Canada's Aging Population

Source:
The Daily - Stats Canada

Source URL:
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/051215/d051215b.htm

Body:
Canada's population is ageing fast and senior citizens would outnumber children in about a decade, according to new population projections. In all growth scenarios considered for this study, seniors aged 65 and over would become more numerous than children aged less than 15 around the year 2015. This would be an unprecedented situation in Canada. By 2031, the number of people aged 65 and over would range between 8.9 million and 9.4 million, depending on the scenario selected, while the number of children would range between 4.8 million and 6.6 million. In 2005, Canada's population is younger than the populations of most of the G8 countries. However, it is expected to age more rapidly in the coming years as a direct result of the pronounced baby boom following the Second World War and the rapid decline in fertility that followed. The aging of the baby boomers will combine with continuing low fertility levels and increasing longevity to age the population rapidly. The arrival of baby boomers at age 65 also has implications for the work force during the coming decades.