Key Takeaways
- Canadian life expectancy reached approximately 82.1 years in 2024, nearly returning to pre-pandemic levels.
- Health-adjusted life expectancy fell to 66.9 years in 2023, almost two years below its 2019 level.
- The report highlights worsening emotional health among younger adults and persistent health inequalities linked to income and other social conditions.
Canada Is Living Longer, but Not Necessarily Healthier
Canada has made progress in extending life expectancy, but a new federal health report highlights a less encouraging reality: more years of life do not automatically mean more years of good health. The findings raise important questions about how the country measures progress in public health.
What the 2026 Report Reveals
Released in October 2026 by the Public Health Agency of Canada, The State of Public Health in Canada 2026 examines seven major areas, including mental health, toxic drug harms, sexually transmitted infections, measles, cancer and wildfires.
The report states that life expectancy at birth reached 82.1 years in 2024, recovering close to its pre-pandemic level of 82.2 years in 2019. However, health-adjusted life expectancy, which estimates the years people can expect to live in good health, dropped to 66.9 years in 2023. That was nearly two years below the 2019 figure.
The report identifies declining emotional health as a primary contributor to this trend. Between 2015 and 2024, high emotional health decreased across adult age groups, with particularly notable declines among people aged 18 to 34.
Health Inequality Remains a Major Concern
The findings also reveal substantial differences between communities. In 2023, people living in Canada's lowest-income neighbourhoods lived about five years less than those in the highest-income neighbourhoods. They could also expect approximately eight fewer years in good health.
The report links unequal health outcomes to broader social and structural factors, including income, housing, systemic racism and colonialism. These findings suggest that health outcomes depend on more than medical treatment alone.
What Happens Next?
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, identifies three priorities: supporting younger populations, strengthening prevention and preparedness, and building public health knowledge, trust and leadership.
TwikUp's Perspective
The report highlights an important distinction in measuring national progress. Life expectancy alone cannot show whether people are experiencing healthy, fulfilling lives. Policymakers should consider mental well-being, living conditions and unequal access to opportunities alongside traditional health indicators. Sustained prevention and better-targeted public health measures will be essential to turning longer lives into healthier ones.