Statistics Canada
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2006 Census: Portrait of the Canadian Population in 2006, by Age and Sex: Provincial/Territorial populations by age and sex

British Columbia is older than average

According to the results of the last census, British Columbia's population remains one of the oldest provinces in Canada. In 2006, 14.6% of its population was 65 years or older, compared with 13.7% for Canada as a whole. People under the age of 15 made up only 16.5% of the population. The national average was 17.7%.

British Columbia's population has been one of the oldest for many years. In fact, 50 years ago it was the oldest province in Canada.

Through the entire 20th century, British Columbia always had lower fertility than the other provinces. In the 1930s, its total fertility rate even fell below 2 children per woman, which was unusual for that time. Meanwhile, British Columbians have experienced the highest life expectancy in Canada. The main causes of population aging are, of course, low fertility and increasing life expectancy.

Figure 17 Age pyramid of British Columbia population in 2001 and 2006
