Life expectancy at birth in Canada has risen to 80.7 years in 2005-2007, says Statistics Canada. That is up from the average of 80.5 between 2004 and 2006, and 78.4 a decade earlier between 1995 and 1997.
Gains during the past decade were stronger among men, according to a report released Tuesday. The men's life expectancy at birth rose by 2.9 years to 78.3 in 2005-2007, while among women it increased by 1.8 years to 83.0. The gap between the sexes has been closing for several years.
Life expectancy among seniors at the age of 65 has also been on an upward trend for several years.
On average, a 65-year-old man could expect to live an additional 18.1 years in 2005-2007, an increase of 2.0 years from the previous decade. A 65-year-old woman could expect to live an additional 21.3 years, up by 1.3 years.
Gains in life expectancy among seniors during the past decade have accounted for about 70% of the increase in life expectancy at birth.
Provincially, life expectancy at birth in British Columbia was 81.2 years in 2005-2007, highest among the provinces, followed by Ontario at 81.0 years. Life expectancy at birth in Quebec was at the national average.
In the remaining provinces and territories, life expectancy at birth was below the national average. The lowest life expectancy was in the three territories combined (75.8 years).
The number of deaths registered in Canada in 2007 recorded its largest increase since 1993, continuing a long-term upward trend resulting from a growing and aging population.
In 2007, 235,217 people died in Canada, up 7,138 or 3.1% from 2006.
Both male and female deaths rose, but the increase was slightly larger among women, 3.2% compared with 3.1% for men.