Québec, February 21, 2025. – For its 25th anniversary, the ISQ has drawn on its work in different fields to release several statistical portraits on the evolution of Québec. The statistics released today focus on the economy, consumption patterns, the labour market, income, assets and inequalities, and the environment.
Stronger per capita GDP growth in Québec than in Canada
Between 1998 and 2023, Québec’s real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita rose from $36,161 to $49,416, a 36.7% increase. This growth was stronger than that recorded in Canada (31.3%). As a result, the relative difference between Québec and Canada has narrowed. While Québec’s GDP per capita represented 85% of Canada’s in 1998, this proportion had increased to 89% by 2023.
Diversification of international merchandise exports
Québec has diversified its markets over the past 25 years. The share of Québec’s exports to the United States decreased from 83.3% in 1998 to 73.6% in 2023, which means that the importance of other international markets has grown by about 10 percentage points.
Growth in Québec’s mining industry
Between 2003 and 2022, total investment expenditures in Québec’s mining sector increased from $743 million to $4,762 million. Most of that growth took place between 2003 and 2012. The value of metal ore shipments from Québec mines increased from about $2 billion in 2003 to $11.8 billion in 2022.
| 1998 | 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | ||||||||
| United-States | 83.3 | 73.6 | ||||||
| China | 0.6 | 3.6 | ||||||
| France | 1.6 | 1.7 | ||||||
| Mexico | 0.2 | 1.7 | ||||||
| Japan | 0.8 | 1.5 | ||||||
| Germany | 1.8 | 1.3 | ||||||
| United Kingdom | 2.2 | 1.3 | ||||||
| Italy | 0.6 | 0.7 | ||||||
| Others | 9.1 | 14.5 | ||||||
| Sources Statistics Canada and Institut de la statistique du Québec. |
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Growth in per capita disposable income slightly higher in Québec than in the rest of Canada
In Québec, per capita disposable income in current dollars increased by an average of 3.6% per year between 1998 and 2023 and reached $36,531. In Canada, the growth rate was slightly lower over the same period, at 3.4%. In real terms—meaning when price variations are excluded—the average annual growth rate stood at 1.9% in Québec compared to 1.6% in Canada.
Strong growth in household consumption expenditures
Household expenditures in 2017 constant dollars rose from $146.7 billion in 1998 to $274.9 billion in 2023, an increase of 87.4%. The composition of households’ major expense items has changed little over the past 25 years. Nevertheless, the share of household spending on food and on accommodation and food services decreased by 6 percentage points between 1998 and 2023. On the other hand, spending on insurance and financial services has become more prominent.
More Québec households are homeowners
In 2021, about 2,223,965 private households in Québec owned their home, or about 6 in 10 households (59.9%). After increasing gradually for 50 years, the rate of homeownership declined for the first time in 2021. This rate grew from 58.0% in 2001 to 61.3% in 2016, then decreased to 59.9% in 2021. In Ontario, in 2021, the rate of homeownership was 68.4%.
Increase in the proportion of people aged 60 and over who work
The impact of population aging on the labour market resulted in an increase in the share of people aged 60 and over who work. Between 1998 and 2023, this share rose from 3.6% to 12.6% in Québec, while it increased from 4.2% to 12.3% in the rest of Canada.
The employment rate of mothers rose sharply
In 1998, the employment rate of mothers was around 66%, compared to 87% for fathers. The gap between mothers and fathers was about 20 points. Twenty-five years later, this gap had dropped to less than 7 points, with employment rates of about 87% for mothers and 93% for fathers.
Expansion of protected areas
As of March 31, 2023, the proportion of protected areas in Québec was 16.33%, or 272,337 km2. In 2022, only 2.88% of the territory was protected.
Air quality has improved
The number of days when the threshold for fine particulate matter was exceeded declined between 2009 and 2022. In 2022, this threshold was exceeded on 24 days in Québec, which points to better air quality on average than in previous years.
Temperature anomalies
Temperature anomalies have been positive every year since 1998, which means that, on average, temperatures have been above the 20th-century normal for the past 26 years.
Greenhouse gas emissions per capita down
In Québec, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decreased by 3.8% between 2009 and 2022 as the population increased by 10.6%, which represents a 13.0% decline per capita. GHGs emitted directly by households dropped by 12.6% while industry emissions edged down 0.3% over that period.
Water quality has improved, per capita water use is down
In 25 years, bacteriological water quality at the mouth of the main southern watersheds has improved in Québec. The proportion of watersheds with good water quality reached 85% in 2023.
The quantity of drinking water distributed per person and per day in municipal distribution networks declined significantly, from 777 litres per day in 2001 to 487 litres in 2022.
Going forward
What does the future hold? It is impossible to predict the future, but you can count on the ISQ to continue monitoring the evolution of Québec society through its extensive statistical production.
For 25 years, the Institut de la statistique du Québec has been producing, analyzing, and disseminating official, objective and high-quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and an essential source of information for all those wishing to learn more about Québec.