Annual Demographic Estimates: Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2021
Analysis: Population by age and sex
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The COVID-19 pandemic had a direct impact on population growth in 2020/2021: Border restrictions have impeded the reception of new immigrants and non-permanent residents, and there have been increased deaths attributable to COVID-19. To understand the potential effects on the age and sex structure of populations, a more in-depth analysis was done of the demographic profile of immigrants and non-permanent residents. The age pyramids of these subpopulations exhibit some marked differences in proportions by age and sex for 2020/2021 compared with recent pre-pandemic years. Although new immigrants aged 0 to 19 (18.1%) and 50 and older (8.7%) are not as numerous as the population aged 20 to 49 years (73.2%), they were proportionately more affected by the decline in the number of immigrants in 2020/2021. In addition, since the number of permanent residents has decreased over the past year compared with the annual gains since 2015/2016, and knowing that most permanent residents are young adults, it is possible that the impact of this decline has been greater among the Canadian population in the same cohorts, particularly those aged 18 to 24.
Special attention was also paid to the population aged 80 and older, given that 61.0% (or 10,793 deaths out of 17,688)Note of Canadians who died from COVID-19 in 2020/2021 were in this age group.Note In comparison, 50.6% of deaths estimated in 2020/2021 were aged 80 and older. Despite the excess mortality observed among the very elderly as a result of the pandemic, the estimated population aged 80 and older rose by 44,961 to 1,713,720 on July 1, 2021. This growth is driven by the large number of people aged 79 on July 1, 2020, who were still alive the following year (200,204), considerably exceeding the number of estimated deaths among people aged 80 and older during the same period (155,452). In addition, the average age of those 80 and older has remained stable at 86.1 years for the past five years. Since international migration is less common at these ages, it does not have a strong impact on the growth of the population aged 80 and older. In short, excess mortality because of the COVID-19 pandemic among people 80 and older did not cause a decline in their population. The growth of the cohorts due to aging was greater than the impact of the excess deaths.
Lastly, despite the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on several factors of the population growth (see the section Analysis: Total population), the average age of the Canadian population in 2021 followed the same upward trend in the population aging process.
In short, COVID-19 had a limited impact on the age and sex profile of the population of Canada for the year 2020/2021.
For the purposes of this article, various indicators are used to measure population aging. These include number, proportion and distribution of the population aged 0 to 14 and 65 and older, the demographic dependency ratio and the average age. The average age of a population is the average age of all its members.
This section presents an analysis of the population estimates by age and sex for Canada, the provinces and territories on July 1, 2021, compared with July 1 estimates in previous years.
The aging of baby boomers accelerates Canada’s population aging
Population aging represents one of the major changes associated with Canada’s age and sex structure, and it continues to shape Canada’s society and economy. The demographic aging process is currently accelerating as individuals born between 1946 and 1965—larger baby boomer cohorts—reach more advanced ages. This aging process is also explained by the combination of a fertility rate below the replacement level (2.1 children per woman) since 1972Note and an almost-continuous increase in life expectancy for both males and females.Note
The age pyramid opposite (Figure 2.1) illustrates the aging of Canada’s population in recent decades by comparing the age and sex structure of the population on July 1 in 2001 and 2021.
On July 1, 2001, baby boomers were in their mid 30s to mid 50s, as can be seen in the bulge in the pyramid at these ages. On July 1, 2021, individuals in the baby boomer generation were aged 55 to 75, as illustrated by the upward shift in the largest bulge in the pyramid observed 20 years earlier. Therefore, the number of people aged 55 and older was proportionally higher in 2021 (32.4%) than in 2001 (22.0%). In contrast, the number of younger people, particularly people in their mid 30s and early 50s, as well as individuals aged 0 to 20, has proportionally decreased.
Data table for Figure 2.1
This stacked column graph or population pyramid compares the age structure of the 2001 and the 2021 population at July 1st in relative value.
The left side shows males and the right side shows females.
The horizontal axis shows the population in relative value and the vertical axis shows age.
