Birth
and Fertility Statistics
Updated September
22, 2009
For the
last 40 years, Canadian families have been having fewer children. Combined with
the aging of the Baby Boomers, this means more of our citizens will be over 65
years old than will be under 14.
-
In 1970, 17 children were born
for every 1000 Canadian citizens. In 2006, 10 children were born for every
1000 citizens.[1]
-
In 2007, this number rose to 11.2 children per 1000 people. [2]
-
A Total Fertility Rate (average
number of children per woman during her fertile years) of 2.1 is required
to maintain our population levels by births alone. The last time the TFR
was 2.1 was 1971. [3]
By 2006 the TFR had dropped to 1.59. [4]
In 2007 the TFR rose to 1.66. [5]
-
“The decades between 1987 and
2007 saw an overall decline in the fertility rate of Canadian women in
their twenties, while that of women in their thirties increased steadily.
In 2006, the fertility rate of women aged 30 to 34 surpassed the fertility
rate of those aged 25 to 29.” [6]
-
“In 2002, 35% of seniors aged
65-74 had 4 or more children still living, while only 11% of parents aged
45-54 had the same number…” [7]
-
Population estimates show that
in 2005 there were 135 children per 100 seniors (65+) in Canada. In 2031,
the corresponding ratio of children to seniors is predicted to range
between 54 and 71 children per 100 seniors in Canada. [8]
-
According to Statistics Canada
population projections, seniors 65 and older will begin to outnumber
children 14 years old and younger by around 2015. [9]
Endnotes
[1] Unicef. (2008)
At a Glance: Canada. Retrieved September 22, 2009 from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/canada_statistics.html#47
[2] Statistics
Canada. (2009). Births: 2007. Ottawa: Minister of
Industry. Retrieved September
22, 2009 from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/84f0210x/84f0210x2007000-eng.pdf
[3] Statistics
Canada. (2008). Report on the Demographic
Situation in Canada 2005 and 2006. Ottawa: Minister of Industry. p. 29.
Retrieved September 22, 2009 from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/91-209-x/91-209-x2004000-eng.pdf
[4]Statistics Canada. (2008). Births: 2006. Ottawa: Minister of Industry. Retrieved September 22, 2009 from
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/84f0210x/2006000/5201672-eng.htm
[5] Statistics
Canada. (2009). Births: 2007. Ottawa: Minister of
Industry. Retrieved September 22, 2009 from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/84f0210x/84f0210x2007000-eng.pdf
[6] Ibid.
[7] Statistics
Canada. (2007). A Portrait of Seniors in Canada 2006. Ottawa: Minister of
Industry. p. 141. Retrieved September
22, 2009 from http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/89-519-XIE/89-519-XIE2006001.htm
[8] Statistics Canada. (2005). Population Projections for Canada, Provinces and Territories 2005-2031.
Ottawa: Minister of Industry. p. 45. Retrieved September 22, 2009 from http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/91-520-XIE/0010591-520-XIE.htm
[9] Statistics
Canada. (2005).Population Projections, p. 45