Life expectancy is a driver of the size of the population and closely tied to living standards, quality of life and health outcomes, which are important components of growing well into the future.

Canada ranked 16^th out of 37 OECD countries for its life expectancy in 2020.

Canada’s life expectancy was 81.7 years in 2020.

Top 10 of OECD countries for life expectancy. 

Threshold: Sweden and Spain were tied for 10^th in the OECD in 2020 with a life expectancy of 82.4 years.

Births are a key input into population growth. Robust policies to support children and families could have a moderate impact on the fertility rate by supporting Canadians’ choices on family size, while fostering significant social and economic benefits.

A fertility rate of 1.43 children per woman in 2021.

Fertility rate increasing toward the current OECD average of 1.6 children per woman over the next decade.

Immigration is a key pathway for Canada’s population to grow and is needed for Canada’s long-term economic prosperity, diversity, resilience and global influence.

There were 492,984 immigrants admitted to Canada in 2021/22. Annual immigration represented an average 0.86% of Canada’s population over the last 5 years.

Immigrant admissions within a target range of 1.15% to 1.25% of population annually over the next decade.

Note: Target is based on a population model developed by Conference Board of Canada‍

Canada’s long-term prosperity will be determined by its ability to achieve robust population growth while building the physical, digital and social infrastructure needed to support that growth.

Canada’s average annual population growth rate was 1.14% over the last 10 years and 1.27% over the last 5 years.

Population growth at between 1.25% and 1.30% of population per year over the next decade.

Note: Target is based on a population model developed by Conference Board of Canada