| Age | 2001 | 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | Females | Males | Females | |
| per thousand | ||||
| 0 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| 1 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 4.7 |
| 2 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| 3 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 4.9 |
| 4 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| 5 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| 6 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| 7 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 5.5 | 5.2 |
| 8 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 9 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 10 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 11 | 7.1 | 6.7 | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| 12 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| 13 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| 14 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 15 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| 16 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| 17 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| 18 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 19 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 5.5 |
| 20 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 5.9 |
| 21 | 7.1 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.2 |
| 22 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.1 |
| 23 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| 24 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 6.3 |
| 25 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 7.1 | 6.5 |
| 26 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 7.2 | 6.6 |
| 27 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 7.1 | 6.6 |
| 28 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 7.2 | 6.7 |
| 29 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 6.9 |
| 30 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 7.0 |
| 31 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 7.1 |
| 32 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 6.9 |
| 33 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 6.8 |
| 34 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 6.9 |
| 35 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 7.0 |
| 36 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 7.1 | 7.0 |
| 37 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| 38 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
| 39 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 6.8 | 6.9 |
| 40 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 |
| 41 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 6.7 | 6.8 |
| 42 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| 43 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 6.3 | 6.5 |
| 44 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| 45 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| 46 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 6.2 | 6.4 |
| 47 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 6.1 | 6.2 |
| 48 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 6.1 | 6.2 |
| 49 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 50 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 6.4 | 6.5 |
| 51 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 6.5 |
| 52 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| 53 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 54 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| 55 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 6.7 |
| 56 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 7.0 | 7.1 |
| 57 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
| 58 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
| 59 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 7.0 | 7.1 |
| 60 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 7.0 | 7.2 |
| 61 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 6.9 | 7.1 |
| 62 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 6.9 |
| 63 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| 64 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 6.4 | 6.6 |
| 65 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 6.1 | 6.4 |
| 66 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 6.0 | 6.3 |
| 67 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 6.1 |
| 68 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 5.8 |
| 69 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 5.1 | 5.5 |
| 70 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| 71 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 5.2 |
| 72 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 5.0 |
| 73 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| 74 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 4.8 |
| 75 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
| 76 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.7 |
| 77 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.6 |
| 78 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.3 |
| 79 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 3.1 |
| 80 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.9 |
| 81 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.6 |
| 82 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
| 83 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| 84 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
| 85 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.9 |
| 86 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.8 |
| 87 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| 88 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.5 |
| 89 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| 90 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.2 |
| 91 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| 92 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| 93 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| 94 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| 95 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| 96 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| 97 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| 98 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| 99 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| 100 and older | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. | ||||
The gap widens between children and older persons
Since 2011, baby boomers have contributed significantly to the increase in the number of people aged 65 and older. In fact, people aged 65 and older outnumbered children aged 0 to 14 from July 1, 2015 to July 1, 2016. In the last annual period, the difference between the number of people in these two age groups continued to increase.
On July 1, 2021, a record number of 7,081,792 Canadians—18.5% of the population—were at least 65 years of age.
In comparison, there were 6,018,084 children aged 0 to 14 (15.7%) in Canada, the first decline in the last 13 years.
Moreover, since the number of older persons is growing faster than the number of children, the demographic weight of children has decreased in recent years. In comparison, there were two to three times more children aged 0 to 14 than people aged 65 and older before 1987. According to the medium growth (M1) scenario in the most recent population projections,Note the proportion of people 65 and older should exceed 20% between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, and reach 25% in 2058/2059. Meanwhile, the proportion of children aged 0 to 14 should remain relatively stable at around 15% to 16% over the same period.
Data table for Chart 2.1
| Year ending June 30 | 0 to 14 years (population estimates) | 0 to 14 years (population projections based on M1 scenario) | 65 years and older (population estimates) | 65 years and older (population projections based on M1 scenario) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| number | ||||
| 2001 | 5,851,142 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 3,921,849 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2002 | 5,826,792 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 3,989,384 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2003 | 5,792,083 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 4,060,711 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2004 | 5,751,912 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 4,136,349 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2005 | 5,697,557 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 4,213,993 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2006 | 5,648,161 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 4,318,906 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2007 | 5,621,320 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 4,421,379 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2008 | 5,616,339 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 4,541,116 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2009 | 5,620,154 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 4,669,325 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2010 | 5,622,173 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 4,804,015 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2011 | 5,628,821 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 4,955,235 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2012 | 5,660,294 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 5,154,937 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2013 | 5,704,052 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 5,352,983 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2014 | 5,752,008 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 5,542,326 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2015 | 5,793,833 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 5,722,237 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2016 | 5,865,824 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 5,920,968 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2017 | 5,912,083 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,135,012 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2018 | 5,966,185 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,355,552 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2019 | 6,007,370 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,600,010 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2020 | 6,041,733 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,845,502 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2021 | 6,018,084 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 7,081,792 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2022 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,155,600 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 7,337,300 |
| 2023 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,181,400 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 7,599,500 |
| 2024 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,205,900 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 7,861,600 |
| 2025 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,230,700 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 8,129,500 |
| 2026 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,261,300 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 8,398,400 |
| 2027 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,289,600 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 8,657,400 |
| 2028 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,317,900 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 8,921,500 |
| 2029 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,347,400 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 9,175,300 |
| 2030 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,377,800 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 9,406,700 |
| 2031 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,409,000 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 9,600,000 |
