Catalogue no. 98-200-X2016004 ISBN 978-0-660-08238-7 Census in Brief A portrait of the population aged 85 and older in 2016 in Canada Census of Population, 2016 Release date: May 3, 2017 How to obtain more information For information about this product or the wide range of services and data available from Statistics Canada, visit our website, www.statcan.gc.ca. You can also contact us by email at [email protected] telephone, from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the following numbers: • Statistical Information Service 1-800-263-1136 • National telecommunications device for the hearing impaired 1-800-363-7629 • Fax line 1-514-283-9350 Depository Services Program • Inquiries line 1-800-635-7943 • Fax line 1-800-565-7757 Standards of service to the public Standard table symbols Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, The following symbols are used in Statistics Canada reliable and courteous manner. 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Accurate and timely statistical information could not F too unreliable to be published be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill. * significantly different from reference category (p < 0.05) Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada © Minister of Industry, 2017 All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement. An HTML version is also available. Cette publication est aussi disponible en français. A portrait of the population aged 85 and older in 2016 in Canada Highlights • In 2016, there were over three-quarters of a million (770,780) people aged 85 and older living in Canada, representing 2.2% of the Canadian population overall and about 13.0% of the population aged 65 and older. • The number of people aged 85 and older grew by 19.4% over the period from 2011 to 2016, nearly four times the rate for the overall Canadian population. The centenarian population (i.e., those aged 100 and older) grew even faster, by 41.3%, to reach 8,230 people, making it the fastest-growing age group between 2011 and 2016. • There were nearly two women for every man aged 85 and older, which mostly reflects the differences in life expectancy between the sexes. Among centenarians, this ratio is higher, at five women for every man. • In 2016, one-third (32.0%) of people aged 85 and older lived in collective dwellings such as nursing homes and residences for senior citizens. This proportion grew to two-thirds (66.6%) among centenarians. • Many municipalities with a high proportion of people aged 85 and older in 2016 were located in British Columbia. Introduction Reaching 85 years of age is quite an accomplishment: after all, life expectancy in Canada is currently about 80 years among men and 84 years among women. As this article describes, more Canadians than ever are living to the age of 85 and beyond. Given the reality of population aging in Canada, knowing more about the older population is important, notably because of increased needs for health care and other services. The population aged 85 and older contribute in many ways to society—for example, by sharing their wisdom, acting as role models and fostering family relationships across generations. At the same time, a significant share of the population aged 85 and older lives with activity limitations and has particular needs related to health and community care, housing, income security, and transportation. Regions in Canada that have a larger proportion of people aged 85 and older than others will need to consider and deliver different services than regions with younger populations. A key purpose of the census is to provide information on small population groups, both in terms of geography and in terms of demographic characteristics. This article focuses on older populations in Canada—first, the population aged 85 and older, then centenarians—and describes some of their characteristics, such as age and sex distribution, and place of residence. People aged 85 and older: A fast-growing population Between 2011 and 2016, the number of people aged 85 and older grew by 19.4%, nearly four times the rate for the overall Canadian population, which grew by 5.0% during this period. As a result, over three-quarters of a million (770,780) people aged 85 and older were enumerated in the 2016 Census—a record high, and more than seven times the number enumerated in 1966. In 2016, people aged 85 and older represented 2.2% of the Canadian population. Japan is currently the country with the highest share of people aged 85 and older, with about 4.0% of its total population in this age group. Statistics Canada – Catalogue no. 98-200-X2016004 1 A portrait of the population aged 85 and older in 2016 in Canada In Canada, this population will likely continue to increase rapidly in coming decades because life expectancy is increasing and because the large baby boomer cohorts (people born between 1946 and 1965) will reach age 85 starting in 2031. By 2051, when the youngest baby boomers reach age 85, slightly less than 2.7 million people, or 5.7% of the population in Canada, will likely be aged 85 and older1 (Chart 1). Chart 1 Population aged 85 and older, Canada, 1966 to 2051 number 3,000,000 Observed Projected 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 0 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031 2036 2041 2046 2051 Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1966 to 2016. Data for 2021 to 2061 are population projections from the M1 medium- growth scenario of national projections. The projection data have as a base population the population estimates based on the 2011 Census, adjusted for net undercoverage. For more information, see the report Population Projections for Canada (2013 to 2063), Provinces and Territories (2013 to 2038) (Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 91-520-X). 1. Statistics Canada. Population Projections for Canada (2013-2063), Provinces and Territories (2013-2038) (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/91- 520-x/91-520-x2014001-eng.htm). Catalogue no. 91-520-X. Medium-growth scenario (M1). Other scenarios are available and would provide slightly different results. 2 Statistics Canada – Catalogue no. 98-200-X2016004 A portrait of the population aged 85 and older in 2016 in Canada One in eight seniors is aged 85 or older In 2016, one out of eight people aged 65 and older (13.0%) was actually aged 85 or older. By comparison, in 1966, this proportion was 6.7%, half the proportion of 2016. The share of people aged 85 and older in the senior population has been increasing for many decades up to 2011, mostly as a result of increased life expectancy during this period. Chart 2 shows the trend between 1966 and 2016 and the projected trend to 2051. Between 2016 and 2026, the share of those aged 85 and older in the senior population is projected to decrease slightly because of the influx of large baby boomer cohorts reaching the ages of 65 to 74. Beginning in 2031, the share of the population aged 85 and older will increase rapidly again as the boomer cohorts start to leave the 65-to-84 age group and move into the 85-and-older age group. Close to one in four seniors is likely to be aged 85 or older by 2051. Chart 2 Proportion of the population aged 65 and older that is aged 85 and older, Canada, 1966 to 2051 percent 25 Observed Projected 20 15 10 5 0 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031 2036 2041 2046 2051 Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1966 to 2016. Data for 2021 to 2061 are population projections from the M1 medium- growth scenario of national projections. The projection data have as a base population the population estimates based on the 2011 Census, adjusted for net undercoverage. For more information, see the report Population Projections for Canada (2013 to 2063), Provinces and Territories (2013 to 2038) (Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 91-520-X). The ratio of women to men among the 85-and-older age group is decreasing In 2016, there were slightly fewer than two women for every man aged 85 and older. In 2001, this ratio was over two women for every man aged 85 and older. This decreasing trend over the last 15 years is mostly related to higher gains in life expectancy among men than women, which means that the gap in life expectancy between men and women is narrowing. Statistics Canada – Catalogue no. 98-200-X2016004 3 A portrait of the population aged 85 and older in 2016 in Canada More than 8,000 centenarians counted in the census Of all age groups, centenarians were the fastest growing between 2011 and 2016, with a growth of 41.3% during this period.