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  2. Life Expectancy at Birth

Indicators of Well-being in Canada


Health - Life Expectancy at Birth

Status

  1. Life Expectancy at Birth
  2. Self-rated Health
  3. Self-rated Mental Health
  4. Low Birth Weight

Life events

  1. Mortality from Leading Diseases

Key influences

  1. Smoking
  2. Obesity
  3. Physical Activity
  4. Regular Medical Doctor
  5. Patient Satisfaction
Definition and Methodology | Display High Contrast Charts

Relevance

Used worldwide, life expectancy at birth is a measure of a population's state of general health. Life expectancy at birth is often compared to health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) at birth to assess whether the added years of life are spent in good health.

Summary

  • National Picture — The Canadian life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years in 2009.
  • Gender — Life expectancy at birth was 78.8 years for men and 83.3 years for women in 2009. 
  • Registered Indians — Life expectancy at birth was 70.4 years for Registered Indian men in 2001 and 75.5 years for Registered Indian women.
  • Regions — In 2009, life expectancy at birth ranged from 75.1 years in the Territories (Yukon, Nortwest Territories and Nunavut) to 81.7 years in British Columbia.
  • International Picture — In 2009, for the G7 countries, Japan had the highest life expectancy at birth (83.0 years) while the United States had the lowest (78.5 years). Canada was tied with France for the third highest life expectancy at birth (81.1 years).       
  • Health Adjusted Life Expectancy - HALE - In 2007, men were expected to spend 88.0% (68.9 years) of their life in good health, compared to 85.8% (71.2 years) for women.

National Picture

The Canadian life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years in 2009. It has increased steadily since 1979, when it was 74.9 years.


This Chart contains data for Life expectancy at birth, Canada, 1979-2009. Information is available in table below 2009 = 81.1 2008 = 80.9 2007 = 80.7 2006 = 80.5 2005 = 80.2 2004 = 80.0 2003 = 79.8 2002 = 79.6 2001 = 79.3 2000 = 79.0 1999 = 78.8 1998 = 78.6 1997 = 78.4 1996 = 78.2 1995 = 78.0 1994 = 78.0 1993 = 77.9 1992 = 78.0 1991 = 77.8 1990 = 77.6 1989 = 77.3 1988 = 77.0 1987 = 76.9 1986 = 76.6 1985 = 76.4 1984 = 76.4 1983 = 76.1 1982 = 75.8 1981 = 75.6 1980 = 75.2 1979 = 74.9 (years) Life expectancy at birth, Canada, 1979-2009

Source: For 1979 to 1990, Statistics Canada. Life expectancy, abridged life table, at birth and at age 65, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories (Comparable Indicators), annual (years) (CANSIM Table 102-0025). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2008; for 1991 to 1993, Statistics Canada. Life expectancy, abridged life table, at birth and at age 65, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories, annual (years) (CANSIM Table 102-0511). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2008; and for 1994 to 2009, Statistics Canada. Life expectancy, at birth and at age 65, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories, annual (years) (CANSIM Table 102-0512). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2012.


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Life expectancy at birth, Canada, 1979-2009 (years)
1979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009
74.975.275.675.876.176.476.476.676.977.077.377.677.878.077.978.078.078.278.478.678.879.079.379.679.880.080.280.580.780.981.1

Gender

In 2009, life expectancy at birth was 78.8 years for men and 83.3 years for women. In 1979, women were expected to live 7.4 years longer than men. This difference has narrowed over time and was 4.5 years in 2009.


This Chart contains data for Life expectancy at birth, by gender, 1979-2009. Information is available in table below 2009 (Men) = 78.8 2008 (Men) = 78.5 2007 (Men) = 78.3 2006 (Men) = 78.0 2005 (Men) = 77.7 2004 (Men) = 77.5 2003 (Men) = 77.2 2002 (Men) = 77.0 2001 (Men) = 76.6 2000 (Men) = 76.3 1999 (Men) = 76.0 1998 (Men) = 75.7 1997 (Men) = 75.4 1996 (Men) = 75.2 1995 (Men) = 75.0 1994 (Men) = 74.9 1993 (Men) = 74.8 1992 (Men) = 74.8 1991 (Men) = 74.6 1990 (Men) = 74.4 1989 (Men) = 74.0 1988 (Men) = 73.6 1987 (Men) = 73.6 1986 (Men) = 73.3 1985 (Men) = 73.1 1984 (Men) = 73.1 1983 (Men) = 72.7 1982 (Men) = 72.4 1981 (Men) = 72.1 1980 (Men) = 71.7 1979 (Men) = 71.4 2009 (Women) = 83.3 2008 (Women) = 83.1 2007 (Women) = 83.0 2006 (Women) = 82.8 2005 (Women) = 82.5 2004 (Women) = 82.3 2003 (Women) = 82.2 2002 (Women) = 82.0 2001 (Women) = 81.9 2000 (Women) = 81.7 1999 (Women) = 81.5 1998 (Women) = 81.3 1997 (Women) = 81.2 1996 (Women) = 81.1 1995 (Women) = 81.0 1994 (Women) = 81.0 1993 (Women) = 80.9 1992 (Women) = 81.2 1991 (Women) = 80.9 1990 (Women) = 80.8 1989 (Women) = 80.6 1988 (Women) = 80.3 1987 (Women) = 80.3 1986 (Women) = 79.9 1985 (Women) = 79.9 1984 (Women) = 79.9 1983 (Women) = 79.7 1982 (Women) = 79.4 1981 (Women) = 79.3 1980 (Women) = 78.9 1979 (Women) = 78.8 (years) Life expectancy at birth, by gender, 1979-2009

Source: For 1979 to 1990, Statistics Canada. Life expectancy, abridged life table, at birth and at age 65, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories (Comparable Indicators), annual (years) (CANSIM Table 102-0025). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2008; for 1991 to 1993, Statistics Canada. Life expectancy, abridged life table, at birth and at age 65, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories, annual (years) (CANSIM Table 102-0511). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2008; and for 1994 to 2009, Statistics Canada. Life expectancy, at birth and at age 65, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories, annual (years) (CANSIM Table 102-0512). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2012.