| 2032 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,443,000 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 9,761,600 |
| 2033 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,476,100 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 9,911,500 |
| 2034 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,513,800 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 10,057,400 |
| 2035 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,552,600 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 10,200,900 |
| 2036 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,592,900 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 10,337,500 |
| 2037 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,635,300 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 10,451,300 |
| 2038 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,679,700 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 10,551,900 |
| 2039 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,726,600 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 10,647,200 |
| 2040 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,776,100 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 10,745,300 |
| 2041 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 6,828,200 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 10,839,500 |
|
.. not available for a specific reference period Note: From 2001 to 2021, population estimates. From 2022 to 2041, Projected population by scenario, age and sex, as of July 1 (x1,000), Table no. 17-10-0057-01. Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. |
||||
Data table for Chart 2.2
| Year ending June 30 | 0 to 14 years (population estimates) | 0 to 14 years (population projections based on M1 scenario) | 15 to 64 years (population estimates) | 15 to 64 years (population projections based on M1 scenario) | 65 years and older (population estimates) | 65 years and older (population projections based on M1 scenario) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| percent | ||||||
| 2001 | 18.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 68.5 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 12.6 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2002 | 18.6 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 68.7 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 12.7 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2003 | 18.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 68.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 12.8 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2004 | 18.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 69.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 13.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2005 | 17.7 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 69.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 13.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2006 | 17.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 69.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 13.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2007 | 17.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 69.5 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 13.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2008 | 16.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 69.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 13.7 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2009 | 16.7 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 69.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 13.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2010 | 16.5 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 69.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 14.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2011 | 16.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 69.2 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 14.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2012 | 16.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 68.8 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 14.8 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2013 | 16.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 68.5 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2014 | 16.2 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 68.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.6 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2015 | 16.2 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 67.7 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 16.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2016 | 16.2 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 67.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 16.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2017 | 16.2 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 67.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 16.8 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2018 | 16.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 66.8 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 17.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2019 | 16.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 66.5 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 17.6 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2020 | 15.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 66.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 18.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2021 | 15.7 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 65.7 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 18.5 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period |
| 2022 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 65.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 19.0 |
| 2023 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.8 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 64.8 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 19.4 |
| 2024 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.7 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 64.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 19.9 |
| 2025 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.6 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 64.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 20.4 |
| 2026 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.5 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 63.6 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 20.8 |
| 2027 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 63.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 21.3 |
| 2028 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.4 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 62.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 21.7 |
| 2029 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 62.6 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 22.1 |
| 2030 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.2 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 62.3 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 22.5 |
| 2031 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.2 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 62.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 22.7 |
| 2032 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 62.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 22.9 |
| 2033 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.1 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 61.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 23.0 |
| 2034 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 61.8 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 23.2 |
| 2035 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 15.0 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 61.7 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 23.3 |
| 2036 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 14.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 61.6 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 23.4 |
| 2037 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 14.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 61.6 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 23.5 |
| 2038 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 14.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 61.6 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 23.5 |
| 2039 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 14.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 61.5 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 23.6 |
| 2040 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 14.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 61.5 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 23.6 |
| 2041 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 14.9 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 61.5 | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 23.6 |
|
.. not available for a specific reference period Note: From 2001 to 2021, population estimates. From 2022 to 2041, Projected population by scenario, age and sex, as of July 1 (x1,000), Table no. 17-10-0057-01. Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. |
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During the last annual period, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth rate of the group aged 65 and older was 3.4%, more than six times the growth rate of the population as a whole (0.5%). The growth rate of children aged 0 to 14 years decreased 0.4% over the same annual period, the first decline in 13 years. The decline in new immigrant children in 2020/2021 may have had a downward influence on the already low growth of children aged 0 to 15 in recent years. Since the beginning of the period covered by the current demographic accounting system (July 1971), the population growth rate for children has always remained lower than that of older persons, thereby contributing to population aging.
Children still outnumber older persons in the Prairie provinces and the territories
Population aging affects all regions of the country; however, this process is unfolding at an unequal pace, and certain provinces are aging faster than others. Consequently, the proportion of people aged 65 and older and that of children aged 0 to 14 varies significantly from east to west and from north to south.
In Canada’s eastern and central provinces and in British Columbia, the proportion of people 65 years and older was higher than the proportion of children aged 0 to 14 years on July 1, 2021. However, the Prairie provinces and the territories showed the reverse, with higher proportions of children aged 0 to 14 than people 65 years and older. In 2009, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were the top two provinces where the proportion of people aged 65 and older exceeded that of children aged 0 to 14.
On July 1, 2021, Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest proportion of people aged 65 and older (23.1%). This proportion increased 7.4 percentage points over 10 years, the largest increase among all provinces and territories. In contrast, Alberta (14.4%) had the lowest proportion of people aged 65 and older among the provinces. As for children aged 0 to 14, the highest proportion among the provinces was observed in Saskatchewan (19.4%), and the lowest was in Newfoundland and Labrador (13.2%). Differences in the fertility, immigration and interprovincial migration rates largely explain gaps in the age structure between provinces and territories.
The age structure of the population of the territories differs from that of the provinces. Higher fertilityNote and mortalityNote ,Note explain why the demographic weight of children is especially larger than that of older persons. In particular, Nunavut stood out with children aged 0 to 14 making up 31.3% of the population and a low proportion of people aged 65 and older (4.1%).
