1.0 Demographics
The estimated Veteran population tables below include all Veterans who are VAC clients, as well as those who are not.
War Service Veteran population estimates are based on the 1971 Statistics Canada Census and the 1988 Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey and are updated annually using survival rates from Statistics Canada life tables.
CAF Veteran population estimates are based on the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) conducted by Statistics Canada. The information is updated annually with release information from the Department of National Defence and survival rates from Statistics Canada life tables.
Table 1.1 Estimated Veteran Population by ProvinceFootnote1
Province | War Service Veterans (Second World War, Korean War) |
Canadian Armed Forces Veterans (Regular and Primary Reserve) |
Total Estimated Veterans |
---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | 300 | 15,100 | 15,400 |
Prince Edward Island | 200 | 3,700 | 3,900 |
Nova Scotia | 1,300 | 38,500 | 39,800 |
New Brunswick | 1,000 | 28,100 | 29,100 |
Quebec | 2,000 | 115,200 | 117,200 |
Ontario | 11,000 | 212,400 | 223,400 |
Manitoba | 1,100 | 18,700 | 19,800 |
Saskatchewan | 800 | 14,500 | 15,300 |
Alberta | 2,000 | 64,200 | 66,200 |
British Columbia | 5,500 | 80,000 | 85,500 |
Territories | - | 1,900 | 1,900 |
Foreign Countries | 300 | - | 300 |
Total: Estimated Canadian Veteran PopulationFootnote 2 | 25,500 | 592,300 | 617,800 |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Table 1.2 Estimated Veteran Population by Average AgeFootnote 3
Type of Service | Average Age | March 2021 |
---|---|---|
Second World War Veterans | 96 | 20,300 |
Korean War Veterans | 89 | 5,200 |
Total: Estimated War Service Veteran PopulationFootnote 4 | 94 | 25,500 |
Canadian Armed Forces - Regular Forces | 62 | 315,000 |
Canadian Armed Forces - Primary Reserves | 57 | 277,300 |
Total: Estimated Canadian Armed Forces Veteran PopulationFootnote 4 | 59 | 592,300 |
Total Estimated Canadian Veteran Population | n/a | 617,800 |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Veterans Affairs Canada
Since November 2010, the Department has been serving more modern-day Canadian Armed Forces Veterans than traditional War Service Veterans.
Table 1.3 Veterans and Survivors Served by VAC (Unique)
VAC Unique Veterans and Survivors by Type | Actuals as of March 31, 2021 | Average Age (March 31, 2021) |
YTD Dec 2021 |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016–17 | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | |||
War Service Veterans | 25,016 | 20,273 | 15,644 | 12,375 | 8,026 | 95 | 6,381 |
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans | 93,123 | 97,231 | 101,049 | 106,744 | 112,252 | 59 | 116,991 |
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Veterans | 12,482 | 13,169 | 13,136 | 14,081 | 16,640 | 59 | 18,661 |
Subtotal: Veterans | 130,621 | 130,673 | 129,829 | 133,200 | 136,918 | 61 | 142,033 |
War Service Survivors | 51,471 | 47,375 | 43,184 | 37,828 | 34,398 | 88 | 31,563 |
CAF Survivors | 9,560 | 9,847 | 11,928 | 14,848 | 15,729 | 68 | 16,396 |
RCMP Survivors | 945 | 1,032 | 1,139 | 1,225 | 1,317 | 73 | 1,393 |
