* According to the 2021 Canadian Census: 32.6% of the population of New Brunswick reported French as their mother tongue.
* However, "mother tongue" can be misleading. It doesn't necessarily reflect how fluently people speak or use the language on a daily basis.
* The province of New Brunswick considers itself officially bilingual. This means services are offered in both English and French, and people have the right to use either language.
Therefore, while the census figure is the most reliable data available, it likely underestimates the actual number of French speakers in New Brunswick, especially those who are bilingual or who learned French later in life.
Ultimately, it's fair to say that a significant portion of New Brunswick's population speaks French, and the language plays a vital role in the province's culture and identity.