Average life expectancy at birth increases, healthy years deteriorate

Trends among younger people have important implications for both current and future health, according to a new report from Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Joss Reimer.

In the snapshot of key health trends, the report’s author notably includes wildfires in the list of topics published in The State of Public Health in Canada 2026. The impact of wildfires on the health of Canadians was discussed alongside changes in life expectancy, mental health, toxic drug harms, sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, measles and cancer.

The report notes that life expectancy is returning to pre-pandemic levels but adds that fewer years are spent in good health by Canadians on average.

Between 2019 and 2022, life expectancy dropped from 82.2 years to 81.1 years, the largest decrease ever recorded in Canada. The report attributes the drop both to the COVID-19 pandemic and to a rise in deaths related to the opioid drug crisis.

“Recent data show a rebound,” they add. “Life expectancy at birth has increased for two consecutive years, reaching 82.1 years in 2024.”

Health-adjusted life expectancy on the other hand (the figure measures how many years person is likely to live in good health if current patterns of mortality and health remain unchanged), has declined nearly two years from figures reported in 2019, and more than three years below a peak reached in the early 2010s – in 2023, a person in Canada could expect to spend an average of 66.9 years in good health.

They say deteriorating emotional health among those under age 65 is the primary contributor. The largest declines in mental health were observed among younger adults, particularly among those between 18 and 34 years of age.

“In 2015, 72 per cent of adults reported their mental health was very good or excellent, but in 2021 this dropped to 59 per cent,” they write. “For youth aged 12 to 17 years, this percentage was 78 per cent in 2015 and dropped to 62 per cent in 2021.” The report notes that the experiences and health of young people today will shape population health for decades to come.

In addition to the other health drivers discussed, wildfire seasons were noted for their growing length and severity. The chief public health officer also calls for public health systems to prioritize both prevention and preparedness going forward.