How fast are provinces getting older?

Canada is getting older, but the pace of aging isn't the same across the country. Using data from Statistics Canada, we looked at how the share of people aged 65 and over has changed over time in each province.

Aging populations have wide-reaching implications for nearly every aspect of society, from healthcare and the labour force to infrastructure and public spending programs. Older adults typically require more medical care, long-term care, and support services. As people reach retirement age, they may elect to leave the workforce, which could lead to worker shortages and affect economic growth. Seniors are also more reliant on publicly funded programs such as the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, healthcare subsidies, and housing support. Understanding how and where populations are aging helps governments, businesses, and non-profit organizations prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead, ensuring policies, services, and economies stay resilient and inclusive.

Which provinces have the highest share of seniors?

In 1971, only 8% of Canada’s population was over the age of 65. By 2024, that figure rose to 18.9%, representing a 136% increase over that period. Newfoundland and Labrador, once the province with the youngest population in Canada, now has the oldest. In 1971, 6.1% of its population was over 65 years old. By 2024, nearly 25% of residents were seniors, or about one in four. Alberta has always been in the mix for the province with the youngest population. In 1971, seniors made up 7.2% of the population and reached 15.1% in 2024. That’s good enough to rank it as the youngest province in the country.

Provinces in Atlantic Canada — Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island — have been aging the quickest. Between 1971 and 2024, the proportion of seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador increased by 18.5 percentage points, going from 6.1% in 1971 to 24.6% in 2024. Meanwhile, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia saw increases of 14.3 and 13.0 percentage points, respectively, during the same period. In 2024, each of the four Atlantic provinces reported that at least 20% of their residents were 65 or older. In contrast, the central and western provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan have experienced the smallest increases, all reported changes of 10 percentage points or less between 1971 and 2024.