Notice of release
Québec, September 15, 2021. – In 2019, the year before the pandemic, Québec’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices stood at $426.3 billion, up 4.4% from 2018. Three-quarters of that growth (74.3%) came from four administrative regions: Montréal (+5.6%), Montérégie (+4.6%), Capitale-Nationale (+3.5%), and Laurentides (+5.6%). This was revealed in Produit intérieur brut régional par industrie au Québec, édition 2021 released today by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
Growth was almost generalized in regional economies
With the exception of Abitibi-Témiscamingue (-1.3%), all of Québec’s administrative regions saw their GDP increase in 2019, and the strongest regional growth was recorded in Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine (+8.0%). In the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, the decline was essentially due to the construction (-11.7%) and manufacturing (-5.0%) sectors.
GDP growth rate by administrative region and in Québec, 2019
Sources: Institut de la statistique du Québec, Statistics Canada, Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Revenu Québec.
Compilation: Institut de la statistique du Québec.
Service industries posted growth in all regions
For Québec as a whole, the GDP of service industries was up 4.9% in 2019.
All regions contributed to this increase to varying degrees. Some regions posted higher growth than the provincial average:
- Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine (+7.9%)
- Côte-Nord (+6.0%)
- Montréal (+5.9%)
- Bas-Saint-Laurent (+5.7%)
- Nord-du-Québec (+5.3%)
Gains in goods industries attributable to a few regions
In 2019 in Québec, output in the goods-producing industries rose by 3.3% from 2018. However, only a few regions posted significant increases:
- Outaouais (+10.6%)
- Lanaudière (+9.1%)
- Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine (+8.0%)
- Laurentides (+7.8%)
- Laval (+7.4%)
In contrast, other regions posted declines:
- Mauricie (-4.4%)
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue (-3.4%)
- Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean (-1.9%)
- Bas-Saint-Laurent (-1.4%)
The Montréal and Québec CMAs contributed significantly to the province’s economic growth
With a 56.0% share of Québec’s GDP, the Montréal census metropolitan area (CMA), the province’s undeniable economic engine, saw its GDP increase by 5.3% in 2019.
In the Québec CMA—second in economic importance—GDP was up 3.0% in 2019.
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.