Now nearly one in two baby boomers are aged 65 and older
Like the rest of the population, the baby boomer cohorts are aging. Moreover, 45.6% of baby boomers were 65 and older in 2021, whereas this was the case for 40.6% of them barely a year ago. By 2031, the entire baby boomer cohort, whose youngest members were born in 1965, will have turned 65.
The demographic composition of the group aged 65 and older is changing rapidly. Before 2011, there were no members of the baby boomer generation in this group. Since 2011, as the first baby boomers started turning 65, growth of this group has clearly accelerated. Consequently, on July 1, 2021, baby boomers made up 59.8% of people aged 65 and older. However, their demographic weight within the overall population is decreasing, down to 24.3% in mid‑2021, compared with 31.4% in 2001. Given their advancing age, they become more and more at risk of dying.
Canada has just over one child or older person for every two working-age people
The demographic dependency ratio represents the number of children (0 to 14 years) and older people (65 years and older) per 100 working-age people (15 to 64 years). On July 1, 2021, the ratio was 52.1. This indicator has been rising steadily since reaching a record low in 2007 and 2008 (44.0 each).
It could continue to rise beyond 2031, when the youngest baby boomers will turn 65. Indeed, according to the medium growth (M1) scenario in the most recent population projections, the demographic dependency ratio should be 61.0 in 2031 and 67.8 in 2068.
Data table for Chart 2.3
| Year ending June 30 | Persons aged 0 to 14 years | Persons aged 65 years and older |
|---|---|---|
| per 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years | ||
| 1971 | 46.7 | 12.8 |
| 1972 | 45.0 | 12.8 |
| 1973 | 43.3 | 12.9 |
| 1974 | 41.6 | 12.9 |
| 1975 | 40.1 | 12.9 |
| 1976 | 38.5 | 13.1 |
| 1977 | 37.2 | 13.2 |
| 1978 | 35.8 | 13.4 |
| 1979 | 34.6 | 13.7 |
| 1980 | 33.5 | 13.9 |
| 1981 | 32.7 | 14.1 |
| 1982 | 32.2 | 14.2 |
| 1983 | 31.8 | 14.4 |
| 1984 | 31.5 | 14.6 |
| 1985 | 31.1 | 15.0 |
| 1986 | 30.7 | 15.3 |
| 1987 | 30.6 | 15.7 |
| 1988 | 30.5 | 16.0 |
| 1989 | 30.4 | 16.3 |
| 1990 | 30.4 | 16.6 |
| 1991 | 30.5 | 16.9 |
| 1992 | 30.6 | 17.1 |
| 1993 | 30.6 | 17.4 |
| 1994 | 30.4 | 17.5 |
| 1995 | 30.1 | 17.7 |
| 1996 | 29.9 | 17.9 |
| 1997 | 29.5 | 18.0 |
| 1998 | 29.1 | 18.2 |
| 1999 | 28.6 | 18.3 |
| 2000 | 28.1 | 18.4 |
| 2001 | 27.5 | 18.5 |
| 2002 | 27.0 | 18.5 |
| 2003 | 26.6 | 18.6 |
| 2004 | 26.1 | 18.8 |
| 2005 | 25.5 | 18.9 |
| 2006 | 25.0 | 19.1 |
| 2007 | 24.6 | 19.4 |
| 2008 | 24.3 | 19.7 |
| 2009 | 24.1 | 20.0 |
| 2010 | 23.8 | 20.4 |
| 2011 | 23.7 | 20.9 |
| 2012 | 23.7 | 21.6 |
| 2013 | 23.7 | 22.3 |
| 2014 | 23.8 | 23.0 |
| 2015 | 24.0 | 23.7 |
| 2016 | 24.1 | 24.3 |
| 2017 | 24.1 | 25.0 |
| 2018 | 24.1 | 25.7 |
| 2019 | 24.0 | 26.4 |
| 2020 | 24.0 | 27.2 |
| 2021 | 23.9 | 28.2 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. | ||
Given their numbers, baby boomers have always had a tangible impact on the demographic dependency ratio. In 1971, the beginning of the period covered by the current demographic accounting system, a good number of baby boomers were still children. At that time, the demographic dependency ratio was 59.5. However, as the baby boomers reached adulthood, that ratio gradually dropped and remained low from 1980 to 2011, while all members of this generation were of working age. The recent increase in the demographic dependency ratio is explained by the baby boomers turning 65.
The number of people aged 55 to 64 compared with youth aged 15 to 24 is increasing
People aged 55 to 64 are often on the cusp of or in retirement. In contrast, individuals aged 15 to 24 generally have recently or are about to enter the labour market for the first time.
