Humanities › Issues Quick Facts About the Province of Quebec Canada's Largest Province Share Flipboard Email Print Rolf Hicker Photography/All Canada Photos/Getty Images Issues Canadian Government The U. S. Government U.S. Foreign Policy U.S. Liberal Politics U.S. Conservative Politics Women's Issues Civil Liberties The Middle East Terrorism Race Relations Immigration Crime & Punishment View More By Susan Munroe Canadian Culture Expert B.A., Political Science, Carleton University Susan Munroe is a public affairs and communications professional based in Canada. our editorial process Susan Munroe Updated May 19, 2019 Quebec is the largest Canadian province in area (though the territory of Nunavut is larger) and the second largest in population, after Ontario. Quebec is a mainly French-speaking society, and the defense of its language and culture colors all politics in the province (in French, the province's name is spelled Québec). Location of the Province of Quebec Quebec is in eastern Canada. It is located between Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay on the west; Labrador and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the east; between Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay on the north; and New Brunswick and the United States on the south. Its largest city, Montreal, is about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of the U.S. border. Area of Quebec The province is 1,356,625.27 sq. km (523,795.95 sq. miles), making it the largest province by area, according to the 2016 Census. Population of Quebec As of the 2016 Census, 8,164,361 people live in Quebec. Capital City of Quebec The capital of the province is Quebec City. Date Quebec Entered Confederation Quebec became one of the first provinces of Canada on July 1, 1867. Government of Quebec Coalition Avenir Québec Last Quebec Provincial Election The last general election in Quebec was October 1, 2018. Premier of Quebec Philippe Couillard is the 31st premier of Quebec and the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. Main Quebec Industries The service sector dominates the economy, though the province's abundance of natural resources resulted in highly developed agriculture, manufacturing, energy, mining, forestry, and transportation industries.