Montreal has roughly 1.7 million residents on the island and close to 4 million across the metropolitan region. It is one of the most diverse cities in North America.
A French-speaking, bilingual city
French is the common language and the official language of Quebec. A large share of Montrealers are bilingual, and the English-speaking community is significant.
A mosaic of communities
Successive waves of immigration — Irish, Italian, Jewish, Greek, Portuguese, Haitian, Chinese, South Asian, Maghrebi, Latin American and many more — have shaped the city. Explore them in our Communities section.
Neighbourhoods with strong identities
Little Italy, Mile End, Parc-Extension, Côte-des-Neiges and Montréal-Nord, among others, reflect this diversity.
First Nations
The island is known as Tiohtià:ke. Indigenous presence here is long-standing — notably Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) — and a vibrant urban Indigenous community lives here today.
Frequently asked questions
What language do people speak in Montreal?
Mainly French, Quebec’s official language, with a strong presence of English and many other languages.
How diverse is Montreal?
Very: dozens of cultural communities live here, making it one of Canada’s most diverse cities.
