Trends, patterns, and differentials in Canadian mortality over nearly a century, 1921-2011

Abstract

In the past 90 years, remarkable progress was made in substantially improving survival and longevity in Canada, establishing it as a member of today’s group of very low mortality countries. We use several demographic indicators of all-cause and cause-specific mortality to illustrate the nature of these major advances throughout the life span. Reviewing the literature on trends in Canadian mortality, we also uncover various challenges for the next decades. Reducing or even eliminating important disparities in mortality that persist with regards to geography and several socioeconomic factors is one of the greatest challenges ahead. Keywords: Mortality, longevity, health, trends, Canada