Canada’s population is getting older, and that could have a big impact on voting trends and political priorities. In the charts below, we have crunched some numbers on the size of the senior demographic in Canada and its proclivity for voting and for donating to charity.
By Ariana Armstrong and Peter Mazereeuw
Seniors could make up roughly 25 per cent of the Canadian population by 2060, compared with a little over 15 per cent in 2014, according to Statistics Canada projections illustrated in the following chart.
The following chart illustrates demographic changes in more detail. Between 1996 and 2011, the three ‘younger’ groups shrank, while the three ‘older’ groups grew.
The Atlantic provinces tend to have a higher proportion of seniors than the Western provinces. This could be at least in part as a result of the migration of younger workers to natural resources jobs in the west, particularly Alberta.
The following chart shows the percentage of eligible voters in Canada aged 65 to 74 who actually cast a ballot in the 2011 federal election. But as Ariana Armstrong reports, while seniors are more likely to vote that doesn’t mean they vote as a bloc.
An older Canadian population will likely mean a greater demand for retirement residences and assisted living facilities, some of which are paid for or subsidized by taxpayers.
Here is a look at voter turnout by age group.
An older Canadian population might also be a boon to charities. As illustrated by the following chart, Canadians aged 65 and over were more likely to have made a charitable donation in 2012 than any other age group. (For more about charitable donations in Canada, please see our special report.)
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