Canada Demographics: Median age, Gender, Race, Religion

Median age history and projection chart in
Canada vs World

Table

Year	Median age
	Canada	World
1960	26.4	22.5
1961	26.3	22.5
1962	26	22.4
1963	25.8	22.2
1964	25.6	22
1965	25.5	21.8
1966	25.5	21.7
1967	25.5	21.6
1968	25.7	21.5
1969	25.8	21.5
1970	26	21.4
1971	26.3	21.4
1972	26.6	21.5
1973	26.9	21.5
1974	27.2	21.6
1975	27.4	21.7
1976	27.7	21.9
1977	28.1	22
1978	28.5	22.2
1979	28.8	22.3
1980	29.2	22.5
1981	29.5	22.6
1982	29.8	22.7
1983	30.2	22.9
1984	30.6	23
1985	31	23.2
1986	31.4	23.3
1987	31.8	23.4
1988	32.2	23.6
1989	32.5	23.8
1990	32.9	23.9
1991	33.2	24.1
1992	33.6	24.3
1993	33.9	24.5
1994	34.3	24.7
1995	34.7	25
1996	35.1	25.2
1997	35.5	25.4
1998	36	25.7
1999	36.4	25.9
2000	36.7	26.1
2001	37.1	26.3
2002	37.4	26.5
2003	37.8	26.7
2004	38.1	27
2005	38.5	27.2
2006	38.8	27.4
2007	39.1	27.6
2008	39.3	27.8
2009	39.5	28
2010	39.7	28.2
2011	39.9	28.4
2012	40.1	28.6
2013	40.3	28.9
2014	40.5	29.1
2015	40.6	29.3
2016	40.7	29.5
2017	40.8	29.8
2018	40.8	30
2019	40.8	30.3
2020	40.9	30.6
2021	41.1	30.8
2022	41.3	31
2023	41.4	31.3
2024	41.5	31.6
2025	41.6	31.9
2026	41.8	32.1
2027	42	32.3
2028	42.3	32.6
2029	42.5	32.8
2030	42.7	33
2031	42.9	33.2
2032	43.1	33.4
2033	43.3	33.6
2034	43.6	33.8
2035	43.8	34
2036	44	34.2
2037	44.2	34.4
2038	44.4	34.6
2039	44.6	34.8
2040	44.8	35
2041	45	35.2
2042	45.1	35.4
2043	45.3	35.6
2044	45.4	35.8
2045	45.6	36
2046	45.7	36.2
2047	45.9	36.4
2048	45.9	36.6
2049	46	36.8
2050	46.1	37.1

In 1960, the median age in Canada was 26.4 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 41.5 years compared to the world's average of 31.6 years. Ranked 44th for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Canada ranks 38th currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Canada is expected to increase to around 46.1 years by 2050. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Canada demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Table

Age range	Share of population
	Canada
	Male	Female
0-4	2.43%	2.31%
5-9	2.6%	2.47%
10-14	2.71%	2.6%
15-19	2.78%	2.7%
20-24	3.14%	3.01%
25-29	3.62%	3.36%
30-34	3.7%	3.52%
35-39	3.55%	3.47%
40-44	3.38%	3.39%
45-49	3.1%	3.16%
50-54	3.03%	3.08%
55-59	3.13%	3.19%
60-64	3.34%	3.44%
65-69	2.96%	3.13%
70-74	2.38%	2.6%
75-79	1.81%	2.06%
80+	2%	2.84%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Canada has low demographic potential with 40.9% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 158/196).

