Median age in Canada
Canada: Median age was 40.34 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
40.34 years
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
52nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
40.34 years
in 2023
All-time low
24.45 years
in 1966
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Median age in Canada, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, median age in Canada stood at 40.34 years. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, median age in Canada peaked at 40.34 years in 2023 and was at its lowest, 24.45 years, in 1966.
Canada ranks 52nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Median age in Canada, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 26.67 years | — |
| 1951 | 26.66 years | -0.0% |
| 1952 | 26.6 years | -0.2% |
| 1953 | 26.54 years | -0.3% |
| 1954 | 26.45 years | -0.3% |
| 1955 | 26.33 years | -0.4% |
| 1956 | 26.18 years | -0.6% |
| 1957 | 25.97 years | -0.8% |
| 1958 | 25.77 years | -0.8% |
| 1959 | 25.62 years | -0.6% |
| 1960 | 25.47 years | -0.6% |
| 1961 | 25.28 years | -0.7% |
| 1962 | 25.04 years | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 24.78 years | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 24.57 years | -0.8% |
| 1965 | 24.47 years | -0.4% |
| 1966 | 24.45 years | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 24.5 years | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 24.61 years | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 24.76 years | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 24.95 years | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 25.17 years | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 25.43 years | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 25.74 years | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 26.06 years | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 26.38 years | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 26.71 years | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 27.06 years | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 27.42 years | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 27.78 years | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 28.13 years | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 28.47 years | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 28.82 years | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 29.18 years | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 29.55 years | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 29.94 years | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 30.33 years | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 30.73 years | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 31.11 years | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 31.46 years | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 31.82 years | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 32.19 years | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 32.56 years | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 32.93 years | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 33.32 years | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 33.71 years | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 34.11 years | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 34.53 years | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 34.95 years | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 35.37 years | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 35.77 years | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 36.16 years | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 36.55 years | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 36.92 years | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 37.27 years | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 37.59 years | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 37.87 years | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 38.12 years | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 38.34 years | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 38.54 years | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 38.74 years | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 38.94 years | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 39.12 years | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 39.3 years | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 39.47 years | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 39.63 years | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 39.73 years | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 39.77 years | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 39.77 years | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 39.79 years | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 39.9 years | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 40.1 years | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 40.25 years | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 40.34 years | +0.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 40.34 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 39.36 years, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26.28 years | 25.62 years | 26.67 years | 10 |
| 1960s | 24.79 years | 24.45 years | 25.47 years | 10 |
| 1970s | 26.27 years | 24.95 years | 27.78 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.77 years | 28.13 years | 31.46 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.55 years | 31.82 years | 35.37 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.31 years | 35.77 years | 38.54 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.43 years | 38.74 years | 39.79 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.15 years | 39.9 years | 40.34 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is median age in Canada?
- Median age in Canada was 40.34 years in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest median age recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 40.34 years in 2023.
- What is the lowest median age recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.45 years in 1966.
- How does Canada rank for median age?
- Canada ranks 52nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is median age rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Median age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Age that divides the population into two halves of equal size — half are younger and half are older.