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Life expectancy at birth, by gender, 1979-2009 (years)
1979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009
Men71.471.772.172.472.773.173.173.373.673.674.074.474.674.874.874.975.075.275.475.776.076.376.677.077.277.577.778.078.378.578.8
Women78.878.979.379.479.779.979.979.980.380.380.680.880.981.280.981.081.081.181.281.381.581.781.982.082.282.382.582.883.083.183.3

Registered Indians

Life expectancy at birth for Registered Indians increased from 60.9 years to 70.4 years for men, and from 68.0 years to 75.5 years for women between 1980 and 2001. Although it is improving, life expectancy for Registered Indians still lags behind that of the general Canadian population.


This Chart contains data for Life expectancy at birth, Registered Indians, 1980 and 2001. Information is available in table below 2001 (Women) = 75.5 2001 (Men) = 70.4 1980 (Women) = 68.0 1980 (Men) = 60.9 (years) Life expectancy at birth, Registered Indians, 1980 and 2001

Source: Indian Northern Affairs Canada. Basic Departmental Data 2004. Ottawa, INAC, 2005.


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Life expectancy at birth, Registered Indians, 1980 and 2001 (years)
19802001
Men60.970.4
Women68.075.5

Regions

In 2009, life expectancy at birth ranged from 75.1 years in the Territories (Yukon, the Nortwest Territories and Nunavut) to 81.7 years in British Columbia. Life expectancy at birth was higher in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia than the national average.


This Chart contains data for Life expectancy at birth, by region, 2009. Information is available in table below YT/NT/NU = 75.1 BC = 81.7 AB = 80.7 SK = 79.6 MB = 79.5 ON = 81.5 QC = 81.2 NB = 80.2 NS = 80.1 PE = 80.2 NL = 78.9 CAN = 81.1 (years) Life expectancy at birth, by region, 2009

Source: For 1979 to 1990, Statistics Canada. Life expectancy, abridged life table, at birth and at age 65, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories (Comparable Indicators), annual (years) (CANSIM Table 102-0025). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2008; for 1991 to 1993, Statistics Canada. Life expectancy, abridged life table, at birth and at age 65, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories, annual (years) (CANSIM Table 102-0511). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2008; and for 1994 to 2009, Statistics Canada. Life expectancy, at birth and at age 65, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories, annual (years) (CANSIM Table 102-0512). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2012.


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Life expectancy at birth, by region, 2009 (years)
CANNLPENSNBQCONMBSKABBCYT/NT/NU
81.178.980.280.180.281.281.579.579.680.781.775.1

International Picture

In 2009 for the G7 countries, Japan had the highest life expectancy at birth (83.0 years) while the United States had the lowest (78.5 years). Canada was tied with France for the third highest life expectancy at birth (81.1 years).


This Chart contains data for Life expectancy at birth, G7 countries, 2009. Information is available in table below United States = 78.5 United Kingdom = 80.4 Germany = 80.3 Canada = 81.1 France = 81.1 Italy = 82.0 Japan = 83.0 (years) Life expectancy at birth, G7 countries, 2009

Source: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). OECD Health data 2012, Selected data. OECD Statistics. Available from: OECD Health Data 2012 [cited September 27, 2012].


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Life expectancy at birth, G7 countries, 2009 (years)
JapanItalyFranceCanadaGermanyUnited KingdomUnited States
83.082.081.181.180.380.478.5

Health-adjusted Life Expectancy - HALE

In 2007, men were expected to spend 88.0% (68.9 years) of their life in good health, compared with 85.8% (71.2 years) for women. Although women had higher life expectancy, men were expected to spend a higher proportion of their life in good health.


This Chart contains data for Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and life expectancy at birth, by gender, 2000-2002 and 2005-2007. Information is available in table below Women (Life expectancy 2005-2007) = 83.0 Women (Life expectancy 2000-2002) = 82.0 Women (HALE 2005-2007) = 71.2 Women (HALE 2000-2002) = 69.9 Men (Life expectancy 2005-2007) = 78.3 Men (Life expectancy 2000-2002) = 77.0 Men (HALE 2005-2007) = 68.9 Men (HALE 2000-2002) = 67.5 (years) Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and life expectancy at birth, by gender, 2000-2002 and 2005-2007

Source: Statistics Canada. Health-adjusted life expectancy, at birth and at age 65, by sex and income group, Canada and provinces, occasional (years) (CANSIM Table 102-0122). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2012.


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and life expectancy at birth, by gender, 2000-2002 and 2005-2007 (years)
MenWomen
HALE 2000-200267.569.9
HALE 2005-200768.971.2
Life expectancy 2000-200277.082.0
Life expectancy 2005-200778.383.0

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Date Modified:
2013-05-19