Table 11
Changes, by category, in self-rated health between 1994/1995 and 2004/2005, by age group, Canada

                                            Persons who rated their health as "good", "very good" or "excellent" in:
1996/1997 1998/1999 2000/2001 2002/2003 2004/2005
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Persons who rated their health as "good", "very good" or "excellent" in 1994/1995  
Total, 12 years and over 20,215,243 86.0 19,491,422 85.6 18,700,073 84.0 18,240,270 83.8 18,013,752 84.5
12 to 19 years 3,161,757 93.1 3,157,887 93.6 3,157,634 92.5 3,090,227 91.1 3,095,241 92.5
20 to 34 years 5,948,873 92.4 5,714,100 91.7 5,638,975 91.0 5,564,925 90.4 5,590,770 90.5
35 to 44 years 4,412,998 90.4 4,335,308 89.2 4,209,132 87.5 4,169,811 86.6 4,171,484 86.6
45 to 64 years 4,714,134 80.4 4,554,759 79.7 4,286,729 76.4 4,257,720 77.6 4,130,518 77.4
65 years and over 1,977,481 67.2 1,729,368 66.8 1,407,602 63.2 1,157,586 60.2 1,025,739 62.0
Persons who rated their health as "fair" or "poor" in 1994/1995  
Total, 12 years and over 1,097,168 4.7 1,108,960 4.9 1,009,767 4.5 898,019 4.1 924,870 4.3
12 to 19 years 129,364 E 3.8 E 116,035 E 3.4 E 126,732 E 3.7 E 99,689 E 2.9 E 118,849 E 3.6 E
20 to 34 years 195,246 3.0 194,382 3.1 203,432 3.3 196,305 3.2 211,532 3.4
35 to 44 years 158,773 3.3 174,681 3.6 168,226 3.5 143,114 3.0 138,355 E 2.9 E
45 to 64 years 328,723 5.6 365,594 6.4 348,645 6.2 321,526 5.9 346,749 6.5
65 years and over 285,062 9.7 258,268 10.0 162,732 7.3 137,386 7.1 109,384 6.6
                                            Persons who rated their health as "fair" or "poor" in:
1996/1997 1998/1999 2000/2001 2002/2003 2004/2005
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Persons who rated their health as "good", "very good" or "excellent" in 1994/1995  
Total, 12 years and over 1,057,685 4.5 1,230,067 5.4 1,705,003 7.7 1,797,940 8.3 1,695,979 8.0
12 to 19 years 92,454 E 2.7 E 88,959 E 2.6 E 114,220 E 3.3 E 162,670 E 4.8 E 104,844 E 3.1 E
20 to 34 years 187,886 2.9 222,948 3.6 271,502 4.4 297,135 4.8 296,852 4.8
35 to 44 years 165,081 3.4 207,407 4.3 322,180 6.7 352,081 7.3 371,469 7.7
45 to 64 years 345,730 5.9 407,608 7.1 581,710 10.4 557,688 10.2 548,197 10.3
65 years and over 266,535 9.1 303,145 11.7 415,391 18.6 428,367 22.3 374,617 22.7
Persons who rated their health as "fair" or "poor" in 1994/1995  
Total, 12 years and over 1,148,631 4.9 942,957 4.1 841,568 3.8 835,572 3.8 695,598 3.3
12 to 19 years F F F F F F F F F F
20 to 34 years 103,737 E 1.6 E 102,081 E 1.6 E 80,050 E 1.3 E 99,667 E 1.6 E 78,228 E 1.3 E
35 to 44 years 145,043 3.0 144,069 3.0 113,105 2.4 147,718 3.1 134,292 E 2.8 E
45 to 64 years 475,307 8.1 388,335 6.8 391,098 7.0 347,989 6.3 313,079 5.9
65 years and over 412,452 14.0 297,504 11.5 242,846 10.9 199,408 10.4 143,997 8.7
1. The table shows the changes in self-rated health of the 1994/1995 household population aged 12 and over every 2 years, at each cycle of the National Population Health Survey. Population, age, sex, Canada and province are based on the first survey cycle (cycle 1) in 1994/1995.
