-law partners who had French as one of their mother tongues, almost half (48.2%) were in a relationship with another person whose mother tongue is French.

French spoken at home

Data table for Chart 4



Data table for Chart 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 4. The information is grouped by Language spoken most often at home (appearing as row headers), 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Language spoken most often at home	1991	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021
	number
French predominantly	300,080	287,195	289,530	289,035	284,115	277,040	254,870
French equally with other languages	37,915	40,050	36,500	32,520	56,170	71,235	78,385
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1991 to 2021.

• In 2021, 594,735 Ontarians (4.2% of the population) spoke French at least regularly at home.
• Among these residents, more than half (56.0%, or 333 250 people) spoke French most often at home, predominantly or equally with other languages. Their number declined from 1991 to 2006 (-16,445 people), then rose until 2016 (+26,725 people), before falling again from 2016 to 2021 (-15,030 people).
• Moreover, 261,480 residents (44.0%) spoke French at home as a secondary language while speaking another language more often (generally English).
• Among people with French as their mother tongue, alone or with other languages:
• Two-thirds (66.0%, or 390,830 people) spoke French at least regularly at home in 2021. However, this rate varied by age, ranging from 83.5% among those under age 15 to 59.9% among those aged 45 and older.
• Half (49.9%, or 295,375 people) spoke French most often at home, predominantly or equally with other languages, down from 1991 (61.0%, or 318,500 people).
• Among Ontario residents whose mother tongue is not French, 203,905 (1.5%) spoke French at home at least regularly.
• The vast majority of these residents (81.4%, or 166,025 people) spoke French at home as a secondary language while speaking another language more often.

French used at work

Data table for Chart 5



Data table for Chart 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 5. The information is grouped by Language used most often at work (appearing as row headers), 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Language used most often at work	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021
	number
French predominantly	77,980	85,890	82,615	82,670	80,050
French equally with other languages	43,265	39,105	49,005	57,970	41,390
Notes: Among workers who were employed during the census reference week. In 2021, changes were made to the census questions regarding languages used at work. Comparisons with previous cycles must therefore be made with caution. For more information, consult the Languages Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021. Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2001, 2006, 2016 and 2021, and the National Household Survey of 2011.

• In 2021, 301,655 Ontarians used French at least regularly at work. This represents 4.6% of the province’s workers.^Note
• In Ontario, 121,445 people used French most often at work, predominantly or equally with other languages, accounting for 1.9% of the province’s workers.
• The number of workers who used French most often at work rose from 121,245 in 2001 to 140,640 in 2016. It then fell by 19,195 from 2016 to 2021.
• In 2021, among workers who use French at least regularly at work, most worked in public administration (67,070 people, or 22.2%), educational services (52,460 people, or 17.4%), or health care and social assistance (37,870 people, or 12.6%).^Note
• Among workers who spoke French most often at home, predominantly or with other languages, 74.5% also used French regularly at work.
• A large proportion of residents (43.2%) who used French regularly at work lived in the Ottawa CMA.

Instruction in French at the primary and secondary levels

• In 2021, 349,875 (12.6%) of the 2,781,415 children under 18 living in the province were eligible^Note for instruction in French at the primary and secondary levels.
• Around 3 in 10 eligible children (29.7%, or 103,835 children) lived in the Toronto CMA.
• Roughly one in four eligible children (23.5%, or 82,355 children) lived in the Ontario part of the Ottawa–Gatineau CMA.
• In Ontario, 769,420 people were attending or had already attended a regular French program in a French-language school in Canada, representing 5.8% of the population aged 5 and older.
• Of those who had never attended a French-language school, 884,120 (6.6%) had instead attended a French immersion program in an English-language school.
• Among school-aged children^Note who were eligible for instruction in French, 179,995 (67.1%) were attending or had already attended a regular French program in a French-language school in Canada.

French among immigrants

• In 2021, the proportions of recent^Note immigrants and established^Note immigrants living in Ontario who could have a conversation in French (6.2% and 6.0%, respectively) were lower than the proportion of the non-immigrant population (13.5%).
• The proportion of immigrants who spoke French at least regularly at home (2.6%) was lower than the proportion of the non-immigrant population (4.9%).
• The proportion of recent immigrants who had French as their only first official language spoken (2.5%) was higher than the proportion of established immigrants (1.4%), but lower than for the non-immigrant population (4.3%). However, the proportion of immigrants who had French and English as their first official languages spoken (1.3%) was higher than that of the non-immigrant population (0.4%).
• In 2021, nearly 1 in 20 non-permanent residents (4.8%) could have a conversation in French, about 1 in 35 (2,8%) spoke it at least regularly at home and about 1 in 50 (2,1%) had French as their only first official language spoken.

Mobility and birthplace of the French-speaking population

Data table for Chart 6



Data table for Chart 6
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 6. The information is grouped by Place of birth (appearing as row headers), Percent (appearing as column headers).

Place of birth	Percent
Ontario	58.7
Quebec	21.2
New Brunswick	2.3
Elsewhere in Canada	1.6
Outside Canada	16.2
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021.

• In 2021, among Ontarians whose only first official language spoken is French, around three in five (58.7%, or 280,585 people) were born in the province.
• A quarter (25.1%, or 119,990 people) were born in another province or territory, with large proportions coming from Quebec (21.2%, or 101,150 people) or New Brunswick (2.3%, or 11,000 people).
• Around one in six (16.2%, or 77,285 people) were born abroad, primarily in Africa (8.3%)—especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1.7%) and Morocco (0.8%)—in metropolitan France (2.9%) or in Haiti (1.6%).
• From 2016 to 2021, the net interprovincial migration of the Ontario population whose only first official language spoken is French was positive (+470).
• From 2016 to 2021, 23,560 people with French as their only first official language spoken settled in Ontario from another province or territory. The vast majority were from Quebec (76.8%) or Alberta (7.9%). A total of 23,090 people left the province during the same period.

Appendix