63
Table 13: Life Expectancy at Birth for Males and Females by Aboriginal Group,
2001 and 2017
Male Female
|
2001 |
2017 |
2001 |
2017 | |
|
North American Indian |
71.1 |
73.3 |
76.7 |
78.4 |
|
Metis |
71.9 |
74.1 |
77.7 |
79.7 |
|
Inuit |
62.6 |
63.9 |
71.7 |
72.9 |
|
Overall Population_________ |
77.0 |
79.6 |
82.2 |
84.2 |
Source: Statistics Canada (2005a)
None of the Aboriginal groups are predicted to reach parity in life expectancy with the
non-Aboriginal population by 2017. In fact, no group is even expected to reach the non-
Aboriginal life expectancy level of 2001, and the overall life expectancy will continue to rise up
to 2017. The life expectancy for Metis will increase to 74.1 years for men and 79.7 years for
women, again enjoying the highest life expectancy of all three Aboriginal groups. North
American Indians will increase to 73.3 years for men and 78.4 years for women. Inuits will still
have the lowest life expectancy, at 63.9 years for men and 72.9 years for women. The overall
population life expectancy level was not available for 2017, but is projected to reach 81.1 years
for men and 85.3 years for women by 2031. Assuming a linear progression, in 2017, life
expectancy would be 79.3 years for men and 83.9 years for women.
Chart 16: Shares of Canada's Natural Population Increase, by Aboriginal and
Non-Aboriginal Components, 2001-2017
—Ge General Population
—O- Aboriginal
Population
Census, —Projections of the Aboriginal Populations, Canada, Provinces and Territories”, —Population Projections for Canada, Provinces and Territories”.
2001-2004 data taken from CANSIM II series v391069 and v391084
*Natural population increase assuming Scenario 3 for the general population and Scenario B for Aboriginal population growth.
In 2001, the median age of the total Aboriginal population was 24.7 years. This is
projected to increase to 27.8 years in 2017, still nearly 15 years younger than that of the overall
population in 2017 (41.4 years). The North American Indian population is even younger, at 24.0
years in 2001 and 26.6 years in 2017.