A new nationwide survey has revealed that Mississauga tops the list as the happiest of Canada’s 10 largest cities, while Quebec residents overall reported the highest happiness levels in the country.
The poll, conducted by Leger and based on responses from nearly 40,000 Canadians, found Quebecers reported an average happiness score of 72.4 out of 100—well above the national average of 68.7. New Brunswick followed closely at 70.2, while Manitoba and Prince Edward Island ranked lowest.
Among major urban centres, Mississauga took the top spot, with Montreal coming in second. Rounding out the top five were Hamilton, Calgary, and Brampton. Toronto finished last among the 10 largest cities, trailing behind Winnipeg, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Ottawa.
“Happiness, while holding its ground overall, shows signs of fragility,” Leger noted in its executive summary. The survey found that 49 per cent of Canadians said their happiness remained unchanged over the past year, while 23 per cent said they felt happier and 28 per cent reported feeling less happy.
Younger Canadians—particularly those aged 18 to 34—were more likely to report improved well-being, despite their overall scores remaining below the national average. In contrast, those aged 35 to 54 were more likely to say their happiness had declined, pointing to mounting pressures during mid-life.
“There is a sense of well-being emerging among younger age groups,” the summary stated. “However, this also highlights the importance of supporting adults in mid-life, who are more vulnerable to the pressures of working life.”
When ranked by province, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador were the only regions to score above the national average. Ontario, which includes Mississauga and Toronto, came in near the lower end of the list—just above Manitoba and P.E.I.
The poll also found that women reported slightly higher happiness levels than men, with average scores of 69.4 and 68.0, respectively.
Leger concluded that happiness in Canada remains “relatively high but stagnant, or even slightly down” compared to the pre-pandemic period.
The survey was conducted online between March 31 and April 13, 2025, among 39,841 Canadians aged 18 and older. As with all online surveys, no margin of error was assigned because participants were not randomly selected.