Are you hoping to live a long and healthy life? As it turns out, where you live matters. A new study shows that some Canadian provinces have a much higher lifespan than others, with a decade difference in some cases.
The study was conducted by Preszler Injury Lawyers using life expectancy data from Statistics Canada. It ranked all 13 provinces and territories and analyzed statistics for both men and women. Ultimately, it found that the average Canadian lives to be 81.34 years old, but the results varied from region to region.
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What Province Has the Highest Life Expectancy?
Canadians live the longest in Quebec, according to the study. Both men and women residing in La Belle Provence live for an average of 82.48 years, or 1.14 years longer than the national average. The report also found that Quebec offers the longest average life expectancy for men in Canada, at 80.78 years. Meanwhile, it’s only the second-highest province for aging women. Women in Quebec have an average life expectancy of 84.16 years, but in British Columbia, that number jumped slightly, to 84.3 years.
Which Other Provinces Have Long Lifespans?
Ontario ranked a close second in the report, with an average life expectancy of 81.82 years. This, too, is above the national average. Women in Ontario had a life expectancy of 84.07 years, while men had a lower lifespan average of 79.57 years.
Prince Edward Island came in third place with an average life expectancy of 81.65 years (79.44 years for men and 83.79 years for women), while British Columbia ranked fourth with a lifespan average of 81.46 years (78.75 years for men).
Alberta rounded out the Top 5 with a life expectancy of 80.22 years, including a provincial average of 82.64 years for women and 77.91 years for men.
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Which Provinces Have the Lowest Life Expectancies?
On the other end of the report, Nunavut placed last for overall lifespan at 71.67 years. There, both men and women lived to the shortest average age of all the regions, averaging 68.86 and 74.35 years, respectively.
Northwest Territories had the second lowest overall life expectancy, averaging 75.38 years. Saskatchewan ranked 11th with a lifespan of 78.49 years, and Yukon ranked 10th place, with residents living to an average of 78.68 years.
Middle of the Pack
Wondering where the rest of the provinces ranked? New Brunswick came in sixth place with an average life expectancy of 79.76 years, and Nova Scotia was close behind at 79.72 years. Manitoba was also close, with a provincial average lifespan of 79.14 years.
In ninth place was Newfoundland and Labrador, where residents lived for an average of 78.76 years.
What These Numbers Tell Us
According to a spokesperson for the report, these findings are a good way to see how the health care in each province stacks up. For example, there’s a concerning 10-year gap between the life expectancy in Quebec and Nunavut. And life expectancy in Northwest Territories is seven per cent below the national average.
“These findings highlight significant variations in life expectancy across Canadian regions, revealing the areas where Canadians have the best chance of living longer,” the spokesperson said in a release.
“The study highlights show that areas like Quebec and Ontario seemingly prioritize medical care services, making them top choices for residents who want to focus on their health and live longer,” they continued.
“In contrast, the lower life expectancy in Nunavut emphasizes the urgent need to address healthcare access in remote communities. Studies such as this are essential for better understanding the disparities across Canada, ensuring that areas needing improved healthcare receive the support they require.”
