A recent survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute has determined that Quebec is the happiest province in Canada. The non-profit organization carried out an online survey between July 31 and August 2, 2024, which included a randomized sample of 1,609 Canadian adults aged 18 and older.

The survey focused on key provinces across Canada, including Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Atlantic provinces, which were grouped together as one region encompassing New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The results reveal that Quebec stands out as the province with the highest levels of happiness among Canadians.

  • Quebec ranks 1st with 75% net total happiness, 16% “very happy,” and 59% “pretty happy.”
  • Manitoba is 2nd with 65% net total happiness, 3% “very happy,” and 62% “pretty happy.”
  • The Atlantic Provinces take 3rd place with 63% net total happiness, 11% “very happy,” and 52% “pretty happy.”
  • British Columbia is 4th with 61% net total happiness, 12% “very happy,” and 49% “pretty happy.”
  • Alberta ranks 5th with 60% net total happiness, 11% “very happy,” and 49% “pretty happy.”
  • Ontario is 6th with 55% net total happiness, 10% “very happy,” and 45% “pretty happy.”
  • Saskatchewan shares 7th place with 53% net total happiness, 7% “very happy,” and 46% “pretty happy.”

Quebec topped the happiness ratings, with 59% of residents describing themselves as “pretty happy” and 16% as “very happy.” Manitoba came in second, with 62% of people feeling happy.

The Atlantic provinces (63%), British Columbia (61%), and Alberta (60%) ranked in the mid-range for happiness.

Saskatchewan recorded the lowest happiness score, with just 53% of individuals rating themselves as happy, followed by Ontario at 55%.

Survey considerations

The survey asked participants to evaluate their satisfaction and happiness across various factors, including health, outlook on life, relationships with family and friends, community, housing, free time, personal finances, love life, stress levels, support systems, and how others perceive them, as well as their overall quality of life. When it comes to relationships and community, Canadians generally expressed high satisfaction.

Notably, factors such as relationships with friends (77%), family (85%), support systems (80%), community (77%), and how others view them (85%) received positive ratings, indicating strong satisfaction in these areas. However, Canadians showed the least satisfaction with stress levels (56%) and personal finances (53%), which were highlighted as areas of concern.

Transformation in perception

The study highlights that 36% of respondents now describe their emotional state as “not too happy” or “not happy at all,” a figure that has doubled since 2015. The study attributes this decline in perceived overall quality of life in Canada to several key factors, including the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, rising inflation, increasing housing prices, and affordability challenges. Additionally, growing political polarization is cited as another contributing factor to the shift in mood.

Despite these concerns, the data reveals that the majority of Canadians are still generally content. About 61% of respondents report feeling happy, while 76% express satisfaction with their overall quality of life.

Relocating to a Canadian province

If you’re considering relocating to a particular Canadian province, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is an excellent option. Most provinces and territories run their own PNP to attract skilled workers from around the globe. Currently, there are more than 80 PNP streams available for individuals planning to move to Canada through this pathway.