Local resident Dolly Gibb recently celebrated her 112th birthday and was proclaimed to be the oldest living Canadian. Living into one's 113th year is a rare feat, but according to Statscan, more Canadians than ever before are living past their 100th birthdays.
As a result of advances in medicine and specialized care for senior citizens, more people are reaching the century mark than at any time in recorded history.
According to results from the 2016 census, centenarians (those aged 100 or greater) were the most rapidly growing demographic. The 100+ club increased by 41.3 per cent as compared to the 2011 census. The most recent report shows that Canada had 8,230 centenarians in 2016.
If you lived to be 100 in Canada in 2016, you are far more likely to be female. The split among centenarians, between men and women is pronounced, with approximately five women for every man. Statscan reports the figure as 19 men for every 100 women over the age of 100.
The outlook is better, but not great, for men in the next lowest age bracket, those aged 85-99, where there are 54 men for every 100 women.
Overall, Canada is greying. Life expectancy is longer, while fertility rates continue to decrease.
From the Statscan data on age breakdown: "As a result of the rapid increase in the number of people 65 years of age and older since 2011, 2016 marked the first time that the census enumerated more seniors (5.9 million) than children 14 years of age and younger (5.8 million).
"For the first time, the share of seniors (16.9%)—the share they represent of the total Canadian population—exceeded the share of children (16.6%). The increase in the proportion of seniors from 2011 to 2016 was the largest observed since 1871—a clear sign that Canada's population is aging at a faster pace.
"The 2016 Census enumerated 23.4 million 15 to 64-year-olds, or 66.5% of the total population. This was down from 68.5% in 2011."
