Statistics Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada
Skip to content |

Common menu bar links

Home > Publications > 95-632-XWE > Selected Historical Data from the Census of Agriculture >

Page content follows

Section 6 - Characteristics of farm operators, Canada and provinces: census years 1991 to 2006

  • Canada
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Nova Scotia
  • New Brunswick
  • Quebec

  • Ontario
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia

    • Canada

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    Canada 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 77,910 61,055 39,915 29,920 19.9 15.8 11.5 9.1
    35 to 54 years 187,585 200,170 185,570 164,160 48.0 51.9 53.6 50.2
    55 years and over 125,380 124,380 120,705 132,975 32.1 32.3 34.9 40.7
    Total 390,875 385,605 346,190 327,055 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 47.5 48.4 49.9 52.0 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Newfoundland and Labrador

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    Newfoundland and Labrador 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 135 120 50 45 15.2 12.9 6.4 6.3
    35 to 54 years 530 555 485 390 59.6 59.7 62.2 54.5
    55 years and over 225 255 245 280 25.3 27.4 31.4 39.2
    Total 890 930 780 715 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 46.2 47.7 50.5 52.3 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Prince Edward Island

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    Prince Edward Island 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 630 490 265 210 20.1 16.7 10.8 9.0
    35 to 54 years 1,460 1,520 1,390 1,205 46.6 51.8 56.6 51.8
    55 years and over 1,040 925 800 910 33.2 31.5 32.6 39.1
    Total 3,130 2,935 2,455 2,325 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 47.6 48.0 49.3 51.4 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Nova Scotia

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    Nova Scotia 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 870 765 480 360 16.8 13.4 9.4 7.1
    35 to 54 years 2,610 3,080 2,675 2,425 50.5 53.8 52.6 47.6
    55 years and over 1,690 1,880 1,930 2,310 32.7 32.8 38.0 45.3
    Total 5,170 5,725 5,085 5,095 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 48.3 49.1 51.0 53.2 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    New Brunswick

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    New Brunswick 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 695 525 350 270 16.4 12.1 9.0 7.3
    35 to 54 years 2,225 2,355 2,135 1,815 52.5 54.3 54.8 49.2
    55 years and over 1,320 1,460 1,410 1,605 31.1 33.6 36.2 43.5
    Total 4,240 4,340 3,895 3,690 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 48.1 49.4 51.0 52.8 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Quebec

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    Quebec 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 13,475 10,755 6,505 5,160 25.3 20.2 13.7 11.3
    35 to 54 years 27,905 30,400 28,625 25,640 52.3 57.2 60.4 56.4
    55 years and over 11,970 12,000 12,255 14,685 22.4 22.6 25.9 32.3
    Total 53,350 53,155 47,385 45,470 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 44.3 45.2 47.0 49.3 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Ontario

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    Ontario 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 18,440 13,835 8,975 7,070 18.3 14.3 10.6 8.6
    35 to 54 years 48,005 48,995 44,150 40,280 47.6 50.5 51.9 48.9
    55 years and over 34,470 34,105 31,885 35,065 34.2 35.2 37.5 42.5
    Total 100,915 96,935 85,010 82,415 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 48.3 49.4 50.7 52.6 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Manitoba

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    Manitoba 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 7,190 5,905 3,860 2,850 20.7 17.8 13.4 10.7
    35 to 54 years 16,290 17,015 15,475 13,545 46.8 51.2 53.8 50.9
    55 years and over 11,300 10,335 9,455 10,230 32.5 31.1 32.8 38.4
    Total 34,780 33,255 28,790 26,625 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 47.4 47.7 49.0 51.2 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Saskatchewan

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    Saskatchewan 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 15,635 11,400 8,135 5,910 20.0 15.6 12.3 10.0
    35 to 54 years 34,800 35,785 33,850 28,360 44.6 49.1 51.1 47.9
    55 years and over 27,590 25,740 24,290 24,915 35.4 35.3 36.7 42.1
    Total 78,025 72,925 66,275 59,185 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 48.2 49.2 50.5 52.6 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Alberta

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    Alberta 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 16,660 13,485 8,900 6,290 20.5 16.4 11.7 8.8
    35 to 54 years 38,845 42,315 40,425 35,935 47.7 51.3 53.1 50.1
    55 years and over 25,910 26,655 26,875 29,440 31.8 32.3 35.3 41.1
    Total 81,415 82,455 76,200 71,665 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 47.3 48.2 49.9 52.2 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    British Columbia

    Table 6.2
    Number and percentage distribution of farm operators by age, Canada and provinces, census years 1991 to 2006
    British Columbia 1991 1996 2001 2006 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Age of farm operators number of operators percentage distribution
    Under 35 years 4,180 3,780 2,400 1,770 14.4 11.5 7.9 5.9
    35 to 54 years 14,910 18,145 16,360 14,555 51.5 55.1 54.0 48.7
    55 years and over 9,865 11,025 11,555 13,540 34.1 33.5 38.1 45.3
    Total 28,955 32,950 30,315 29,865 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
    Average age of farm operators 48.9 49.4 51.4 53.6 ... ... ... ...

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    Since 1991, up to three farm operators could be reported per farm. Therefore the total number of operators is higher than the total number of farms.

    For the definition of farm operator, refer to Census terms.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.
    Date Modified: 2009-01-30

    Top of Page
    Important Notices