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Since its beginning in 1994, the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) has been providing unique information on the health of Canadians by responding to the need for information on health dynamics. The NPHS is a longitudinal survey with a sample of 17,276 individuals spread out in the ten provinces across Canada. Every two years, these same individuals provide current and in-depth information on their physical and mental health status, use of health care services, physical activities, life in the workplace and social environment. Over the years of follow-up, the data have shown how a wide range of factors can contribute to improve or deteriorate health.

Whereas data collected from people at a single point in time provides a snapshot, NPHS longitudinal data reveals the transitions towards good or bad health. The richness of NPHS's data is that it also allows evaluation of the relationships between socio-economic and demographic characteristics of individuals with their health status and its evolution over time.

The Internet Publication, Healthy Today, Healthy Tomorrow? Findings from the National Population Health Survey, gradually releases articles based on data collected from the same respondents every two years. For all issues, click on the chronological index.

One of the key features of this publication is to have links to longitudinal Cansim tables and to other articles which use NPHS longitudinal data in one location only. Additional information about the survey and access to the data is also provided.