Census 2016: For the 1st time, more seniors than children living in Canada
Posted on May 5, 2017

By Leslie Young National Online Journalist, Investigative  

For the first time in census history, there are more seniors than children living in Canada.

According to results from the 2016 census released Wednesday, there were 5.9 million people aged 65 and older in Canada – just slightly more than the country’s 5.8 million children under 14.

Statistics Canada attributes this, in part, to the post-war baby boom. As the first group of baby boomers turned 65 and entered their senior years, they had a disproportionate impact on Canadian demographics. Canada’s low fertility rates also contributed, as did the fact that Canadians are living longer than ever.

“The reason is basically that the population has been aging in Canada for a number of years now and the fertility level is fairly low, below replacement levels,” said Andre Lebel, a demographer with Statistics Canada