Canadian Life Expectancy by Province and Territory
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 12 May 2017 - Updated: 30 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Data & Statistical Analysis
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This chart provides statistical data on life expectancy rates across Canada's provinces and territories, broken down by gender and measured both at birth and at age 65. The information is authoritative because it draws from official Statistics Canada data from 2007-2009, offering researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers reliable demographic benchmarks for understanding regional health disparities. The data proves particularly valuable for seniors and people with disabilities who may be planning long-term care needs, relocating to different regions, or advocating for improved healthcare access in areas with lower life expectancy rates. By highlighting the significant variations between provinces - with British Columbia showing the highest life expectancy and northern territories the lowest - the chart helps identify regions where targeted public health interventions might be most needed and allows individuals to make informed decisions about where they live and what resources they may require as they age.
At a Glance
- 1 - British Columbia ranks highest for both men and women at 81.7 years. Canada's three northern territories record the lowest at 75.1 years.
- 2 - The national average life expectancy has now reached 81.1 years. Men still trail women, though that gap has narrowed over the past decade.
- 3 - At age 65, Canadians can expect a further 20.2 years of life on average. British Columbia again leads with an extra 20.7 years at that age.
- 4 - In Montreal, men from wealthier areas such as Lac-Saint-Louis live about six years longer than those in lower income suburbs like Pointe-Saint-Charles. Workplace safety, suicide rates, infant mortality and healthcare access all shape these provincial differences.
Topic Definition
- Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy
Health-adjusted life expectancy is a measure that goes beyond counting years of life by folding in the quality of those years, estimating how many years a person can expect to live in full health under current morbidity and mortality conditions. It builds on standard life expectancy, which simply projects how long someone would live if the age and sex-specific death rates of a given period stayed constant, by weighting time spent in good health more heavily than time spent in poor health. To do this it draws on the Health Utility Index, a tool that scores health states so that years lived with illness or disability count for less than years lived in good condition. The result is a single indicator that captures both the quantity and the quality of life, giving researchers and health planners a fuller picture of population wellbeing than longevity figures alone can offer.
Overview
The average life expectancy of Canadians continues to rise, and has now reached 81.1 years. Canadian males generally have a lower life expectancy than women, however the gap has narrowed over the past decade. British Columbia (BC) ranks top among Canadian provinces and territories for life span in both men and women, while people in Canada's three northern territories have the lowest life expectancy rate.
Life expectancy is the number of years a person would be expected to live, starting at birth, if the age and sex-specific mortality rates for a given observation period (such as a calendar year) were held constant over the estimated life span. Factors that can influence life expectancy include quality of workplace safety, suicide rates, infant mortality, and access to health care all play roles in the ages of death from province to province.
Socio-economic inequality also has a profound impact on health and access to services, for example, while the overall life expectancy of Montrealers has gone up, males from wealthier parts of Montreal, such as Lac-Saint-Louis, live an average of six years longer than those from lower income suburbs such as Pointe-Saint-Charles.
What is Health-adjusted Life Expectancy?
Health-adjusted life expectancy is a more comprehensive indicator than that of life expectancy because it introduces the concept of quality of life. Health-adjusted life expectancy is the number of years in full health that an individual can expect to live given the current morbidity and mortality conditions. Health-adjusted life expectancy uses the Health Utility Index (HUI) to weigh years lived in good health higher than years lived in poor health. Thus, health-adjusted life expectancy is not only a measure of quantity of life but also a measure of quality of life.
Also see our Average Life Span Expectancy Chart - a list of male and female lifespan expectant averages by country and average age to death.
| Both | M | F | Both | M | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At birth | Age 65 | |||||
| Canada | 81.1 | 78.8 | 83.3 | 20.2 | 18.5 | 21.6 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 78.9 | 76.5 | 81.2 | 18.2 | 16.6 | 19.7 |
| Prince Edward Island | 80.2 | 77.5 | 82.8 | 19.3 | 17.6 | 20.7 |
| Nova Scotia | 80.1 | 77.7 | 82.4 | 19.3 | 17.5 | 20.9 |
| New Brunswick | 80.2 | 77.5 | 82.8 | 19.5 | 17.7 | 21.1 |
| Quebec | 81.2 | 78.8 | 83.4 | 20.1 | 18.3 | 21.6 |
| Ontario | 81.5 | 79.2 | 83.6 | 20.3 | 18.7 | 21.7 |
| Manitoba | 79.5 | 77.0 | 81.9 | 19.6 | 17.7 | 21.2 |
| Saskatchewan | 79.6 | 77.0 | 82.1 | 19.7 | 17.9 | 21.3 |
| Alberta | 80.7 | 78.5 | 83.0 | 20.2 | 18.5 | 21.6 |
| British Columbia | 81.7 | 79.5 | 83.9 | 20.7 | 19.2 | 22.0 |
| Territories(i) | 75.1 | 72.5 | 78.2 | 16.9 | 15.6 | 18.4 |
(i) Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Source: Statistics Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average life expectancy in Canada
The average life expectancy in Canada has reached 81.1 years, based on Statistics Canada data for the 2007 to 2009 period.
Which province has the highest life expectancy
British Columbia ranks highest among Canadian provinces and territories, at 81.7 years overall for both men and women.
Which region of Canada has the lowest life expectancy
The three northern territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut record the lowest, at 75.1 years combined.
How long do Canadian women live compared with men
Canadian women live longer, at 83.3 years versus 78.8 years for men, though the gap has narrowed over the past decade.
What is life expectancy at age 65 in Canada
At age 65 Canadians can expect about 20.2 more years of life, with 18.5 years for men and 21.6 years for women.
What factors influence life expectancy across provinces
Workplace safety, suicide rates, infant mortality, healthcare access, and socio-economic inequality all shape life expectancy from region to region.
How does income affect life expectancy in Canada
Income has a strong effect, as men in wealthier Montreal areas live about six years longer than those in lower income suburbs.
What years does this Canadian data cover
The tables draw on official Statistics Canada figures for the 2007 to 2009 observation period across all provinces and territories.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The regional variations in Canadian life expectancy revealed by this data underscore how geography and socioeconomic factors shape health outcomes in ways that extend far beyond individual choices. The six-year gap between wealthy and lower-income Montreal neighborhoods, for instance, tells a story about access to healthcare, workplace safety, and environmental conditions that affects everyone but hits hardest for seniors and people with disabilities who often face compounded barriers. While these statistics represent past trends, they serve as a roadmap for where improvements are needed most urgently. Anyone using this data for personal planning should remember that these are population averages - your own health trajectory depends on countless individual factors, from genetics to lifestyle to the quality of care available in your specific community.
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.