Life expectancy in Canada has more than doubled over the last 200 years, from under 40 to almost 82 years of age.
Life expectancy is a measure that estimates the average remaining years of life at birth or other specific ages.
Life expectancy in Canada has more than doubled over the last 200 years, from under 40 to almost 82 years of age. Nearly half of the gains in life expectancy occurred between 1921 and 1951, mainly due to reduced infant mortality from childhood immunization against infectious diseases and life-altering scientific discoveries such as penicillin and insulin. Reduced deaths from circulatory diseases account for most increases in life expectancy since 1951.
According to Statistics Canada, life expectancy dropped three years in a row starting in 2020:
The decrease is partially due to the increased deaths from COVID.
Cancer and heart disease remained the two leading causes of death in Canada, accounting for 41.8% of deaths in 2022. The next eight leading causes of death in 2022 were:
If you reach 65, your life expectancy is higher than a newborn's. According to Statistics Canada. a newborn in 2022 had a life expectancy of approximately 82 years, while a 65-year-old could expect another 20 years.
Historically, life expectancy has been lower for men than women. Although the gap between the sexes was smaller in 1921 (1.8 years), it reached a high of 7.4 years in 1975-1977 and narrowed to 4.3 years in 2010-2012.
According to Statistics Canada, while we might live to be 80 years old, we can only expect to live 70 years in good health given current morbidity and mortality conditions.
BC and Ontario have the highest life expectancy, in the mid-80s, while Nunavut, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories have the lowest, in the low to mid-70s.
According to the World Health Organization, Canada is ranked 20th in life expectancy, with an average of 81.57 years.
The top countries are:
Click on the image below to see an animated timeline comparing life expectancy in the US, UK, and Canada from 1950 to 202.
The United Nations is projecting that Canadian life expectancy will rise after a short decline to 85 by 2030 and 90 by 2084.
References:
Ninety years of change in life expectancy
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-624-x/2014001/article/14009-eng.htm
Life expectancy decreases for a third year in a row
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231127/dq231127b-eng.htm
Life expectancy at birth - World Health Organization
https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years)
Life expectancy, including the UN projections
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/life-expectancy-at-birth-including-the-un-projections?country=OWID_WRL~CAN
This is a collaborative effort, we welcome suggestions for new resources, videos, news, links to surveys and announcements.
You should not rely on information tools for medical, financial or legal advice. It provides general information only. NICE is not responsible for any use of the information other than for general educational/informational purposes and no claim can be made against NICE or any of its personnel for any such use.
Facebook