Age dependency chart

Table

Year	Age dependency ratio
	Canada			World
	Total	Young	Old	Total	Young	Old
1960	70.6%	57.6%	13%	73.5%	64.9%	8.62%
1961	71%	58%	13%	73.8%	65.1%	8.67%
1962	71.2%	58.1%	13.1%	74.1%	65.4%	8.73%
1963	70.9%	57.9%	13%	74.9%	66.1%	8.79%
1964	70.4%	57.3%	13%	75.5%	66.6%	8.85%
1965	69.5%	56.5%	13%	75.8%	66.8%	8.93%
1966	68.2%	55.3%	12.9%	75.9%	66.9%	9%
1967	66.7%	53.8%	12.9%	75.9%	66.8%	9.07%
1968	65.1%	52.2%	12.8%	75.8%	66.6%	9.14%
1969	63.4%	50.6%	12.8%	75.7%	66.5%	9.2%
1970	61.5%	48.7%	12.8%	75.5%	66.2%	9.26%
1971	59.6%	46.8%	12.7%	75.2%	65.9%	9.33%
1972	57.8%	45.1%	12.8%	74.9%	65.6%	9.39%
1973	56.2%	43.4%	12.8%	74.6%	65.1%	9.46%
1974	54.5%	41.7%	12.8%	74.4%	64.9%	9.54%
1975	53%	40.1%	12.9%	74.2%	64.6%	9.64%
1976	51.6%	38.6%	13%	74%	64.3%	9.72%
1977	50.4%	37.2%	13.2%	73.5%	63.7%	9.79%
1978	49.3%	35.9%	13.4%	72.4%	62.5%	9.84%
1979	48.2%	34.6%	13.6%	71.3%	61.4%	9.88%
1980	47.4%	33.6%	13.8%	70.4%	60.5%	9.89%
1981	46.8%	32.8%	14%	69.5%	59.6%	9.85%
1982	46.5%	32.3%	14.2%	68.7%	58.9%	9.79%
1983	46.2%	31.9%	14.4%	67.9%	58.1%	9.72%
1984	46.1%	31.5%	14.6%	67%	57.3%	9.68%
1985	46%	31.1%	14.9%	66.3%	56.6%	9.68%
1986	46%	30.8%	15.3%	65.7%	55.9%	9.71%
1987	46.2%	30.6%	15.6%	65.2%	55.4%	9.75%
1988	46.4%	30.5%	15.9%	64.8%	54.9%	9.81%
1989	46.7%	30.4%	16.2%	64.4%	54.5%	9.89%
1990	47%	30.4%	16.5%	64.2%	54.3%	9.97%
1991	47.3%	30.5%	16.8%	64%	53.9%	10.1%
1992	47.7%	30.6%	17.1%	63.7%	53.6%	10.2%
1993	47.9%	30.6%	17.3%	63.5%	53.2%	10.3%
1994	47.9%	30.4%	17.5%	63.1%	52.7%	10.4%
1995	47.9%	30.2%	17.7%	62.7%	52.2%	10.5%
1996	47.7%	29.9%	17.9%	62.1%	51.5%	10.6%
1997	47.6%	29.5%	18%	61.5%	50.8%	10.7%
1998	47.3%	29.1%	18.2%	60.7%	50%	10.7%
1999	46.9%	28.7%	18.3%	60%	49.2%	10.8%
2000	46.5%	28.1%	18.4%	59.3%	48.4%	10.9%
2001	46%	27.6%	18.4%	58.5%	47.6%	11%
2002	45.6%	27.1%	18.5%	57.8%	46.7%	11.1%
2003	45.2%	26.6%	18.6%	57%	45.9%	11.1%
2004	44.8%	26.1%	18.7%	56.3%	45.1%	11.2%
2005	44.4%	25.6%	18.8%	55.6%	44.3%	11.3%
2006	44.1%	25.1%	19%	55%	43.6%	11.4%
2007	44%	24.7%	19.3%	54.5%	43.1%	11.4%
2008	44%	24.4%	19.6%	54.1%	42.6%	11.5%
2009	44.1%	24.1%	20%	53.8%	42.2%	11.6%
2010	44.2%	23.9%	20.4%	53.5%	41.9%	11.6%
2011	44.6%	23.7%	20.9%	53.4%	41.6%	11.8%
2012	45.2%	23.7%	21.5%	53.3%	41.4%	11.9%
2013	46%	23.8%	22.2%	53.4%	41.2%	12.1%
2014	46.8%	23.8%	22.9%	53.5%	41.1%	12.4%
2015	47.6%	24%	23.6%	53.6%	40.9%	12.7%
2016	48.4%	24.1%	24.3%	53.7%	40.7%	13%
2017	49.1%	24.1%	25%	53.9%	40.6%	13.3%
2018	49.7%	24.1%	25.6%	54.1%	40.4%	13.7%
2019	50.4%	24%	26.4%	54.2%	40.1%	14%
2020	51.2%	24%	27.2%	54.2%	39.8%	14.4%
2021	52%	23.9%	28.1%	54.2%	39.5%	14.7%
2022	52.6%	23.7%	28.9%	54%	39%	15%
2023	53.1%	23.4%	29.6%	53.9%	38.5%	15.4%
2024	53.6%	23.2%	30.4%	53.7%	38%	15.7%

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Canada increased from 44.8% to 53.6% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an increased proportion of people aged 65+

