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THE LIVES OF SENIORS

Seniors constitute one of the fastest growing groups in Canadian society today.

The senior population will grow even faster in the next century, particularly when baby-boomers begin turning age 65.

Did you know that:

• by 2011, about 23% of the population will be over 65.
• the large majority of seniors live at home.

  More Stats:

• In 1995, there were an estimated 3.6 million seniors; that year, they represented 12% of the total population, up from 10% in 1981 and 5% in 1921.
• Because of higher life expectancy, women make up a relatively large share of the senior population, especially that in the very oldest age ranges. In 1995, 58% of all people aged 65 and over, and 70% of those aged 85 and over, were women.
• As with the overall population, most seniors (83% in 1995) live in one of the four largest provinces. Seniors, however, account for a larger share of the overall populations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan than they do in other provinces. In 1995, 14% of all residents of both Manitoba and Saskatchewan were aged 65 and over. In contrast, seniors represented only 10% of people in Newfoundland and Alberta.
• Most seniors live at home, as opposed to in an institution. In 1991, 92% of all people aged 65 and over, lived in a private household. A substantial proportion of these seniors, however, live alone. In 1991, 28% of all people aged 65 and over lived alone, compared with just 8% of those aged 15-64. At the same time, 8% of seniors lived with members of their extended family.
• Canadian seniors are living longer than ever before. In 1991, a person aged 65 had an average life expectancy of 18 years, over a year more than in 1981 and almost five years more than in the 1921-1941 period.

Selected Highlights from A Portrait of Seniors in Canada: Second Edition

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