A recent Statistics Canada survey on quality of life has unveiled significant provincial disparities in life satisfaction across Canada. The data indicates that Alberta ranks as the least satisfied province, while Quebec enjoys the highest levels of contentment.
National Trends in Life Satisfaction
Overall, the survey found that 46.1% of Canadians reported high life satisfaction in the second quarter of 2025, marking an increase from 40.4% in the same period of 2024. However, this figure declined from 48.6% in the first quarter of 2025. The quarterly survey polls Canadians aged 15 and older, asking them to rate their life satisfaction on a scale from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied). Those who responded with scores of 8, 9, or 10 were classified as having high life satisfaction.
Provincial Breakdown
Quebec leads the provinces with 57.3% of residents reporting high life satisfaction. New Brunswick follows at 53.4%, Newfoundland and Labrador at 51.3%, and Nova Scotia at 49.1%. At the lower end, Alberta recorded just 38.1% of respondents with high life satisfaction. Ontario came in at 42%, Saskatchewan at 43.8%, British Columbia at 44.8%, and Manitoba at 45.6%.
While Statistics Canada did not analyze the reasons behind these provincial differences, the findings align with growing signs of frustration in Alberta. A recent Pollara Strategic Insights poll showed support for Alberta separatism at its highest level in at least five years. Separatist leaders recently delivered a petition for an independence referendum, claiming over 300,000 signatures. If verified by Elections Alberta, it would surpass the required threshold of 177,732 signatures, though the verification process is on hold pending a legal challenge. Despite this, current polls indicate that support for separation remains between 20% and 30%, suggesting most Albertans still favor remaining in Canada.
Demographic Differences
The survey also highlighted demographic variations. Canadians aged 25 to 54 reported the lowest life satisfaction, with only 37.8% giving a high score. In contrast, 60.5% of those aged 65 and older reported high satisfaction. Retirees also showed higher satisfaction (61.1%) compared to those employed (42.7%). Rural residents reported higher satisfaction than urban dwellers (55% vs. 44.8%), while gender differences were minimal, with 45.6% of men and 46.5% of women reporting high life satisfaction.
