Life expectancy at birth, by sex, Canada, 1956 to 2005

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This is a line chart that illustrates life expectancy at birth in Canada from 1921 to 2005.

The Y axis is measured by years of life and increases by increments of 5 from 58 to 88.

The X axis is measured in years and increases by increments of 5 from 1921 to 2005.

The top line represents life expectancy at birth for females and the bottom line represents life expectancy at birth for males.

For females, life expectancy at birth was 60.6 in 1921, increasing to 62.3 in 1926 and decreasing to 62.1 in 1931.  Thereafter, life expectancy for females has increased to 63.7 in 1936, 66.3 in 1941, 68.6 in 1946, 70.9 in 1951, 73.0 in 1956, 74.3 in 1961, 75.3 in 1966, 76.5 in 1971, 77.7 in 1976, 79.1 in 1981, 80.0 in 1986, 80.9 in 1991, 81.2 in 1996, 82.1 in 2001 and 82.7 in 2005.

For males, life expectancy at birth was 58.8 in 1921, increasing to 60.5 in 1926 and decreasing to 60.0 in 1931.  Thereafter, life expectancy for males has increased to 61.3 in 1936, 63.0 in 1941, 65.1 in 1946, 66.4 in 1951, 67.7 in 1956, 68.4 in 1961, 68.7 in 1966, 69.4 in 1971, 70.3 in 1976, 71.9 in 1981, 73.3 in 1986, 74.6 in 1991, 75.5 in 1996, 77.0 in 2001, 78.0 in 2005.

Sources: 1921 to 1981: Nagnur D.  Longevity and Historical Life Tables, 1921 to 1981 (Abridged), Statistics Canada, Catalogue 98-506, 1986;
1986: Duchesne D, Nault F, Gilmour H, Wilkins R.  Vital Statistics Compendium 1996, Statistics Canada, Catalogue 84-214, 1999;
1991 to 2005: CANSIM Table, Health-adjusted life expectancy, at birth and at age 65, by sex and income group, Canada and provinces, occasional (years)., Life expectancy, abridged life table, at birth and at age 65, by sex, Canada, provinces and territories, annual.