Source: The Canadian Press

A new study says Canada’s population could exceed 40 million by 2036.

And Statistics Canada says that as baby-boomers turn 65, the number of senior citizens could more than double, outnumbering children for the first time.

The agency says the population could grow from 33.7 million to between 40.1 million and 47.7 million between 2009 and 2036.

It says growth would be higher than the national average in Ontario and British Columbia.

The population of every province and territory would increase except — under some of the scenarios the agency considered — in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The entire baby-boom generation will turn 65 by 2031 and by 2036 the number of seniors is projected to reach between 9.9 million and 10.9 million, more than double the 2009 level of 4.7 million.

Seniors would surpass the number of children aged 14 or under for the first time between 2015 and 2021, depending on the scenario.

StatsCan says the population’s median age would range between 42 and 45 years by 2036, compared with the current median of 39.5.