Health-adjusted life expectancy, by sex^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Birth and Death Databases and population estimates; Canadian Community Health Survey; National Population Health Survey, Health institutions component; Residential Care Facilities Survey; Canadian Health Measures Survey; Census of population.

Life expectancy is the number of years a person would be expected to live, starting from birth (for life expectancy at birth) or at age 65 (for life expectancy at age 65), if the age- and sex-specific mortality rates for a given observation period (such as a calendar year) were held constant over the estimated life span.

In this table, the calculation of life expectancy is based on three consecutive years of death data and population estimates.

Health-adjusted life expectancy is a more comprehensive indicator than that of life expectancy because it introduces the concept of quality of life. Health-adjusted life expectancy is the number of years in full health that an individual can expect to live given the current morbidity and mortality conditions. Health-adjusted life expectancy uses the Health Utility Index (HUI) to weigh years lived in good health higher than years lived in poor health. Thus, health-adjusted life expectancy is not only a measure of quantity of life but also a measure of quality of life.

In the 2005-2007 period, the Health Utility Index (HUI) values are based upon a subgroup of respondents from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Consequently, the Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) results by income quintile should be used with caution.

Health adjusted life expectancy is calculated according to the methodology described in Health-adjusted life expectancy in Canada.

Life expectancy is calculated according to the methodology described in Methods for Constructing Life Tables for Canada, Provinces and Territories, catalogue no. 84-538. Abridged life tables were computed for all areas and income quintiles, that is by 5-year age groups and sex.

In the 2015-2017 period, the Health Utility Index (HUI) values are based upon respondents from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). As a result of the 2015 redesign, CCHS has a new collection strategy, a new sample design, and has undergone major content revisions. With all these factors taken together, caution should be taken when comparing data from previous cycles to data released for the 2015 cycle onwards. Consequently, the Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) results by income quintile should be used with caution.

To calculate quintiles, all the units of a population are ranked from lowest to highest by the value of their income. Then the ranked population is divided into five groups of equal numbers of units, called quintiles. The first quintile refers to the lowest fifth of incomes, while the fifth quartile contains the top fifth incomes.

The calculation of health-adjusted life expectancy and life expectancy by income quintile was based on the ecological approach. In this method, dissemination areas were assigned to an income quintile based on household income before tax from the 2006 Census (from 2000/2002 through 2010/2012) and 2016 Census (2015/2017).

The 95% confidence interval (CI) illustrates the degree of variability associated with a rate. Wide confidence intervals indicate high variability, thus, these rates should be interpreted and compared with due caution.

The following standard symbols are used in this Statistics Canada table: (..) for figures not available for a specific reference period and (...) for figures not applicable.

Life expectancy data is not available by income quintile for the territories. Consequently, health adjusted life expectancy for the territories is not available by income.

Due to small sample sizes of the Canadian Community Health Survey in the north, the Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) results should be used with caution.

Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) for 2015/2017 is not available for the territories. Data for the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) are collected yearly from a sample of approximately 65,000 respondents which allows for the presentation of health estimates for the ten provinces. Two-year combined data is required for breakdowns at the territorial level. The Health Utilities Index (HUI-3), a component of the HALE, was only collected for one year (2015) and so cannot be used for the territories.

The Canadian Community Health Survey is administered in Nunavut, using an alternative methodology that accommodates some of the operational difficulties inherent to remote locales. The 10 largest communities are Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay (Ikaluktutiak), Baker Lake (Qamani’tuaq), Arviat, Rankin Inlet, Kugluktuk, Pond Inlet, Cape Dorset (Kinngait), Pangnirtung and Igloolik.