On July 1, 2021, there were 118 people potentially leaving the labour market for every 100 potential entrants. Those people aged 55 to 64 years consist of the youngest baby boomers. In 1984, Canada had two people aged 15 to 24 per person aged 55 to 64, which demonstrates the major reversal in Canada over the last four decades. Subsequent years were marked by a steady decrease in this ratio, such that starting in 2013, the number of people potentially leaving began to outnumber the number of those potentially entering the labour market. There may have been an increase in this trend in 2020/2021 because of the decline in the number of non-permanent residents due to restrictions at the Canadian border caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The demographic dependency ratio varies from one province and territory to another
In 2021, the Atlantic provinces and Quebec had a higher demographic dependency ratio than Canada (52.1) because of an increasing number of people aged 65 and older. In addition, the demographic dependency ratio was also higher in Manitoba (54.4) and Saskatchewan (56.6) than it was for the country. This situation was mainly because of the slightly higher proportion of children aged 0 to 14 in these provinces. Lastly, Nunavut (54.9) stood out from the other jurisdictions with the highest ratio of children and the lowest ratio of older persons.
Data table for Chart 2.4
| Provinces and territories | 0 to 14 years | 65 years and older |
|---|---|---|
| per 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years | ||
| Canada | 23.9 | 28.2 |
| N.L. | 20.7 | 36.2 |
| P.E.I. | 22.9 | 31.2 |
| N.S. | 21.4 | 33.8 |
| N.B. | 22.4 | 35.5 |
| Que. | 24.5 | 31.8 |
| Ont. | 23.0 | 27.2 |
| Man. | 29.0 | 25.4 |
| Sask. | 30.4 | 26.1 |
| Alta. | 27.4 | 21.4 |
| B.C. | 20.8 | 29.6 |
| Y.T. | 23.9 | 19.9 |
| N.W.T. | 27.5 | 13.0 |
| Nvt. | 48.5 | 6.4 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. | ||
| Population | 0 to 14 years | 15 to 64 years | 65 years and older | Median age | Average age | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number | % | years | ||||
| Canada | 38,246,108 | 15.7 | 65.7 | 18.5 | 41.1 | 41.7 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 520,553 | 13.2 | 63.7 | 23.1 | 47.8 | 45.2 |
| Prince Edward Island | 164,318 | 14.9 | 64.9 | 20.2 | 42.4 | 42.4 |
| Nova Scotia | 992,055 | 13.8 | 64.4 | 21.8 | 45.0 | 44.0 |
| New Brunswick | 789,225 | 14.2 | 63.3 | 22.5 | 46.2 | 44.5 |
| Quebec | 8,604,495 | 15.7 | 64.0 | 20.3 | 43.0 | 42.8 |
| Ontario | 14,826,276 | 15.3 | 66.6 | 18.1 | 40.7 | 41.5 |
| Manitoba | 1,383,765 | 18.8 | 64.8 | 16.5 | 37.8 | 39.3 |
| Saskatchewan | 1,179,844 | 19.4 | 63.9 | 16.7 | 38.1 | 39.4 |
| Alberta | 4,442,879 | 18.4 | 67.2 | 14.4 | 37.9 | 38.9 |
| British Columbia | 5,214,805 | 13.8 | 66.5 | 19.7 | 42.3 | 42.8 |
| Yukon | 42,986 | 16.6 | 69.5 | 13.8 | 39.3 | 39.7 |
| Northwest Territories | 45,504 | 19.6 | 71.1 | 9.3 | 35.8 | 36.4 |
| Nunavut | 39,403 | 31.3 | 64.6 | 4.1 | 26.5 | 28.9 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. |
||||||
The number of centenarians is growing rapidly
On July 1, 2021, preliminary estimates indicate that there were 12,822 centenarians in Canada. The number of centenarians in Canada is constantly growing, mainly because of higher life expectancy.
In the past 20 years (or since 2001),Note the number of centenarians has more than tripled. In the latest annual period (2020/2021), the growth rate of centenarians rose to 9.0%, or nearly 16 times the population growth rate for the entire population (0.5%), and this in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The population growth of centenarians was greater than that of each five-year population age group.
In relative numbers, there were 34 centenarians per 100,000 population in Canada. In 2001, the proportion was 11 centenarians per 100,000 population.
Higher population aging among females
The main population aging indicators are all higher for females. On July 1, 2021, the proportion of people aged 65 and older was higher among females (19.8%) than among males (17.2%), although the gap has been narrowing since 1998. The average age was also higher for females (42.6 years) than for males (40.8 years). Furthermore, the centenarian group comprised mostly females (80.4%).
These differences are mainly because females, at all ages, have lower mortality levels than males. These mortality levels create a persistent yet narrowing gap in life expectancy in favour of females. The most recent data (2017 to 2019) show that the life expectancy at birth of females was 84.2 years, compared with 80.0 years for males, with females living an average of 4.2 years longer than males. Twenty years earlier, this gap was 5.4 years.Note
The average age of the Canadian population continues to increase
In 2021, the average ageNote of Canadians was 41.7 years. The average age has increased by 4.2 years since 2001, when it was 37.5 years.
