Average number of years of schooling

According to the 1996 Census, the population aged 25 to 54 had on average 13.2 years of schooling.

Years of schooling measures the number of grades completed at elementary, secondary, university and non-university levels.

Most major urban centres have high average number of years of schooling

In 1996, all five health regions in high-density metropolitan areas (peer group A) had an average number of years of schooling greater than the national average of 13.2 years. These ranged from 13.6 years of schooling on average in Région de Montréal-Centre to 14.3 years in Vancouver.

Seven of the eight health regions in large urban centres (peer group B) had an average number of years of schooling above the national average that year. Where above-average, they ranged from 13.6 years of schooling in Peel Public Health Unit, Simon Fraser and Capital (Edmonton) Health Authority to 14.9 years in the Ottawa-Carleton Public Health Unit. The average number of years of schooling was equal to the national figure in South Fraser Valley.

Lower-than-average years of schooling in most rural and northern health regions

In 1996, each of the health regions of Far Northeastern Canada (peer group C) had an average number of years of schooling below the national average of 13.2 years. The averages ranged from 10.0 years of schooling in Région des Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James to 11.2 years in Burntwood. Far Northeastern Canada, peer group C, is made up of five health regions in the Far North of Central and Eastern Canada: Northern Health Services Branch (Saskatchewan), Burntwood (Manitoba), Nunavut, Région du Nunavik, and Région des Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James (both in Quebec).

All but one of the health regions in Far Northwestern Canada (peer group F) had an average number of years of schooling below the national average in 1996. These below-average number of years of schooling ranged from 10.9 years in Northwestern Regional Health Authority up to 12.9 years in the Northern Lights Regional Health Authority. The exception was the Yukon Territory, where the average number of years of schooling was 13.4. Far Northwestern Canada, peer group F, is comprised of health regions in Northern Canada, mainly in the Prairies, British Columbia and the territories.

Each of the health regions in a large part of rural Canada, predominantly within the prairies, Ontario and Atlantic Canada (peer groups D, E and G) also had an average number of years of schooling that fell below the national average of 13.2 years in 1996.

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