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July 12, 2017LIFE EXPECTANCY, 2011-2013 
From 2010/2012 to 2011/2013, life expectancy at birth for Nova Scotia females increased 1.2 months to 82.5 years of age, while that of Nova Scotia males remained unchanged at 78.1 years. During that same period, life expectancy at birth increased by 2.4 months for both Canadian males and females, to 83.8 for females and 79.6 for males. Female life expectancy has generally been higher than that of males, though that gap has been closing as growth in male life expectancy has outpaced that of females over the available data period. In 2010/2013, the gap between Nova Scotian female and male life expectancy at birth was 4.4 years, compared to a gap of 7.6 years in 1980/1982.
Historically, Nova Scotia's life expectancy at birth has typically been between 3 and 18 months lower than that of Canada, varying by year and sex. The gap has widened in five years as gains for both Nova Scotia males and females have stalled while gains for Canadian males and females have continued at a steady pace.
According to data for about 40 OECD countries, Canada's life expectancy at birth ranks 13th among women and 11th among men.
The following two charts show Nova Scotian life expectancy by current age, expressed in two different ways. The first shows, at each given age, the number of years remaining that a person can expect to live while the second chart shows, at each given age, the age a person can expect to live to.
As can be seen, life expectancy remains fairly steady from birth until around age 60, after which it increases disproportionately. As well, beyond around age 60, the gap between male and female life expectancy begins to close.
The source of gains in life expectancy has also changed over time. During the 20th century, much of the gains in life expectancy came from decreases in the infant (under 1 year) and juvenile (between 1 and 4 years) mortality rate. However, in the 21st century, there have been more significant gains in life expectancy at age 60 and above compared to the two decades prior, and smaller gains below that.
Looking across the country, male life expectancy at birth in 2011/2013 was highest in British Columbia at 80.4 years, followed by Ontario and Quebec, which were both above the Canadian average. All other provinces were below the national average. Nova Scotia had the 7th highest life expectancy at birth among males.
British Columbia also had the highest life expectancy at birth among females, followed by Ontario and Quebec. All other provinces were below the national average. Nova Scotia had the 7th highest life expectancy at birth among females as well.
Source: The Daily | Cansim Table 053-0003
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