Average age varies considerably from province to province. On July 1, 2021, there was a difference of 6.3 years between the province with the highest average age (45.2 years in Newfoundland and Labrador) and the province with the lowest average age (38.9 years in Alberta). Taking the territories into consideration, Nunavut had the lowest average age at 28.9 years.
In 2001, the differences between the provinces were much smaller, with a gap of 3.2 years. The highest average age was in Nova Scotia (38.6 years), and the lowest was in Alberta (35.4 years).
In other words, differences in age structure between provinces and territories have tended to increase over the past 20 years, even though all regions of the country are experiencing a relatively rapid aging of the population.
The situation in Newfoundland and Labrador indicates an especially rapid aging of its population. In just over 15 years, the average age in the province went from the lowest (32.5 in 1989) to the highest (40.4 years in 2006, tied with Nova Scotia) in the country. During most of this period, the province saw negative population growth. The main contributing factors are the departure of many young adults to other provinces and territories, along with lower fertility.
Conversely, the Prairie provinces topped the list of the youngest provinces on July 1, 2021, with an average age of 38.9 years in Alberta, 39.3 years in Manitoba and 39.4 years in Saskatchewan. This is mainly because of a higher proportion of Indigenous populations (Manitoba, Saskatchewan),Note who are generally younger and with higher fertility rates, as well as a greater migratory inflow of young adults and families from other provinces (Alberta).
Data table for Chart 2.5
| 1981 | 1986 | 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N.L. | |||||||||
| Average Age | 29.5 | 31.3 | 33.2 | 35.5 | 38.1 | 40.4 | 41.8 | 43.4 | 45.2 |
| Rank | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| P.E.I. | |||||||||
| Average Age | 33.3 | 34.3 | 35.3 | 36.2 | 37.9 | 39.7 | 41.1 | 42.4 | 42.4 |
| Rank | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| N.S. | |||||||||
| Average Age | 33.3 | 34.5 | 35.6 | 36.9 | 38.6 | 40.4 | 41.8 | 43.2 | 44 |
| Rank | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| N.B. | |||||||||
| Average Age | 32.3 | 33.7 | 35.2 | 36.7 | 38.5 | 40.3 | 41.8 | 43.5 | 44.5 |
| Rank | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Que. | |||||||||
| Average Age | 32.9 | 34.4 | 35.7 | 36.8 | 38.4 | 39.8 | 40.9 | 41.9 | 42.8 |
| Rank | 4 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Ont. | |||||||||
| Average Age | 33.7 | 34.8 | 35.4 | 36.3 | 37.2 | 38.5 | 39.7 | 40.7 | 41.5 |
| Rank | 8 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Man. | |||||||||
| Average Age | 34.0 | 34.7 | 35.5 | 36.2 | 37.2 | 38.2 | 38.6 | 38.8 | 39.3 |
| Rank | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Sask. | |||||||||
| Average Age | 33.5 | 34.0 | 35.3 | 36.1 | 37.3 | 38.5 | 38.7 | 38.8 | 39.4 |
| Rank | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Alta. | |||||||||
| Average Age | 30.5 | 31.7 | 32.9 | 34.2 | 35.4 | 36.4 | 37.1 | 37.6 | 38.9 |
| Rank | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| B.C. | |||||||||
| Average Age | 34.1 | 35.4 | 36.2 | 36.8 | 38.2 | 39.8 | 40.8 | 41.9 | 42.8 |
| Rank | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. | |||||||||
Males slightly outnumbered by females
On July 1, 2021, the sex ratio for the entire Canadian population was estimated at 98.8 males per 100 females. This ratio has been rising very slowly since 2000 (98.1). Males outnumber females up to the mid 30s, mainly because of the sex ratio at birth, which averages 105 males per 100 females. When people reach their mid 60s, the number of males starts to fall significantly below the number of females because of excess mortality among males. This gap widens at more advanced ages: among those aged 65 to 79, there were an estimated 91.7 males per 100 females on July 1, 2021.
However, the gap between the sexes seems to be narrowing over time. Thirty years ago, the sex ratio for people aged 65 to 79 was 78.5 males per 100 females. Among those aged 80 and older, there were an estimated 68.5 males per 100 females on July 1, 2021, compared with a sex ratio of 52.2 on July 1, 1991. On July 1, 2021, centenarians were predominantly female, with a ratio of 24.4 males per 100 females. This ratio has been rising since 2001 (17.3).
Data table for Chart 2.6
| Age group | 2001 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| number of males for 100 females | ||
| Total | 98.2 | 98.8 |
| 0 to 14 years | 104.9 | 104.7 |
| 15 to 39 years | 103.4 | 104.9 |
| 40 to 64 years | 98.8 | 98.2 |
| 65 to 79 years | 84.2 | 91.7 |
| 80 years and older | 51.8 | 68.5 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. | ||
The sex ratio is higher in the Prairie provinces and lower in the Atlantic provinces
There are some differences between the provinces in terms of the sex structure of the population. On July 1, 2021, the province with the lowest sex ratio in the country was Nova Scotia (96.0 males per 100 females), and the province with the highest sex ratio was Saskatchewan (101.4 males per 100 females). The sex ratios in the Atlantic provinces were below the national average (98.8 males per 100 females), while they were all higher in the Prairie provinces and in Quebec. Among other factors, this situation can be attributed to differences in the aging of Canada’s regions: a younger population is usually slightly more male, and an older population is usually more female.
