Quebec

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief, drainage, and soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Population composition
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Services, labour, and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Health and welfare
- Education
Cultural life
- The arts and cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Early history to 1860
- Confederation to the 1920s
- The Great Depression to the 1950s
- The “Quiet Revolution” to the present

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images

Political map of Quebec showing major cities, towns, and rivers, with international and provincial boundaries marked. Neighboring regions such as Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Maine, and Nunavut are labeled. An inset locator map highlights Quebec's position in eastern Canada.

Map of North America highlighting the province of Quebec in eastern Canada in tan, with the location of the city of Quebec marked. Surrounding regions, major bodies of water, and neighboring countries including the United States and Greenland are also shown for geographic context.

Physical map of Quebec highlighting major lakes, rivers, and mountain ranges, with international and provincial boundaries marked. The map features the Ungava Peninsula, Hudson Bay, and Gulf of St. Lawrence, as well as neighboring regions including Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and the United States. An inset locator map shows Quebec's position within Canada.

Fishing village of Petit Cap on the Gaspe Peninsula coast in Quebec, Canada, with scattered houses, a church, grassy fields, and a curving shoreline along the sea.

At a Glance

Quebec summary

Quizzes

Australia, United States, Canada, or Ireland? Quiz

Related Questions

How did Bill 101 strengthen the French language in Quebec?
How did New France grow beyond the three cities of Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, and Montreal?
How did Quebec get its name?
How did industrialization create a cultural division of labour in Quebec?
How did the Act of Union of 1841 change the governments of Canada East and Canada West?
How did the British North America Act of 1867 create the province of Quebec?
How did the Constitutional Act of 1791 divide the colony of Quebec?
How did the St. Lawrence Lowlands support Quebec’s farming and urban development?
How did the Treaty of Paris of 1763 transfer New France to Great Britain?
How did the Treaty of Utrecht change French territory in North America?
How does Quebec’s climate differ between Kuujjuaq and Sherbrooke?
What animals and plants live in Quebec’s tundra, taiga, boreal forest, and temperate forest regions?
What caused the rebellions in Lower Canada in 1837–38?
What did the Meech Lake Accord propose for Quebec?
What is the role of the Sûreté du Québec?
What was the result of the 1980 Quebec referendum on secession?
What was the result of the 1992 Charlottetown referendum?
What was the result of the 1995 Quebec sovereignty referendum?
When did Canada East gain responsible government?
When was the Parti Québécois founded?
Where do most Quebecers live?
Where is Quebec located within Canada?
Which Indigenous language groups have historically lived in Quebec?
Which industries are important to Quebec’s economy?
Which landform regions make up Quebec’s territory?
Which provinces and U.S. states border Quebec?
Why did French Canadians support Canadian Confederation in 1867?
Why did Quebec’s government reject the Constitution Act of 1982?
Why did many French Canadians oppose conscription during World War I?
Why did settlement in Quebec concentrate along the St. Lawrence River?
Why did the Meech Lake Accord fail?
Why is French Quebec’s official language?
Why is Quebec the largest Canadian province by area?
Why was Hydro-Québec nationalized?
What is the highest point in North America?
What is the largest country in North America by area?

Geography & Travel States & Other Subdivisions

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External Websites

UNESCO World Heritage Centre - Historic District of Old Quï¿½bec
The Canadian Encyclopedia - Quï¿½bec, Province, Canada
Official Tourism Site of the Quï¿½bec, Canada

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Quebec - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Quebec - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Quebec

province, Canada

Also known as: French Canada, Québec

Written by

Michael D. Behiels

Professor of History, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Author of Quebec Since 1867; Co-editor of Canada, Its Regions and People.

Michael D. Behiels

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 14, 2026 •History

Quebec, eastern province of Canada. Constituting nearly one-sixth of Canada’s total land area, Quebec is the largest of Canada’s 10 provinces in area and is second only to Ontario in population. Its capital, Quebec city, is the oldest city in Canada. The name Quebec, first bestowed on the city in 1608 and derived from an Algonquian word meaning “where the river narrows,” beckons visitors to the city’s splendid view of the majestic St. Lawrence River...

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