ISS020-E-9403 - View of the Province of Quebec

WaswanipiQuebec

With 1,866 residents, it is a town in Quebec. Between 2016 and 2021, its population shrank by 74%.

Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain

Population

1,866

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

years · Quebec’s towns: 44.8

Postsecondary

32%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

35%

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Waswanipi a good place to live?

Hazard risk is low (A+). Where it falls short is safety (C−).

An overall grade comes at 2,500 residents for Canadian towns; Waswanipi has its subject grades alone.

No Cost Grade: fewer than 30% of households own their home here, so neither the home value nor the rent is a market price. Safety is the regional police service's figure, shared with its other towns. No School Grade: this province doesn't publish comparable results school by school. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestA⁺Hazard riskWeakestC⁻Safety

What makes Waswanipi stand out

The 3 things Waswanipi does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

Only 7% are 65 or over

Half of Canadian towns are above 19%, half below

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

35% walk, cycle or take transit

For the middle of Canadian towns, 8%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Hazard risk

Better than 99%

of Canadian towns on hazard risk

Its hazard risk grade: A+.

How Waswanipi grades

Each subject compares Waswanipi with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.

How grading works

An overall grade comes at 2,500 residents for Canadian towns; Waswanipi has its subject grades alone.

Hazard riskGraded on earthquake risk and radon, with high wildfire risk able to lower itA⁺Open →SafetyCrime runs among the highest comparedC⁻Open →Jobs & incomeBetter than most of the towns comparedB⁺Open →

Cost of livingNot graded: not enough data–

SchoolsThe ministry publishes its success rates by school service centre, not school by school, which leaves towns in Quebec without a schools grade.–

HealthNot graded: not enough data–

WalkabilityNot graded: not enough data–

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Waswanipi.

Natural hazardsHazard risk A⁺

Hazard risk in Waswanipi is lower than in almost every Canadian town

Radon tests for the Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James health region

Seismic risk runs low: $0.008 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. Wildfire is a moderate presence around Waswanipi: 7.6% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, 0.19% a year, short of the band that counts against Risk. No flood study for Waswanipi is on the national inventory.

Moderatewildfire bandA⁺Hazard risk Grade

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Waswanipi0%

Quebec’s towns8.2%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Waswanipi	Quebec	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	0%	8.2%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.008	$0.14	$0.030

$0.008

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

Moderate

wildfire band

0.4 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageWaswanipi’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

WildfireModerate wildfire band · 7.6% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.008 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon0% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

Health

Expect 76.8 years of life in the region around Waswanipi, 4.7 under the typical Canadian town

The average trip from home to a hospital is 102 km, above Quebec’s towns (5.3 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km) alike. Nobody publishes health survey and life expectancy for Waswanipi alone, so this card uses the figure for the Région des Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James.

102 kmfrom homes to a hospital, on average

Life expectancy at birth · years, at birth

Waswanipi76.8

Quebec’s towns82.5

Canadian towns81.5

Health	Waswanipi	Quebec	Canada
Life expectancy at birth	76.8	82.5	81.5

76.8

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

102 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

101 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageWaswanipi’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Getting care102 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 101 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 79.1, men 73.1

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

Climate

Summers stay cool in Waswanipi: July afternoons reach 22.9°C, below Quebec’s towns and Canadian towns

Winter lows in Waswanipi average −24.1°C in January. Frost comes on 215 days a year, higher than both Quebec’s towns (161) and Canadian towns (159). The most precipitation falls in July: 117 mm in a normal year.

22.9°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−10.4°C

Spring5.6°C

Summer21.7°C

Autumn7.4°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Waswanipi	Quebec	Canada
January night low	−24.1°C	−14.7°C	−13.5°C
July afternoon high	22.9°C	26.5°C	25.5°C
Days with frost a year	215	161	159
Precipitation a year	1,080 mm	1,041 mm	883 mm

215

days with frost a year

157

days with precipitation a year

Full pageWaswanipi’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 22.9°C, January lows −24.1°C Rain and snow1,080 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Weather station73 km to the station · Chapais

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Chapais)

Who lives here

More of Waswanipi’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in Quebec’s towns or Canadian towns: 99%

34% speak both English and French, lower than Quebec’s towns (44%) yet higher than Canadian towns (7.5%).

26median age

WaswanipiQuebecCanada

QuebecCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

29%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree43%

Postsecondary qualification32%

Women and men · all residents

50.0% of Waswanipi’s residents are women

Here the census found 230 women and 230 men; across Canada the share of women is 50.9%.

Who lives in Waswanipi
	Waswanipi	Quebec	Canada
Under 15	29%	17%	16%
15 to 64	64%	62%	64%
65+	6.5%	20%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	43%	19%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	32%	59%	56%

Full pageWaswanipi’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages26 median age · 7% are 65 or over Households125 households · 3.6 people per household English and French34% speak both · 1.1% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Quebec and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

SafetySafety C⁻

Violent crime weighs more where Waswanipi is policed than in Quebec’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 197

Violence across its police area runs at 34.8 per 1,000 residents a year. The index for the force that serves it came to 104, above both Quebec’s towns (56) and Canadian towns (67). Across its police area, there are 20.6 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Figures for Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 are published for the Eeyou Eenou Cree Region service area as a whole, not for Waswanipi alone.

104Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202335

2024130

2025145

2023–2025	Waswanipi	Quebec	Canada
Violent crime	34.8	12.4	12
Violent Crime Severity Index	197	88	86
Crime Severity Index	104	56	67
Property crime per 1,000	20.6	16.6	31.2

non-violent Crime Severity Index

36%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageWaswanipi’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety104 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Waswanipi’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Waswanipi safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

Work & commuteJobs & income B⁺

Commuters in Waswanipi have a short way to work, 17 min on average, less than in Quebec’s towns and Canadian towns

35%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van59%

Walk29%

Public transit6%

Census 2021	Waswanipi	Quebec	Canada
Average trip	17 min	27 min	26 min

$107,000

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

71%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageWaswanipi’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment8.1% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work35% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to10 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Chapais

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.

Schools

The 7 schools of Waswanipi: 6 elementary schools and 1 secondary school

7schools within 3 km

School	Level	Students	System
École Mémoriale Willie J. Happyjack Memorial School (Sabtuan Adult Education Services)In WaswanipiElementary	Elementary	–	Other
École Mémoriale Willie J. Happyjack Memorial SchoolIn WaswanipiSecondary	Secondary	–	Other

See all 7 schools →

1.3 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageWaswanipi’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school7 schools within 3 km · 6 elementary schools and 1 secondary school Language0 of 7 teach in English · 10% of schools in Quebec Questions“What schools are there in Waswanipi?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025-26 · Source note: the ministry publishes its success rates by school service centre, not school by school, so there’s no schools grade in Quebec.

Weather

Waswanipi in November: highs near −1°C, lows near −8°C

Precipitation in November averages 96 mm. ECCC’s forecast for Chibougamau is on the Weather page, hour by hour.

−1°Ca normal November afternoon

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November−1°C

December−8°C

January−13°C

February−10°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−10°C	−22°C	235 mm
Spring	6°C	−7°C	224 mm
Summer	22°C	9°C	322 mm
Autumn	7°C	−1°C	300 mm

−8°C

a normal November night

96 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageWaswanipi’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest January

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Chapais); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Mandy Gull-Masty (Liberal Party of Canada) represents Waswanipi in Ottawa as MP for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou

Of the 78 Commons seats from Quebec, the Liberal Party of Canada holds 44.

Full pageWaswanipi’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itCategory Ia Land Provincial legislatureUngava

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade D

No public library is mapped in or near Waswanipi

Waswanipi has no library board of its own in the provincial statistics, so no visit or loan figures appear here.

Full pageWaswanipi’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Places to belong0 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

More of the land around Waswanipi is protected than around nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns

A provincial park, Assinica National Park Reserve (Québec), lies 24 km away. Within 100 km there is no national park. Count 7 protected areas within 10 km of town.

10%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Waswanipi10%

Quebec’s towns4.9%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Waswanipi	Quebec	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	10%	4.9%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	7	10	4

24 km

to Assinica National Park Reserve (Québec)

Full pageWaswanipi’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas7 protected areas within 10 km · Proposed Lac-Waswanipi Aquatic Reserve National & provincial parks24 km to a provincial park · Assinica National Park Reserve (Québec)

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

History

Waswanipi’s housing: 100% built from 1961 on

0%built before 1961

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Waswanipi	Quebec	Canada
Homes built before 1961	0%	21%	18%

Full pageWaswanipi’s history pageOpen the full History page

Older homes0% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Waswanipi have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Waswanipi

15pages on Waswanipi

The big questions

SafetyC⁻Crime Severity Index 104 Housing & costProperty pricesSchools7 schools within 3 km HealthLife expectancy 76.8 in its region Work & commuteB⁺54% of adults in work Natural hazardsA⁺Wildfire band: moderate

Out and about

Outdoors10% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 23°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 26 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Questions about Waswanipi

Do people in Waswanipi speak French?

Almost everyone does. 34% are bilingual, where the median of Canadian towns is 8%, and 1.1% speak French and no English.

Has Waswanipi grown?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it fell from 1,759 to 459 residents (73.9% down; Canadian towns’ median grew 4.1%); Statistics Canada now estimates 1,866.

How old are the people of Waswanipi?

Its median age is 26, where Canadian towns sit at 45.2. Under-15s are 29% of residents; over-65s, 7%.

What kind of homes are in Waswanipi?

64% of homes are single-detached houses, against 64% for the median of Canadian towns, and 0% are in apartment buildings of five storeys or more. A household averages 3.6 people; 20% are one person living alone.

About Waswanipi

Town in Quebec

For Waswanipi, TownRatings uses Statistics Canada’s census-subdivision boundary in Quebec, and every figure on its pages covers that whole area.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 1,866 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Quebec
Census division: Nord-du-Québec
First Nation: Waswanipi
The community’s own name: ᐙᔂᓂᐲ
Census subdivision: 2499802

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2023–25 (35-10-0026, 35-10-0183 to 35-10-0190) · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.

Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).