According to new projections by Statistics Canada, the nation’s population is expected to reach 63 million by 2073, with the number of individuals aged 85 and older tripling.
The agency reports that migration will be the primary driver of this population growth, while natural growth will play only a minor role due to an aging population and low fertility rates.
Current estimates predict the population will rise from around 40 million in 2023 to between 47 million and 87 million over the next 50 years, with 63 million being the medium-growth forecast.
The population of those aged 85 and over is projected to grow from 896,600 in 2023 to between 3.3 million and 4.3 million by 2073.
The forecasts also indicate a decline in the populations of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Quebec as a proportion of Canada’s total population until 2048. Conversely, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia are expected to see an increase in their share of the national population.