The Health of Canadians, 2024 report presents an in-depth examination of the nation’s health. It highlights key trends and health indicators, offering valuable insights into the well-being of Canadians across different demographics.
Canada’s life expectancy at birth increased slightly in 2023, rising to 81.7 years from 81.3 years in 2022. After three years of decline, this increase marks a positive trend, though life expectancy is still lower than the 82.2 years recorded in 2019, before the pandemic. The rise in life expectancy was more pronounced among men, who saw an increase of 0.5 years, reaching 79.5 years. Women’s life expectancy increased by 0.4 years, reaching 83.9 years.
While life expectancy has improved, Canadians’ perception of their health has declined. In 2023, just 52.2% of adults reported their health as “very good” or “excellent,” down from 58.8% in 2021. The trend is especially noticeable among adults aged 65 and older, where the percentage reporting very good or excellent health dropped from nearly 50% in 2021 to 40.5% in 2023.
The report also showed differences in health perceptions based on immigration status and income. Immigrants who arrived in Canada within the last 10 years were more likely to report very good or excellent health (61.1%) compared to those who arrived more than 10 years ago (47.4%). Additionally, Canadians in the highest income bracket were more likely to report better health (60.9%) compared to those in the lowest income bracket (42.8%).
Cancer and heart disease continue to be the leading causes of death in Canada, accounting for 43.7% of all deaths in 2023. This represents a slight increase from 42.4% in 2022. Overall, the top 10 causes of death made up 67.8% of all deaths in 2023. While the number of deaths from COVID-19 increased sharply in 2022, it declined significantly in 2023, dropping by 60% to 7,963 deaths.
The prevalence of chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis, is higher in rural areas compared to urban centers. In 2023, rural Canadians, particularly those living in areas with populations under 10,000, had higher rates of these conditions. Chronic disease rates were also notably higher in the Atlantic provinces and Manitoba, compared to the national average.
Health behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol use, and cannabis consumption, play a significant role in the prevalence of chronic conditions. The report shows that cigarette smoking has continued to decline, with just over 1 in 10 adults (11.4%) reporting daily or occasional smoking in 2023, down from 12.5% in 2022. Similarly, cannabis use decreased from 6.5% to 5.7% over the same period.
However, alcohol consumption remains a concern. Heavy drinking was more common among Canadians in the highest income quintile, with 26.2% of adults in this group reporting heavy drinking in the past year, compared to just 14.5% in the lowest income group.
Access to healthcare continues to be a significant issue. In 2023, 82.8% of Canadians reported having a regular healthcare provider, a decline from 85% in previous years. This trend was especially prominent among young adults (aged 18 to 34) and those living in Quebec and the lowest income quintile. Additionally, nearly 3 million Canadians (9.2% of the population aged 15 and older) reported unmet healthcare needs in 2022, marking an increase from the previous year.