2. The table excludes persons who died or who were institutionalized after cycle 1 survey interview in 1994/1995. Estimated number of persons who have died: 287 persons after cycle 2, 599 persons after cycle 3, 957 persons after cycle 4, 1,279 persons after cycle 5 and 1,640 persons after cycle 6. These data are not all confirmed yet with the Canadian Vital Statistics Database. Persons living in an institution are excluded because they are not asked certain questions. Estimated number of persons who have been institutionalized: 62 persons at cycle 2, 114 persons at cycle 3, 135 persons at cycle 4, 161 persons at cycle 5 and 144 persons at cycle 6.
3. The table also excludes children under 12 and non-response (missing values), that is, "not applicable", "don't know", "refusal" and "not stated".
4. No estimates for self-rated health are provided for 1994/1995; what is shown instead are the changes in self-rated health. For estimates on self-rated health in 1994/1995, please refer to Health Indicators CANSIM table 104-0022, "Health status, Well-being".
5. Percentages are based on the population with a specific characteristic (one category) in a given cycle as the numerator divided by the total population in 1994/1995 having all possible characteristics (all categories) as the denominator, excluding missing values.
6. Bootstrapping techniques were used to produce the coefficient of variation (CV) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
7. Data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 16.6% to 33.3% are identified by an (E) and should be interpreted with caution.
8. Data with a coefficient of variation (CV) greater than 33.3% were suppressed (F) due to extreme sampling variability.
9. Changes in self-rated health in 1996/1997 of the 1994/1995 population are based on the 1996/1997 longitudinal full data file. This file contains all panel members with a complete (full) response in cycle 1 (1994/1995) and cycle 2 (1996/1997). Number of respondents for this table (excluding missing values): 13,427.
10. Changes in self-rated health in 1998/1999 of the 1994/1995 population are based on the 1998/1999 longitudinal full data file. This file contains all panel members with a complete (full) response in cycle 1 (1994/1995), cycle 2 (1996/1997) and cycle 3 (1998/1999). Number of respondents for this table (excluding missing values): 12,129.
11. Changes in self-rated health in 2000/2001 of the 1994/1995 population are based on the 2000/2001 longitudinal full cycle 1 and cycle 4 subset of respondents (from the 2000/2001 longitudinal data file). It contains all panel members with a complete (full) response in cycle 1 (1994/1995) and cycle 4 (2000/2001), regardless of their response pattern in cycle 2 (1996/1997) and cycle 3 (1998/1999). Number of respondents for this table (excluding missing values): 11,439.
12. Changes in self-rated health of the 1994/1995 population in 2002/2003 are based on the 2002/2003 longitudinal full cycle 1 and cycle 5 subset of respondents (from 2002/2003 longitudinal data file). This subset contains all panel members with a complete (full) response in cycle 1 (1994/1995) and cycle 5 (2002/2003), regardless of their response pattern in cycle 2 (1996/1997), cycle 3 (1998/1999) and cycle 4 (2000/2001). Number of respondents for this table (excluding missing values): 10,438.
13. Changes in self-rated health of the 1994/1995 population in 2004/2005 are based on the 2004/2005 longitudinal full cycle 1 and cycle 6 subset of respondents (from 2004/2005 longitudinal data file). This subset contains all panel members with a complete (full) response in cycle 1 (1994/1995) and cycle 6 (2004/2005), regardless of their response pattern in cycle 2 (1996/1997), cycle 3 (1998/1999), cycle 4 (2000/2001) and cycle 5 (2002/2003). Number of respondents for this table (excluding missing values): 9,657.
Note(s): When comparing estimates, it is important to use confidence intervals to determine if differences between values are statistically significant. Confidence intervals describe sampling variability and give an indication of the precision of a given estimate. Please note that confidence intervals and coefficient of variations are provided in the CANSIM tables.
Source(s): Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1996/1997, 1998/1999, 2000/2001, 2002/2003 and 2004/2005 longitudinal data files (CANSIM table 104-7018).