For the first time in three years, life expectancy in Canada rose in 2023, according to data from Statistics Canada.
On Wednesday, the national statistical agency reported that life expectancy from birth increased from 81.3 years in 2022 to 81.7 years in 2023, driven by declining mortality rates for those aged 50 and above. Total deaths declined by 2.4% year over year, StatCan said.
The gain in projected lifespan was slightly stronger for males, who saw life expectancy rise by 0.5 years to 79.5, outpacing a 0.4 increase for females to 83.9 years.
Life expectancy at age 65 also increased by 0.5 years among men to 19.6 years, and rose 0.3 years among women to 22.2 years.
Despite the gains in life expectancy at birth, following three straight yearly declines, the level remains below its pre-pandemic level of 82.2 years, StatCan said.
Deaths from Covid-19 dropped by 60% in 2023, with the vast majority of those deaths occurring among older populations — people above 80 accounted for 69% of Covid deaths, while those aged 65–79 accounted for another 25%, StatCan reported.
Cancer remained the leading cause of death, accounting for 25.9% of all deaths in 2023. The other leading causes of death, which varied by age group, included heart disease, accidents and cerebrovascular diseases, the agency noted.
The number of drug overdose deaths also hit a record high in 2023, surpassing levels reached during the pandemic.