MONTREAL — Joshua Bujold, a psychology student at Dawson College in Montreal, discovered that happiness among young Canadians has sharply declined, with the exception of his home province, Quebec. Data reveals that happiness levels among Canadians under 30 have fallen drastically over the past 15 years, making this age group the unhappiest in the country.
The 2024 World Happiness Report, released by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, indicates that Quebec has an anomalous trend compared to the national statistics. Bujold, 17, highlighted that many young people he knows in Quebec consider themselves happy, contradicting the broader Canadian sentiment regarding youth happiness.
Researchers from the University of Toronto, who authored the 2024 Canadian Happiness Report, provided additional insights, indicating that life evaluations among young people in Quebec have shown slight improvement since 2014. This is juxtaposed against significant declines in mental health metrics throughout the rest of Canada. The findings suggest that cultural and linguistic contexts may explain the relative happiness of Quebec’s youth.
Bujold theorizes that a collective sense of pride among francophones in Quebec contributes to their overall happiness. He mentioned that this pride might parallel feelings of happiness; thus, many young francophones maintain a more positive outlook compared to their counterparts in other provinces.
Anthony McCanny, the lead author of the 2024 Canadian Happiness Report, concurs that cultural differences could be influencing these happiness metrics. He noted that while the typical English-speaking young people in Western nations are experiencing a decline in well-being, young francophones might be navigating a distinct social media landscape, which fosters different societal expectations.
John Helliwell, an economics professor and founding editor of the World Happiness Report, also emphasized the role of social media. He noted that the disparity in happiness levels demonstrates that the issue is not merely about access to social media but extends to how it is utilized and the nature of the content that users engage with online.
Jacques Forest, a psychologist and professor at the French-language Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), finds it unsurprising that young Quebecers display higher happiness levels. He referenced a 2025 World Happiness Report, which ranked Quebec sixth among 147 countries when data was isolated from the rest of Canada, while Canada as a whole ranked 18th across all age groups.
Forest attributed Quebec’s relatively high happiness metrics to factors such as strong social safety nets, the lowest university tuition in North America, and affordable daycare services. Such government support contributes to a general sense of security and well-being among its residents.
Despite these positive indicators, young people in Quebec still face significant challenges. Surveys conducted in November 2024 revealed that approximately 45% of college students and over 40% of university students reported symptoms of anxiety disorders. Additionally, almost half of college students surveyed indicated symptoms of depressive episodes. Julie Lane, a professor at the University of Sherbrooke's Department of Education, expressed concern over these troubling findings, even while acknowledging that many students perceive their mental health positively.
Jessica Proulx, a second-year student at UQAM, illustrates the difficulties faced by her generation, noting the pressure of balancing multiple jobs to meet her financial obligations while studying. Despite her struggles, Proulx identifies as a happy person, underscoring that anxiety does not preclude her feelings of happiness.
This nuanced perspective on the happiness of young Canadians highlights the complex interplay of cultural identity, social conditions, and personal circumstances that shape their experiences. Conversations around mental health and happiness continue to evolve, especially among youth navigating a challenging societal landscape.
