Over the past two decades, the share of people over 65 years of age has been steadily increasing in Canada. Indeed, in 2000, 12.55 percent of the Canadian population were seniors, while in 2022, they represented 18.83 percent of the population. In the same year, there were approximately 3.95 million women and 3.38 million men over the age of 65 in Canada.

This statistic shows the total number of seniors in Canada in 2020, distinguished by province and age group. In 2020, 2.52 million people aged 65 years and over were living in Ontario.

Contained within the 5th Edition (1978 to 1995) of the National Atlas of Canada is a sheet that has 2 maps and an inset map. The first map shows proportion of total population in 65 to 74 and 75 plus age groups for each Census Division in 1986. An inset map shows the same information for the area from Windsor to Quebec. The second map of Canada shows proportion under 15 by Census Division. Population pyramids of age / sex distributions for 1961 and 1986 shown for each province, territory and for Canada.

Percentage of the population aged 0 to 24 in low income, by age group and type of living arrangement. This table is included in Section A: A portrait of the school-age population: Low income of the Pan Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP). PCEIP draws from a wide variety of data sources to provide information on the school-age population, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, transitions, education finance and labour market outcomes. The program presents indicators for all of Canada, the provinces, the territories, as well as selected international comparisons and comparisons over time. PCEIP is an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Education Statistics Council, a partnership between Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada that provides a set of statistical measures on education systems in Canada.

This table describes the proportion of the population with select underlying health conditions that are believed to increase the risk of negative outcomes following COVID-19 infection, including hospitalization and death. Estimates are based on data from the 2017-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey, and are provided for the Canadian adult (age 18 and older) population by sex, age and region of residence.

Actual value and historical data chart for Canada Population Ages 65 And Above Percent Of Total

Estimates and projections of population aged 0 to 29, by age group, Canada, provinces and territories. This table is included in Section A: A portrait of the school-age population: Population size of the Pan Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP). PCEIP draws from a wide variety of data sources to provide information on the school-age population, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, transitions, and labour market outcomes. The program presents indicators for all of Canada, the provinces, the territories, as well as selected international comparisons and comparisons over time. PCEIP is an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Education Statistics Council, a partnership between Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada that provides a set of statistical measures on education systems in Canada.

Distribution of the population aged 25 to 64 with total Aboriginal identity, by highest certificate, diploma or degree and age group, Canada. This table focuses on total aboriginal identity only. This table is included in Section D: Postsecondary education: Educational attainment of the population aged 25 to 64 of the Pan Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP). PCEIP draws from a wide variety of data sources to provide information on the school-age population, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, transitions, and labour market outcomes. The program presents indicators for all of Canada, the provinces, the territories, as well as selected international comparisons and comparisons over time. PCEIP is an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Education Statistics Council, a partnership between Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada that provides a set of statistical measures on education systems in Canada.

In order to better understand the public’s understanding and expectations of the retirement income system, the department of Human Resources and Skills Development commissioned Ipsos Reid to conduct quantitative opinion research among Canadians. This research was designed to provide a snapshot of current understanding of retirement-income related issues. Ipsos Reid fielded a questionnaire written by HRSDC and performed data analysis to provide a weighted representation of the general public. The methodology for this quantitative portion of this study involved a large-scale national telephone survey with a sample of 2,500 Canadians to allow for significant regional, demographic and attitudinal breakouts. A custom CATI telephone survey was conducted among Canadians aged 18 and older, sampled using random digit dialling. The average survey length was 10 minutes.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the data for the Canadian, OK population pyramid, which represents the Canadian population distribution across age and gender, using estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. It lists the male and female population for each age group, along with the total population for those age groups. Higher numbers at the bottom of the table suggest population growth, whereas higher numbers at the top indicate declining birth rates. Furthermore, the dataset can be utilized to understand the youth dependency ratio, old-age dependency ratio, total dependency ratio, and potential support ratio.

Key observations

• Youth dependency ratio, which is the number of children aged 0-14 per 100 persons aged 15-64, for Canadian, OK, is 50.4.
• Old-age dependency ratio, which is the number of persons aged 65 or over per 100 persons aged 15-64, for Canadian, OK, is 23.7.
• Total dependency ratio for Canadian, OK is 74.1.
• Potential support ratio, which is the number of youth (working age population) per elderly, for Canadian, OK is 4.2.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group for the Canadian population analysis. Total expected values are 18 and are define above in the age groups section.
• Population (Male): The male population in the Canadian for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Population (Female): The female population in the Canadian for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Total Population: The total population of the Canadian for the selected age group is shown in the following column.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Canadian Population by Age. You can refer the same here

Estimated number of persons on July 1, by 5-year age groups and gender, and median age, for Canada, provinces and territories.

Population aged 15 years and older providing care to a family member or friend with a long-term illness, disability or aging needs, by sex and main activity of respondent, 2012.

Graph and download economic data for Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for Canada (SPPOPDPNDOLCAN) from 1960 to 2024 about 64 years +, working-age, ratio, Canada, and population.

Distribution of the population aged 25 to 64, by sex and highest certificate, diploma or degree, Canada, provinces and territories. This table is included in Section D: Postsecondary education: Educational attainment of the population aged 25 to 64 of the Pan Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP). PCEIP draws from a wide variety of data sources to provide information on the school-age population, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, transitions, and labour market outcomes. The program presents indicators for all of Canada, the provinces, the territories, as well as selected international comparisons and comparisons over time. PCEIP is an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Education Statistics Council, a partnership between Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada that provides a set of statistical measures on education systems in Canada.

Contained within the 5th Edition (1978 to 1995) of the National Atlas of Canada is a sheet that has 2 maps and an inset map. The first map shows proportion of total population in 65 to 74 and 75 plus age groups for each Census Division in 1986. An inset map shows the same information for the area from Windsor to Quebec. The second map of Canada shows proportion under 15 by Census Division. Population pyramids of age / sex distributions for 1961 and 1986 shown for each province, territory and for Canada.

Canada CA: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Old data was reported at 29.628 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 28.912 % for 2022. Canada CA: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Old data is updated yearly, averaging 16.946 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.628 % in 2023 and a record low of 12.743 % in 1971. Canada CA: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Old data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio, old, is the ratio of older dependents--people older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.;World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;Weighted average;

Among the elderly in Ontario, 20 percent had experienced emotional distress such as anxiety or great sadness which they found difficult to cope with by themselves within the past year, according to a survey from 2024. This statistic shows the percentage of seniors in Canada that had experienced emotional distress within the past 12 months as of 2024, by province.

Canada CA: Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 7,762,172.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,375,348.000 Person for 2022. Canada CA: Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 3,240,863.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,762,172.000 Person in 2023 and a record low of 1,364,068.000 Person in 1960. Canada CA: Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.;World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;Sum;

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had unprecedented consequences for Canada's aging population with the majority of COVID-19 deaths (approximately 80% during 2020) occurring among adults aged 65 years and older. Both advanced age and underlying chronic diseases and conditions contribute to these severe outcomes. Excess mortality refers to additional mortality above the expected level (based on mortality in the same period in the preceding year or averaged over several preceding years in the same population). This measure allows for the measurement of death directly and indirectly related to COVID-19 and provides a summary measure of its whole system impact in addition to its impact on mortality.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for Canada (SPPOP65UPTOZSCAN) from 1960 to 2024 about 65-years +, Canada, and population.