According to a new Statistics Canada report, B.C. residents in different regions have varying life expectancies. And depending on where you live, that could mean the difference of a decade.
RELATED:
- Higher Grocery Costs Are Forcing Young Canadians To Extreme Measures
- The New $5.9B Superport Could Push B.C.’s Orcas Toward Extinction
Life Expectancy Averages in B.C.
From 2022 to 2024, life expectancy averages across B.C. ranged from 76.8 years to 86.8 years, a ten-year gap between the highest and lowest numbers.
For those in Northern and Interior B.C., and on Vancouver Island, life expectancy is reported to be considerably lower. The Northern Health Authority, Island Health Authority, and Interior Health Authority have the lowest stats at 76.8 years, 81.2 years, and 80.2 years respectively.
On the other hand, people in Metro Vancouver— those who fall under the Fraser Health Authority and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority— were reported to live an average of 83.0 years and 84.2 years, also respectively. People in the Richmond Health Service Delivery Area have the highest life expectancy, averaging 86.8 years.
Do Men or Women Live Longer?
Across Canada, women live longer than men at a difference of 4.4 years. In B.C., the numbers are fairly similar at a difference of 5.2 years.
But the story remains the same when talking about location: Northern and Interior B.C. and Vancouver Island residents, whether they’re male or female, still live shorter lives on average when compared to Metro Vancouverites.
While Statistics Canada does not analyze why life expectancy numbers fluctuate, the stats make it clear that the averages are slowly making their way back up from pre-pandemic levels.
