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Chart 2: Canadian population is aging
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What the chart shows
The proportion of those 65 and over is increasing as the population ages.
The proportion of the population aged 65 and over will triple from 1976 to 2051.
The proportion of those aged 80 and over is growing particularly fast, doubling every 25 years in the same time span.
Discussion points
- There will be a greater need for elder care, both in the home and in institutions.
- Since women tend to live longer than men, there will be more elderly women living alone.
- The affordability of social programs and health services will be affected by the aging population.
Additional Statistics Canada resources
General Social Survey: Time use patterns of older Canadians, The Daily, July 26, 2006
Residential care facilities, The Daily, June 2, 2006
Health Reports: Predictors of death in seniors, The Daily, February 9, 2006
Population projections, The Daily, December 15, 2005
General Social Survey: Social support and aging, The Daily, September 2, 2003
Profile of the Canadian population by age and sex: Canada ages, Highlights from the 2001 Census
