Trends and insights

1. How has French-English bilingualism changed in Canada over time?

   English–French bilingualism in Canada increased from 12.3% in 1951 to 18.0% in 2021 (change of +5.6 percentage points).

   Metric: bilingual_rate (%)Period: 1951–2021Geography: CanadaValues: 12.3% → 18.0%Table: 15-10-0004-01
2. How has bilingualism changed since 2001?

   Between 2001 and 2021, the Canadian bilingualism rate changed from 17.6% to 18.0% (+0.3 pp).

   Metric: bilingual_rate (%)Period: 2001–2021Geography: CanadaValues: 17.6% → 18.0%Table: 15-10-0004-01
3. Which provinces have the highest levels of French-English bilingualism?

   Among provinces, Quebec had the highest English–French bilingualism rate in 2021 at 46.4%.

   Metric: bilingual_rate (%)Period: 2021Geography: QuebecValues: 46.4%Table: 15-10-0004-01
4. How does French usage differ geographically?

   In 2021, English–French bilingualism was 46.4% in Quebec and 9.5% in Canada outside Quebec. These are different language regimes; the gap is descriptive, not a ranking of quality.

   Metric: bilingual_rate (%)Period: 2021Geography: Quebec vs Canada outside QuebecValues: 46.4%Table: 15-10-0004-01
5. Where is French most commonly used at home?

   In 2021, Quebec had the highest share of people speaking French most often at home among provinces (79.1%).

   Metric: french_home_rate (%)Period: 2021Geography: QuebecValues: 79.1%Table: 15-10-0033-01
6. Where is French most commonly used in the workplace?

   In Canada (2021 home language; 2021 workplace), French spoken most often at home was 19.8% while French used most often at work was 19.3%. Home and workplace language measure different populations and should not be treated as the same behaviour.

   Metric: french_home_rate vs french_work_rate (%)Period: 2021Geography: CanadaValues: 19.8%Table: 15-10-0033-01 and 98-10-0533-01
7. How does French knowledge vary among newcomers?

   In 2021, among immigrants in Canada, 16.4% could converse in French (French only or English and French). This is a Census knowledge measure, not a sample of learners in this app.

   Metric: french_knowledge_rate (%)Period: 2021Geography: CanadaValues: 16.4%Table: 15-10-0037-01
8. How does French knowledge vary among newcomers?

   In 2021, among immigrants in Canada outside Quebec, 5.5% could converse in French (French only or English and French). This is a Census knowledge measure, not a sample of learners in this app.

   Metric: french_knowledge_rate (%)Period: 2021Geography: Canada outside QuebecValues: 5.5%Table: 15-10-0037-01
9. How does French knowledge vary among newcomers?

   In 2021, among immigrants in Quebec, 80.5% could converse in French (French only or English and French). This is a Census knowledge measure, not a sample of learners in this app.

   Metric: french_knowledge_rate (%)Period: 2021Geography: QuebecValues: 80.5%Table: 15-10-0037-01

Personal learning metrics describe this signed-in account only. They are not a sample of Canadian language learners and must not be compared as if they were Census statistics.

Data source. Statistics Canada · See each insight’s table id · Period: 1951–2021 · Pipeline updated: 2026-08-16. Open Government Licence – Canada. Figures are not Statistics Canada endorsements of this app.