This province ranks as the happiest place to live in Canada
Though it may not always feel that way, Canadians are apparently feeling a little happier than they were a year ago.
According to the 2026 Leger Happiness Index, the national happiness score has climbed to 70.5 out of 100 in 2026, up from 68.7 in 2025.
The annual survey measures how happy Canadians feel on a scale of 1 to 10, which is then converted into a standardized score out of 100.
And despite the rising cost of living, job cuts, bleak rental markets, not to mention the string of high-profile deaths weâve had to mourn lately, we seem to be doing slightly better than before.
A total of 63,710 Canadians aged 18 and over were surveyed online between June 9 and 29. Data was collected through LEO, Leger’s proprietary panel, and weighted by gender, age and region to ensure representative samples of the population.
For the second year in a row, Quebec has taken the top spot as Canada’s happiest province, receiving a happiness score of 74.5 out of 100, up 2.1 points from 2025.
Atlantic provinces Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick round out the top three; however, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island placed all the way at the bottom, scoring 67.7 and 67.6, respectively.
Leger
Happiness â like art â is pretty subjective, isnât it?
Some of us may firmly believe that money does buy happiness, but, according to the survey, it has less to do with fat bank accounts than we might think. Despite financial pressures, Leger says the main foundations of happiness âremain largely non-economic.â
While inflation and other stressors can certainly weigh on people’s well-being, the survey found that family, personal life, and health are the biggest contributors to happiness, and those three factors ranked well above things like work, and more surprisingly, travel and leisure.
And where you live can also make a difference. The report suggests that safety, access to nature, and the quality of neighbourhood life are key contributors to happiness, especially for those living in larger cities.
Speaking of large cities, Leger also ranked the top 10 largest cities in Canada based on happiness.
After falling short to Mississauga in 2025, this year Montreal takes the cake, receiving a happiness score of 72.7.
There are a few surprises on the list this year.
Brampton, Ont., landed in second place with a happiness score of 71.7, just behind Toronto with a score of 69.4. A total of five cities in Ontario made the top 10.
Leger
B.C. and Alberta are also represented in the ranking, with one city from each province making the top 10. Vancouver came in fourth with a happiness score of 69, while Calgary landed in seventh place with a score of 68.6. Still something worth smiling about.
You can read the full survey on Legerâs website.