French Immigrants to Canada

In 2024, 9,940 immigrants from France were admitted as permanent residents to Canada

From 2015 to 2024, a total of 81,460 French citizens were admitted to Canada as permanent residents.

Recent immigration from France to Canada has seen a notable increase, driven by economic opportunities and cultural ties. This trend continues, with Canada actively promoting Francophone immigration through programs like the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, launched in January 2025, targeting French-speaking skilled workers for communities outside Quebec. In 2021, 102,000 immigrants in Canada outside Quebec had French as their first official language, with significant numbers settling in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Initiatives like the Destination Canada Mobility Forum have made it an attractive destination for French citizens seeking better prospects.

2016 Census

In 2016, 105,565 French immigrants resided in Canada -most of them lived in Quebec.

French immigrants in Canada 2001 and 2011

The most recent data (2011) shows that immigrants comprised 20.6% of Canada”s population; in other words, one in five people were immigrants.

The number of immigrants from France increased 30% from 69,460 in 2001 to 90,440 in 2011.

In 2011, 75% of French immigrants resided in Quebec. In fact, Montreal was home to 46,540 French immigrants.

In 2011, 14% of French immigrants resided in Ontario, and 6% in British Columbia.

NOTE:

This is the most recent data that allows us to make some “reasonable” comparisons. However, the accuracy might be questionable since the data comes from the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS). Please use it cautiously.

FRENCH IMMIGRANTS IN CANADA (2016)