Seniors to Outnumber Children in Canada in Next Decade

Canada’s population is rapidly aging, with StatsCan projecting seniors According to Statistics Canada’s latest report on population growth, the country’s population is expected to increase by as much as 14 million by 2036 – from its current 33.7 million to between 40.1 million and 47.7 million people.

StatsCan projects senior citizens will account for nearly a quarter of the population by 2036, nearly double the 13.9% they accounted for in 2009. In fact, seniors are expected to surpass the number of children aged 14 or under for the first time ever between 2015 and 2021.

The report also shows that immigration levels represent the greatest share of the projected population increase, with Canada receiving as many as 333,600 immigrants a year by 2036, compared with 252,500 in 2010.

Here is a complete breakdown of StatsCan’s projected population growth by province:

• Ontario’s population is expected to increase from nearly 13.1 million in 2009 to between 16.1 million and 19.4 million in 2036.

• Quebec’s population would increase from 7.8 million in 2009 to between 8.6 million and 10 million in 2036.

• British Columbia’s population would increase from nearly 4.5 million in 2009 to between 5.8 million and 7.1 million in 2036.

• Alberta’s population would increase from 3.7 million in 2009 to between 4.6 million to 5.4 million in 2036.

• Manitoba’s population would increase from 1.2 million in 2009 to between 1.4 million to 1.7 million in 2036.

• Saskatchewan’s population would increase from 1 million in 2009 to between 1.1 million to nearly 1.3 million 2036.

• Nova Scotia’s population would increase from 938,000 in 2009 to between 987,000 and 1.1 million in 2036.

• New Brunswick’s population would increase from 750,000 in 2009 to between 772,000 and 874,000 in 2036.

• Newfoundland and Labrador’s population could decrease from nearly 509,000 in 2009 to 483,000 in 2036. But medium to high growth projections could result in an increase of anywhere from 514,000 to 545,000 in 2036.

• Prince Edward Island’s population would increase from 141,000 in 2009 to between 161,000 and 188,000 in 2036.

• The population of the Northwest Territories would increase from 43,000 in 2009 to between 49,000 and 57,000 in 2036.

• Yukon’s population would increase from nearly 34,000 in 2009 to between 36,000 and 42,000 in 2036.

• Nunavut’s population would increase from 32,000 in 2009 to between 36,000 and 44,000 in 2036.