In 2021, males outnumbered females in all the territories because they are home to younger populations than elsewhere in Canada. The main differences between the sex structure in the territories and in Canada as a whole are at higher ages. For ages 65 and older, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut had 103.7, 105.6 and 104.0 males per 100 females, respectively, compared with 85.5 males per 100 females nationally.
Data table for Chart 2.7
| Provinces and territories | Total | 0 to 14 years | 15 to 64 years | 65 years and older | Total (Canada) | 0 to 14 years (Canada) | 15 to 64 years (Canada) | 65 years and older (Canada) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number of males for 100 females | ||||||||
| N.L. | 97.5 | 106.4 | 98.4 | 90.4 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| P.E.I. | 98.2 | 104.2 | 101.4 | 84.8 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| N.S. | 96.0 | 105.4 | 98.0 | 85.0 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| N.B. | 98.2 | 104.5 | 101.3 | 86.6 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| Que. | 100.1 | 104.5 | 103.6 | 86.8 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| Ont. | 97.7 | 104.5 | 100.5 | 83.1 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| Man. | 99.8 | 104.3 | 102.5 | 85.6 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| Sask. | 101.4 | 103.8 | 104.7 | 87.2 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| Alta. | 101.0 | 104.4 | 103.1 | 87.7 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| B.C. | 97.8 | 105.9 | 99.5 | 87.3 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| Y.T. | 103.7 | 112.3 | 100.7 | 109.5 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| N.W.T. | 105.6 | 103.3 | 105.8 | 108.5 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| Nvt. | 104.0 | 103.3 | 102.6 | 135.8 | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. | ||||||||
Migrants are much younger than the entire population
The population pyramid opposite highlights the differences in the age and sex structure of interprovincial migrants, new immigrants, non-permanent residents and the total population.Note On July 1, 2021, the proportion of the working-age population (aged 15 to 64) was considerably higher among immigrants (82.3%), interprovincial migrants (77.9%) and non-permanent residents (95.8%) compared with the total population (65.7%).
These groups also had a high concentration of young adults. A majority of non-permanent residents (71.9%) were between 18 and 34 years of age. In comparison, immigrants were slightly older, and less concentrated in some age groups, with 70.3% aged 20 to 45. Among interprovincial migrants, 61.8% were aged 20 to 50. Similarly, the average ages of interprovincial migrants (33.8 years), non-permanent residents (28.8 years) and immigrants (31.0 years) were lower than the average age of the Canadian population (41.7 years) on July 1, 2021.
Data table for Figure 2.2
This stacked column graph or population pyramid compares the age structure of total population and of non-permanent residents as of July 1st, 2021, as well as of interprovincial migrants and immigrants who migrated between July 1st, 2020 and June 30th, 2021, in relative value.
The left side shows males and the right side shows females.
The horizontal axis shows the population in relative value and the vertical axis shows age.
| Age | Interprovincial migrants | Non-permanent residents | Immigrants | Total population | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | Females | Males | Females | Males | Females | Males | Females | |
| per thousand | ||||||||
| 0 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| 1 | 7.5 | 6.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 5.0 | 4.7 |
| 2 | 7.3 | 6.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| 3 | 7.0 | 6.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 5.2 | 4.9 |
| 4 | 6.6 | 6.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| 5 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| 6 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| 7 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.2 |
| 8 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 6.4 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 10 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 11 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| 12 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| 13 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| 14 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 15 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| 16 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| 17 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| 18 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 8.3 | 7.6 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 19 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 17.1 | 15.6 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 5.8 | 5.5 |
| 20 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 30.8 | 26.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 6.4 | 5.9 |
| 21 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 36.0 | 29.0 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 6.2 |
| 22 | 10.2 | 10.2 | 35.6 | 27.5 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.1 |
| 23 | 11.7 | 11.6 | 36.5 | 26.7 | 10.9 | 9.9 | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| 24 | 13.3 | 13.2 | 36.1 | 26.0 | 13.0 | 13.3 | 6.9 | 6.3 |
| 25 | 15.0 | 14.7 | 34.3 | 25.2 | 17.8 | 18.7 | 7.1 | 6.5 |
| 26 | 16.7 | 16.3 | 31.4 | 22.9 | 23.3 | 24.1 | 7.2 | 6.6 |
| 27 | 18.3 | 17.8 | 26.8 | 19.8 | 26.1 | 26.0 | 7.1 | 6.6 |
| 28 | 19.0 | 18.4 | 23.3 | 17.4 | 26.3 | 27.0 | 7.2 | 6.7 |
| 29 | 18.3 | 17.6 | 19.7 | 14.9 | 24.4 | 24.9 | 7.2 | 6.9 |
| 30 | 16.8 | 15.9 | 17.3 | 13.0 | 22.4 | 23.6 | 7.3 | 7.0 |
| 31 | 15.1 | 14.3 | 15.7 | 11.6 | 20.4 | 21.6 | 7.4 | 7.1 |
| 32 | 13.4 | 12.4 | 14.1 | 10.3 | 18.7 | 18.8 | 7.2 | 6.9 |
| 33 | 12.0 | 11.0 | 12.8 | 9.2 | 16.9 | 17.7 | 7.0 | 6.8 |
| 34 | 11.1 | 10.1 | 12.1 | 8.4 | 15.3 | 15.2 | 7.0 | 6.9 |
