Claim: 97.6% of Newfoundland and Labrador's residents speak English.

Newfoundland and Labrador -LRB- -LSB- uːfənˈlænd_ən_ˈlæbrədɔːr -RSB- , Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador Akamassiss Newfoundland Irish : Talamh an Éisc agus Labradar -RRB- is the most easterly province of Canada . Situated in the country 's Atlantic region , it comprises the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador to the northwest , with a combined area of 405212 km2 . In 2013 , the province 's population was estimated at 526,702 . About 92 % of the province 's population lives on the island of Newfoundland -LRB- and its neighbouring smaller islands -RRB- , of whom more than half live on the Avalon Peninsula . The province is Canada 's most linguistically homogeneous , with 97.6 % of residents reporting English -LRB- Newfoundland English -RRB- as their mother tongue in the 2006 census . Historically , Newfoundland was also home to unique varieties of French and Irish , as well as the extinct Beothuk language . In Labrador , local dialects of Innu-aimun and Inuktitut are also spoken .   Newfoundland and Labrador 's capital and largest city , St. John 's , is Canada 's 20th-largest census metropolitan area and is home to almost 40 percent of the province 's population . St. John 's is the seat of government , home to the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador and to the highest court in the jurisdiction , the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal .   A former colony and then dominion of the United Kingdom , Newfoundland gave up its independence in 1933 , following significant economic distress caused by the Great Depression and the aftermath of Newfoundland 's participation in World War I . It became the tenth province to enter the Canadian Confederation on March 31 , 1949 , as `` Newfoundland . '' On December 6 , 2001 , an amendment was made to the Constitution of Canada to change the province 's official name to Newfoundland and Labrador .