Sex Composition by Age, 2006

View this map

Abstract

In general, in most regions of Canada there are more females than males and this trend is particularly evident in areas with higher proportions of the population who are elderly. The preponderance of females in the older age groups is due to their higher life expectancy compared to males. In 2006, Saskatchewan had the highest proportion (17.1%) of the female population that was 65 years and over, while Alberta (11.9%), and the three territories (7.2% for Yukon, 4.9% for the Northwest Territories, and 2.6% for Nunavut) had the lowest proportions. The map shows the sex composition by age of the population by census division and census subdivision.

In general, in most regions of Canada there are more females than males and this trend is particularly evident in areas with higher proportions of the population who are elderly. The preponderance of females in the older age groups is due to their higher life expectancy compared to males. In 2006, Saskatchewan was ahead of all provinces and territories in this regard, followed by the three Maritime Provinces. Saskatchewan had the highest proportion of the female population in the age group 65 years and over (17.1%) and 80 years and over (6.2%) of any province while the national level was respectively 15.2% and 4.7%. In 15 out of the 18 census divisions in Saskatchewan, the proportion of the total population that was female and 65 years and over was higher (ranging between 2.5% and 13.2%) than the national average of 7.7%. Cities such as Moose Jaw (11.9%), Swift Current (12.5%), and Yorkton (13.4%) were the most noticeable in this regard, and a number of smaller towns where elderly women form a large share of the total population. This phenomenon was also striking in the Maritime Provinces, where the proportion of the total population that was female and aged 65 years and over was higher than the national average in 31 out of 36 census divisions. There were also a number of cities and towns in British Columbia (for example, White Rock, Sidney, Qualicum Beach, Trail and Parksville) where females 65 years and over comprised more than 15% of the total population. The three territories had the lowest proportion of females aged 65 and over: 7.2% for Yukon, 4.9% for the Northwest Territories and 2.6% for Nunavut. Among the provinces, Alberta had the lowest proportion of elderly females (11.9%).

The Daily is Statistics Canada's official release bulletin. The Daily for July 17, 2007, marked the public release of this census variable. Highlight tables allowing users to perform simple rank and sort functions with the data at various levels of geography are available for this variable here: Age and Sex Highlight Tables, 2006 Census.

The text was adapted from Statistics Canada, Portrait of the Canadian Population in 2006 by Age and Sex, 2006 Census, Catalogue number 97-551-XWE2006001 and Report on the Demographic Situation in Canada: 2005 and 2006, Catalogue number 91-209-X. Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the wide range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from the Statistics Canada's Regional Offices, its World Wide Web site at: www.statcan.gc.ca, and its toll-free access number 1-800-263-1136.