Canada working age demographic chart

Table

Year	Working age population share
	Canada	World
1960	58.6%	57.6%
1961	58.5%	57.5%
1962	58.4%	57.4%
1963	58.5%	57.2%
1964	58.7%	57%
1965	59%	56.9%
1966	59.4%	56.8%
1967	60%	56.9%
1968	60.6%	56.9%
1969	61.2%	56.9%
1970	61.9%	57%
1971	62.7%	57.1%
1972	63.4%	57.2%
1973	64%	57.3%
1974	64.7%	57.3%
1975	65.4%	57.4%
1976	65.9%	57.5%
1977	66.5%	57.7%
1978	67%	58%
1979	67.5%	58.4%
1980	67.8%	58.7%
1981	68.1%	59%
1982	68.3%	59.3%
1983	68.4%	59.6%
1984	68.4%	59.9%
1985	68.5%	60.1%
1986	68.5%	60.4%
1987	68.4%	60.5%
1988	68.3%	60.7%
1989	68.2%	60.8%
1990	68%	60.9%
1991	67.9%	61%
1992	67.7%	61.1%
1993	67.6%	61.2%
1994	67.6%	61.3%
1995	67.6%	61.5%
1996	67.7%	61.7%
1997	67.8%	61.9%
1998	67.9%	62.2%
1999	68.1%	62.5%
2000	68.3%	62.8%
2001	68.5%	63.1%
2002	68.7%	63.4%
2003	68.9%	63.7%
2004	69%	64%
2005	69.2%	64.3%
2006	69.4%	64.5%
2007	69.5%	64.7%
2008	69.5%	64.9%
2009	69.4%	65%
2010	69.3%	65.1%
2011	69.1%	65.2%
2012	68.9%	65.2%
2013	68.5%	65.2%
2014	68.1%	65.2%
2015	67.8%	65.1%
2016	67.4%	65.1%
2017	67.1%	65%
2018	66.8%	64.9%
2019	66.5%	64.9%
2020	66.1%	64.8%
2021	65.8%	64.9%
2022	65.5%	64.9%
2023	65.3%	65%
2024	65.1%	65.1%
2025	64.8%	65.2%
2026	64.4%	65.3%
2027	64.1%	65.4%
2028	63.7%	65.4%
2029	63.4%	65.4%
2030	63.1%	65.4%
2031	62.9%	65.4%
2032	62.7%	65.4%
2033	62.6%	65.4%
2034	62.5%	65.3%
2035	62.3%	65.2%
2036	62.2%	65%
2037	62.1%	64.9%
2038	62.1%	64.7%
2039	62%	64.6%
2040	61.9%	64.5%
2041	61.9%	64.4%
2042	61.8%	64.3%
2043	61.7%	64.2%
2044	61.6%	64.1%
2045	61.5%	63.9%
2046	61.4%	63.8%
2047	61.3%	63.7%
2048	61.1%	63.6%
2049	61%	63.4%
2050	60.9%	63.3%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Canada changed from 69% to 65.1% between 2004 and 2024.

Share of young population (0-14 years)

Table

Year	Share of population 0-14 years old
	Canada	World
1960	33.8%	37.4%
1961	33.9%	37.5%
1962	33.9%	37.6%
1963	33.9%	37.8%
1964	33.7%	38%
1965	33.3%	38%
1966	32.9%	38%
1967	32.3%	38%
1968	31.6%	37.9%
1969	31%	37.8%
1970	30.2%	37.7%
1971	29.3%	37.6%
1972	28.6%	37.5%
1973	27.8%	37.3%
1974	27%	37.2%
1975	26.2%	37.1%
1976	25.5%	36.9%
1977	24.7%	36.7%
1978	24%	36.3%
1979	23.4%	35.9%
1980	22.8%	35.5%
1981	22.3%	35.2%
1982	22%	34.9%
1983	21.8%	34.6%
1984	21.6%	34.3%
1985	21.3%	34%
1986	21.1%	33.8%
1987	20.9%	33.6%
1988	20.8%	33.4%
1989	20.8%	33.2%
1990	20.7%	33%
1991	20.7%	32.9%
1992	20.7%	32.7%
1993	20.7%	32.5%
1994	20.6%	32.3%
1995	20.4%	32.1%
1996	20.2%	31.8%
1997	20%	31.5%
1998	19.8%	31.1%
1999	19.5%	30.8%
2000	19.2%	30.4%
2001	18.9%	30%
2002	18.6%	29.6%
2003	18.3%	29.2%
2004	18%	28.8%
2005	17.7%	28.5%
2006	17.4%	28.1%
2007	17.1%	27.9%
2008	16.9%	27.6%
2009	16.7%	27.5%
2010	16.6%	27.3%
2011	16.4%	27.1%
2012	16.3%	27%
2013	16.3%	26.9%
2014	16.2%	26.8%
2015	16.2%	26.6%
2016	16.2%	26.5%
2017	16.2%	26.4%
2018	16.1%	26.2%
2019	16%	26%
2020	15.9%	25.8%
2021	15.7%	25.6%
2022	15.5%	25.3%
2023	15.3%	25%
2024	15.1%	24.7%
2025	15%	24.4%
2026	14.9%	24.1%
2027	14.7%	23.8%
2028	14.6%	23.4%
2029	14.5%	23.1%
2030	14.4%	22.8%
2031	14.3%	22.6%
2032	14.2%	22.3%
2033	14.1%	22.1%
2034	14%	21.9%
2035	13.9%	21.7%
2036	13.9%	21.6%
2037	13.8%	21.5%
2038	13.8%	21.4%
2039	13.7%	21.3%
2040	13.7%	21.2%
2041	13.6%	21.1%
2042	13.6%	21%
2043	13.6%	21%
2044	13.5%	20.9%
2045	13.5%	20.8%
2046	13.5%	20.7%
2047	13.5%	20.7%
2048	13.5%	20.6%
2049	13.5%	20.5%
2050	13.5%	20.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Canada decreased from 18% to 15.1% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+)