Subtotal: Survivors | 61,976 | 58,254 | 56,251 | 53,901 | 51,444 | 82 | 49,352 |
Total: VAC Veterans and Survivors | 192,597 | 188,927 | 186,080 | 187,101 | 188,362 | 67 | 191,385 |
VAC Unique Veterans and Survivors by Service Type | ForecastFootnote 5 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 | 2025–26 | |
War Service Veterans | 6,400 | 5,100 | 3,800 | 2,900 | 2,100 |
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans | 123,600 | 131,200 | 135,400 | 139,400 | 143,200 |
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Veterans | 19,600 | 21,700 | 22,500 | 23,200 | 24,000 |
Subtotal: Veterans | 149,600 | 158,000 | 161,700 | 165,500 | 169,300 |
War Service Survivors | 31,100 | 27,800 | 24,800 | 21,900 | 19,200 |
CAF Survivors | 16,900 | 18,300 | 19,700 | 21,100 | 22,600 |
RCMP Survivors | 1,400 | 1,600 | 1,700 | 1,900 | 2,000 |
Subtotal: Survivors | 49,400 | 47,700 | 46,200 | 44,900 | 43,800 |
Total: VAC Veterans and SurvivorsFootnote 6 | 199,000 | 205,700 | 207,900 | 210,400 | 213,100 |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Table 1.4 Total Number of Veterans by Sex, Service Type, and Age - December 2021
All Veterans by Sex | War Service | CAF | RCMP | Total | % Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | 5,232 | 102,978 | 15,527 | 123,737 | 87% |
Female | 1,109 | 13,551 | 3,127 | 17,787 | 13% |
Unknown | 40 | 462 | 7 | 509 | 0% |
Total | 6,381 | 116,991 | 18,661 | 142,033 | 100% |
Age | War Service | CAF | RCMP | Total | % Male |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 and under | 0 | 1,843 | 96 | 1,939 | 1% |
30 to 39 | 0 | 11,247 | 1,348 | 12,595 | 9% |
40 to 49 | 0 | 13,251 | 2,628 | 15,879 | 11% |
50 to 59 | 0 | 23,023 | 3,028 | 26,051 | 18% |
60 to 69 | 0 | 19,362 | 3,853 | 23,215 | 16% |
70 to 79 | 0 | 16,718 | 3,298 | 20,016 | 14% |
80 to 89 | 364 | 14,949 | 1,148 | 16,461 | 12% |
90 and over | 4,868 | 2,585 | 128 | 7,581 | 5% |
Total | 5,232 | 102,978 | 15,527 | 123,737 | 87% |
Age | War Service | CAF | RCMP | Total | % Female |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 and under | 0 | 434 | 32 | 466 | 0% |
30 to 39 | 0 | 1,959 | 424 | 2,383 | 2% |
40 to 49 | 0 | 3,000 | 1,035 | 4,035 | 3% |
50 to 59 | 0 | 4,330 | 1,030 | 5,360 | 4% |
60 to 69 | 0 | 2,630 | 506 | 3,136 | 2% |
70 to 79 | 0 | 515 | 93 | 608 | 0% |
80 to 89 | 13 | 564 | 7 | 584 | 0% |
90 and over | 1,096 | 119 | 0 | 1,215 | 1% |
Total | 1,109 | 13,551 | 3,127 | 17,787 | 13% |
Age | War Service | CAF | RCMP | Total | % Unknown |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 and under | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
30 to 39 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
40 to 49 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0% |
50 to 59 | 0 | 70 | 1 | 71 | 0% |
60 to 69 | 0 | 106 | 1 | 107 | 0% |
70 to 79 | 0 | 127 | 2 | 129 | 0% |
80 to 89 | 3 | 121 | 3 | 127 | 0% |
90 and over | 37 | 21 | 0 | 58 | 0% |
Total | 40 | 462 | 7 | 509 | 0% |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Table 1.5 Veterans Served by Area Office as of December 2021
The table below provides a breakdown of Veterans by VAC Area Office and lists Veterans who have active case plans with a departmental Case Manager.