| 35 | 10.5 | 9.7 | 11.4 | 7.9 | 14.3 | 14.0 | 7.1 | 7.0 |
| 36 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 10.6 | 7.5 | 13.1 | 12.6 | 7.1 | 7.0 |
| 37 | 9.1 | 8.4 | 9.9 | 6.9 | 12.0 | 11.3 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| 38 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 9.7 | 6.3 | 11.5 | 10.7 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
| 39 | 8.0 | 7.4 | 8.8 | 5.8 | 10.1 | 9.5 | 6.8 | 6.9 |
| 40 | 7.6 | 7.0 | 8.1 | 5.5 | 9.2 | 8.3 | 6.8 | 6.8 |
| 41 | 7.3 | 6.6 | 7.7 | 5.1 | 8.3 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 6.8 |
| 42 | 7.1 | 6.3 | 7.0 | 4.5 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| 43 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 4.1 | 6.3 | 5.5 | 6.3 | 6.5 |
| 44 | 6.4 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| 45 | 5.9 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| 46 | 5.5 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 6.2 | 6.4 |
| 47 | 5.1 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 6.1 | 6.2 |
| 48 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 6.1 | 6.2 |
| 49 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 50 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 6.4 | 6.5 |
| 51 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 6.4 | 6.5 |
| 52 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| 53 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 54 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| 55 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 6.6 | 6.7 |
| 56 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 7.0 | 7.1 |
| 57 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
| 58 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
| 59 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 7.0 | 7.1 |
| 60 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 7.0 | 7.2 |
| 61 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 6.9 | 7.1 |
| 62 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 6.7 | 6.9 |
| 63 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| 64 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 6.4 | 6.6 |
| 65 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 6.4 |
| 66 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 6.0 | 6.3 |
| 67 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 5.7 | 6.1 |
| 68 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 5.4 | 5.8 |
| 69 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 5.5 |
| 70 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| 71 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 4.8 | 5.2 |
| 72 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 4.6 | 5.0 |
| 73 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| 74 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 4.4 | 4.8 |
| 75 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
| 76 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 3.7 |
| 77 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 |
| 78 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.3 |
| 79 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.1 |
| 80 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.9 |
| 81 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.6 |
| 82 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
| 83 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| 84 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
| 85 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.9 |
| 86 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.8 |
| 87 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| 88 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.5 |
| 89 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| 90 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 1.2 |
| 91 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| 92 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| 93 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| 94 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| 95 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| 96 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| 97 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| 98 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| 99 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| 100 and older | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. | ||||||||
Immigrants stood out for having a demographic weight of children aged 0 to 14 (14.5%) similar to the total Canadian population (15.7%), particularly because of family migration. There is also a certain proportion of people aged 65 and older (3.2%), an influx explained specifically by the migration of immigrant parents. In comparison, 3.7% of non-permanent residents were aged 0 to 14 in 2021. Notably, the distinct age structure of non-permanent residents is because those who come to Canada mainly do so for work or to study, and are often young adults with no children. Moreover, interprovincial migration among those 65 and older (7.1%) was partly associated with retirement migrations.
Males outnumber females among non-permanent residents and interprovincial migrants
The sex structure also differs between each of the three subgroups. The number of males per 100 females was close to parity among immigrants (100.1 males per 100 females), slightly higher than that of the Canadian population (98.8 males per 100 females). However, males were overrepresented among non-permanent residents (134.8 males per 100 females) and, to a lesser degree, among interprovincial migrants (103.2 males per 100 females).
Data table for Chart 2.8
| Total | 0 to 14 years | 15 to 64 years | 65 years and older | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| number of males for 100 females | ||||
| Population | 98.8 | 104.7 | 101.5 | 85.5 |
| Interprovincial migrants | 103.2 | 105.6 | 104.7 | 83.9 |
| Immigrants | 100.1 | 105.7 | 100.0 | 80.1 |
| Non-permanent residents | 134.8 | 107.5 | 136.1 | 119.9 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography. | ||||
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