Table

Year	Share of population 65+ years old
	Canada	World
1960	7.62%	4.97%
1961	7.62%	4.99%
1962	7.63%	5.01%
1963	7.63%	5.02%
1964	7.64%	5.04%
1965	7.66%	5.08%
1966	7.69%	5.12%
1967	7.73%	5.16%
1968	7.78%	5.2%
1969	7.85%	5.24%
1970	7.92%	5.28%
1971	7.99%	5.32%
1972	8.08%	5.37%
1973	8.2%	5.42%
1974	8.31%	5.47%
1975	8.43%	5.53%
1976	8.59%	5.59%
1977	8.77%	5.65%
1978	8.97%	5.71%
1979	9.18%	5.77%
1980	9.38%	5.81%
1981	9.55%	5.81%
1982	9.7%	5.8%
1983	9.84%	5.79%
1984	10%	5.8%
1985	10.2%	5.82%
1986	10.5%	5.86%
1987	10.7%	5.91%
1988	10.9%	5.95%
1989	11.1%	6.01%
1990	11.2%	6.07%
1991	11.4%	6.14%
1992	11.6%	6.21%
1993	11.7%	6.29%
1994	11.8%	6.37%
1995	12%	6.45%
1996	12.1%	6.53%
1997	12.2%	6.61%
1998	12.3%	6.68%
1999	12.4%	6.76%
2000	12.5%	6.84%
2001	12.6%	6.92%
2002	12.7%	7.01%
2003	12.8%	7.1%
2004	12.9%	7.18%
2005	13%	7.26%
2006	13.2%	7.34%
2007	13.4%	7.41%
2008	13.6%	7.47%
2009	13.9%	7.52%
2010	14.1%	7.58%
2011	14.4%	7.66%
2012	14.8%	7.78%
2013	15.2%	7.92%
2014	15.6%	8.08%
2015	16%	8.26%
2016	16.4%	8.45%
2017	16.8%	8.65%
2018	17.1%	8.88%
2019	17.5%	9.1%
2020	18%	9.33%
2021	18.5%	9.53%
2022	18.9%	9.74%
2023	19.4%	9.98%
2024	19.8%	10.2%
2025	20.3%	10.4%
2026	20.7%	10.6%
2027	21.2%	10.8%
2028	21.7%	11.1%
2029	22.1%	11.5%
2030	22.5%	11.7%
2031	22.8%	12%
2032	23.1%	12.3%
2033	23.3%	12.6%
2034	23.5%	12.8%
2035	23.7%	13.1%
2036	23.9%	13.4%
2037	24.1%	13.7%
2038	24.2%	13.9%
2039	24.3%	14.1%
2040	24.4%	14.3%
2041	24.5%	14.5%
2042	24.6%	14.7%
2043	24.7%	14.9%
2044	24.8%	15%
2045	25%	15.2%
2046	25.1%	15.4%
2047	25.2%	15.7%
2048	25.4%	15.9%
2049	25.5%	16.1%
2050	25.7%	16.3%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Canada increased from 12.9% to 19.8% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in life expectancy.