Area Office | War Service | CAF | RCMP | Total | Veterans with Active Case PlansFootnote 7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Halifax | 240 | 14,127 | 1,477 | 15,844 | 1,819 |
Sydney | 47 | 1,513 | 156 | 1,716 | 195 |
Subtotal: Nova Scotia AreaFootnote 8 | 287 | 15,640 | 1,633 | 17,560 | 2,014 |
Campbellton | 47 | 952 | 135 | 1,134 | 83 |
Charlottetown | 49 | 1,269 | 267 | 1,585 | 191 |
Cornerbrook | 17 | 653 | 130 | 800 | 152 |
Oromocto | 52 | 4,633 | 314 | 4,999 | 916 |
Saint John | 127 | 4,481 | 603 | 5,211 | 373 |
St John's | 56 | 1,958 | 473 | 2,487 | 322 |
Subtotal: NF and LAB, NB, PEI | 348 | 13,946 | 1,922 | 16,216 | 2,037 |
Montreal | 308 | 3,604 | 420 | 4,332 | 510 |
St-Jean | 49 | 2,340 | 159 | 2,548 | 306 |
Subtotal: Western Quebec Area | 357 | 5,944 | 549 | 6,880 | 816 |
Quebec | 84 | 9,821 | 146 | 10,051 | 1,692 |
Subtotal: Quebec Area | 84 | 9,821 | 146 | 10,051 | 1,692 |
Gatineau | 32 | 2,414 | 303 | 2,749 | 270 |
Ottawa | 305 | 8,587 | 1,339 | 10,231 | 1,038 |
Pembroke | 50 | 4,035 | 153 | 4,238 | 522 |
Subtotal: National Capital Area | 387 | 15,036 | 1,795 | 17,218 | 1,830 |
Kingston | 112 | 4,621 | 176 | 4,909 | 527 |
Peterborough | 164 | 1,010 | 42 | 1,216 | 154 |
Thunder Bay | 90 | 702 | 20 | 812 | 121 |
Toronto | 761 | 2,072 | 132 | 2,965 | 232 |
Trenton | 75 | 3,287 | 34 | 3,396 | 321 |
Subtotal: Central Ontario Area | 1,202 | 11,692 | 404 | 13,298 | 1,355 |
Hamilton | 284 | 1,846 | 112 | 2,242 | 183 |
London | 166 | 1,434 | 116 | 1,716 | 229 |
North Bay | 124 | 1,838 | 37 | 1,999 | 233 |
Mississauga | 562 | 4,428 | 311 | 5,301 | 340 |
Windsor | 175 | 1,581 | 83 | 1,839 | 147 |
Subtotal: South Western Ontario Area | 1,311 | 11,127 | 659 | 13,097 | 1,132 |
Brandon | 61 | 1,153 | 269 | 1,483 | 163 |
Calgary | 272 | 4,354 | 1,539 | 6,165 | 454 |
Edmonton | 215 | 8,333 | 1,768 | 10,316 | 1,083 |
Regina | 86 | 789 | 643 | 1,518 | 81 |
Saskatoon | 109 | 777 | 447 | 1,333 | 99 |
Winnipeg | 198 | 2,500 | 588 | 3,286 | 316 |
Subtotal: Prairie Area | 941 | 17,906 | 5,254 | 24,101 | 2,196 |
Kelowna | 106 | 1,234 | 892 | 2,232 | 159 |
Penticton | 199 | 1,740 | 1,094 | 3,033 | 199 |
Prince George | 32 | 471 | 435 | 938 | 70 |
Surrey | 336 | 1,913 | 1,707 | 3,956 | 194 |
Vancouver | 266 | 1,451 | 770 | 2,487 | 246 |
Victoria | 426 | 7,806 | 1,284 | 9,516 | 631 |
Subtotal: British Columbia and the North | 1,365 | 14,615 | 6,182 | 22,162 | 1,499 |
Subtotal: Foreign Country Operations | 99 | 1,246 | 70 | 1,415 | 111 |
Subtotal: Unknown/Missing | 0 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 3 |
Total | 6,381 | 116,991 | 18,661 | 142,033 | 14,685 |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
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