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Thomas StorringDirector – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410Email: thomas.storring@novascotia.ca

December 05, 2024
LIFE EXPECTANCY, 2023

Statistics Canada has updated its Life Tables, reporting on life expectancy, deaths (and death probability), survivors (and survival probability) and life years lived.  This report focuses on life expectancy, which Statistics Canada defines as: "Average number of years remaining to be lived by persons at age x if these persons would experience, during their life, the mortality observed over the reference period."  Note that data for Prince Edward Island and the Territories are not available for single years (three year averages are available).  

At birth (age 0 years), Nova Scotians could expect to live for 80.48 years as of 2023.  Nationally, life expectancy at birth was 81.70 years with the highest life expectancies in Ontario and Québec.  Saskatchewan reported the lowest life expectancy in Canada.

Life expectancies for females were higher than for males (as is typically the case).  In Nova Scotia, females had a life expectancy at birth of 82.67 years while males had a life expectancy of 78.33 years.  Nationally, female life expectancy was 83.89 years (highest: British Columbia and Ontario; lowest: Newfoundland and Labrador).  Male life expectancy was 79.51 years (highest: Québec; lowest: Manitoba and Saskatchewan).  

In 2023, Nova Scotia's life expectancy at birth increased by 0.66 years compared with the previous year, rebounding from a decline observed in 2022.  Nationally, life expectancy increased by 0.41 years with the largest increases in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  Manitoba reported the only decline in life expectancy at birth from 2022 to 2023.  

National life expectancy peaked in 2019 at 82.23 years.  Over the subsequent four years, national life expectancy declined by 0.53 years with declines in every reporting province except Nova Scotia (+0.03 years).  The three prairie provinces reported the steepest declines in life expectancy from 2019-2023.  

In 2023, Nova Scotia's female life expectancy at birth increased by 0.64 years compared with the previous year, only partially rebounding from a decline observed in 2022.  Nationally, female life expectancy increased by 0.35 years with the largest increases in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  Manitoba reported the only decline in female life expectancy at birth from 2022 to 2023.  

National female life expectancy peaked in 2019 at 84.32 years.  Over the subsequent four years, national female life expectancy declined by 0.43 years with declines in every reporting province except Nova Scotia (+0.38 years).  The three prairie provinces along with Newfoundland and Labrador reported the steepest declines in female life expectancy from 2019-2023.  

In 2023, Nova Scotia's male life expectancy at birth increased by 0.71 years compared with the previous year, fully rebounding from a decline observed in 2022.  Nationally, male life expectancy increased by 0.45 years with the largest increases in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.  Male life expectancy at birth was up in every province in 2023, with the slowest rise in Newfoundland and Labrador.

National male life expectancy peaked in 2019 at 80.11 years.  Over the subsequent four years, national male life expectancy declined by 0.60 years with declines in every reporting province.  The three prairie provinces along with British Columbia reported the steepest declines in male life expectancy from 2019-2023.  Nova Scotia reported the least decline in male life expectancy at birth over 2019-2023 (-0.05 years).  

Life expectancy at birth is the lowest life expectancy.  As age increases, life expectancy declines by less than one year for all age cohorts except 10 years and 13 years.  A 20 year old Nova Scotian in 2023 had remaining life expectancy of 61.08 years, a 50 year old had remaining life expectancy of 32.5 years, a 65 year old had remaining life expectancy of 19.63 years, an 85 year old had remaining life expectancy of 6.78 years.    

A 20 year old Nova Scotian female in 2023 had remaining life expectancy of 63.28 years, a 50 year old female had remaining life expectancy of 34.28 years, a 65 year old female had remaining life expectancy of 20.97 years, an 85 year old female had remaining life expectancy of 7.34 years.    

A 20 year old male Nova Scotian in 2023 had remaining life expectancy of 58.98 years, a 50 year old male had remaining life expectancy of 30.74 years, a 65 year old male had remaining life expectancy of 18.19 years, an 85 year old male had remaining life expectancy of 5.98 years.    

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0837-01  Life expectancy and other elements of the complete life table, single-year estimates, Canada, all provinces except Prince Edward Island



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