National

COVID shortened Canadian life expectancy: StatCan

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Jun, 2021 04:07 PM

The federal statistics agency says the COVID-19 pandemic led to a drop in Canada's life expectancy in 2020.

Statistics Canada says it estimates that life expectancy across the country declined by an average of 0.41 years in 2020, adding that the 15,651 deaths caused by COVID-19 contributed to that drop.

It estimates that life expectancy in Quebec — where 8,226 deaths were linked to COVID-19 in 2020 — declined by 0.84 years. In Manitoba, where life expectancy is estimated to have dropped by 0.6 years, is the only other province with a decline above the Canadian average.

Statistics Canada says the average age of people who died from COVID-19 in 2020 was 83.8 years. In 2019, the average age at death was 76.5.

The agency says 2020 is the second year in the past two decades during which life expectancy declined in Canada. In 2017, it declined by 0.07 years, a drop attributed to the opioid epidemic.

Statistics Canada says life expectancy in the country has risen by an average of 0.13 years a year over the past decade.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Conversion therapy ban approved in principle

O'Toole allowed his MPs a free vote on the issue, part of his bargain with social conservatives that helped him secure the Conservative leadership in August.

Conversion therapy ban approved in principle

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns

Prisoners transferred to the units are supposed to be allowed out of their cells for four hours each day, with two of those hours engaged in "meaningful human contact."

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

In the 2016 presidential election, there were approximately 620,000 Americans in Canada who were eligible to cast ballots, though only around 32,000 did.

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

COVID-19 deaths hit racialized communities hardest: Stats Can

The report's authors say it is more evidence that the pandemic is disproportionately affecting visible minorities, who are more likely to live in overcrowded housing and work in jobs that put them more at risk of exposure to COVID-19.

COVID-19 deaths hit racialized communities hardest: Stats Can

EI commissioners: start review of safety net now

The shortcomings in EI, flagged for years by experts, have been exposed by the pandemic, including that not every worker is covered, nor can everyone who is covered get benefits when they need them.

EI commissioners: start review of safety net now

Steep drop in right whale population raises fears

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that as of January 2019, an estimated 366 North Atlantic right whales remained in the ocean, down from the previous count of 412 in 2018. Oceana Canada campaign director Kim Elmslie said the decline is "a reality check."