Québec, October 13, 2022. – The Institut de la statistique du Québec published today the 14th edition of the Panorama des régions du Québec, a reference work that provides a set of statistics on Québec’s administrative regions and regional county municipalities (RCMs). The publication covers a variety of topics, including demography, the labour market, education, electric transportation, health, and culture. A statistical portrait of each region completes the 2022 edition.
The number of electric vehicles up in every region
In 2022, the number of electric vehicles continued to increase across the province, but the size of the increase varied from region to region.
- The strongest growth was observed in the regions of Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine (+55%), Côte-Nord (+53%), and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean (+50%).
- The Montérégie region had the largest number of electric vehicles as of March 31, 2022.
High rate of university graduates in Montréal
- Montréal stands out from other regions with its high proportion of 25-64-year-olds who have a university degree—56% in 2021. It also has the lowest proportion of people with no diploma. Several factors contribute to this situation, including the region’s economic structure, the presence of several university institutions, and a larger share of immigrants with a higher education profile than the average population.
- The Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions have the highest proportion of trade school certificate or diploma holders in Québec.
Employment up and unemployment down in most regions
In 2021, employment was up significantly in nine regions.
- Laurentides and Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine were among the regions with the highest employment growth rates in 2021.
- The unemployment rate decreased substantially in the Laurentides, Lanaudière, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Montréal regions, as well as in the combined region of Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec.
GDP down in 12 of 17 regions in 2020
In 2020, the economic effects of the pandemic were felt differently across Québec’s regions.
- While only Abitibi-Témiscamingue saw its nominal GDP decrease in 2019, 12 regions were in this situation in 2020. In Montréal, Laval and Chaudière-Appalaches, GDP declined more than the provincial average (-1.7%).
- In contrast, GDP was up in four regions in 2020: Estrie, Outaouais, Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Lanaudière.
Strong growth in disposable income across all regions and RCMs
In 2020, per capita disposable income in Québec grew at its fastest rate since 1984. This increase was essentially due to the various support measures introduced by the federal government to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, and it benefited all of Québec’s regions and RCMs.
- The Robert-Cliche RCM in Chaudière-Appalaches and the Kativik Regional Government in Nord-du-Québec posted the sharpest growth. However, this last RCM also had the lowest disposable income in the province ($25,799).
- Conversely, the Caniapiscau RCM in Côte-Nord once again had the highest per capita disposable income ($44,497). It was followed by Les Pays-d’en-Haut in the Laurentides region, Memphrémagog in Estrie, and La Jacques-Cartier in the Capitale-Nationale region.
The pandemic had an impact on cultural activities across the province
The closure of performance venues, movie theatres and museum institutions during the pandemic affected all regions, but some were less severely impacted than others.
- Bas-Saint-Laurent stood out with a small decrease in the number of performing arts events, in attendance at film screenings, and in the number of admissions to museum institutions.
- In contrast, the Mauricie and Montréal regions were particularly affected by the sharp decline in attendance at museum institutions between 2019 and 2021.
The health crisis affected the population’s health determinants in different spheres of life
According to the Québec Population Health Survey’s COVID component, the pandemic impacted Québec’s regions in different ways.
- In Laval, 1 in 3 people were concerned about work-family balance. In addition, a greater proportion of Laval residents have been concerned about the health of someone close to them since the beginning of the pandemic.
- Proportionally speaking, fewer Chaudière-Appalaches residents were impacted by the pandemic in terms of their financial obligations and ability to meet basic needs, such as paying rent, mortgage, heating and groceries.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and 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 all those wishing to learn more about Québec.