1.0 Demographics

1.0 Demographics

The Veteran figures below below include Veterans who are VAC clients, as well as those who are not.

Veteran figures are based on the 2021 Statistics Canada Census of Population. For the first time since 1971, a question was added to the short-form questionnaire of the Census asking about Canadians’ military experience. The main purpose of the 2021 Census question was to fill a significant data gap to inform policies and programs administered by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and other Veteran support organizations.

Table 1.1 Estimated Veteran Population by Province

The current Veteran data available from the 2021 Census is disaggregated by province of residence and other individual characteristics but does not differentiate Veterans by their service (Second World War, Korean War, Canadian Armed Forces).

Estimated War Service Veteran figures have been prepared by the VAC Statistics Directorate. Veterans Affairs Canada is working with Statistics Canada to develop updated War Service Veteran estimates. Table 1.1 will be updated with those figures as soon as they are made available.

Province	Veterans (CAF and WS as of May 11/21)^Footnote1^Footnote2	Estimated War Service Veterans (Second World War, Korean War as of March 31/21)^Footnote3
Newfoundland and Labrador	8,915	300
Prince Edward Island	3,645	200
Nova Scotia	33,200	1,300
New Brunswick	20,305	1,000
Quebec	104,695	2,000
Ontario	149,020	11,000
Manitoba	14,725	1,100
Saskatchewan	11,435	800
Alberta	49,880	2,000
British Columbia	63,845	5,500
Territories	1,570	-
Foreign Countries	-	300
Total: Estimated Canadian Veteran Population^{Footnote 4}	461,240	25,500

Source: Canadian Armed Forces Veterans - Statistics Canada. War Service Veterans - Veterans Affairs Canada.

Table 1.2 Enumerated Veterans by Age Group and Gender

Age Group (years)^Footnote5	Total - Gender^Footnote6	Men+^Footnote7	Women+^Footnote8
17 to 24	7,180	5,745	1,440
25 to 64	261,095	211,795	49,300
25 to 29	11,325	9,615	1,715
30 to 34	18,900	15,905	2,995
35 to 39	20,625	16,750	3,875
40 to 44	22,135	17,260	4,870
45 to 49	32,615	25,295	7,315
50 to 54	42,090	34,120	7,970
55 to 59	57,650	47,205	10,455
60 to 64	55,755	45,640	10,115
65 & over	192,960	168,765	24,195
65 to 74	86,135	76,080	10,055
75 to 84	73,400	65,330	8,070
85 & over	33,420	27,350	6,070
Total - Age^Footnote4	461,240	386,300	74,935

Source: Statistics Canada.

Table 1.3 Estimated Veterans by Indigenous Status (First Nation, Métis, Inuk) and Age Group

The estimated Veteran population table below include Veterans who are VAC clients, as well as those who are not.

Age Group (years)^Footnote5	Total	Single Indigenous Responses				Multiple Indigenous Responses^Footnote9	Other Indigenous Responses^Footnote10
Age Group (years)^Footnote5	Total	Total	First Nations (North American Indian)	Métis	Inuk (Inuit)	Multiple Indigenous Responses^Footnote9	Other Indigenous Responses^Footnote10
17 to 24	800	775	530	185	60	10	15
25 to 64	15,705	15,130	7,625	6,940	565	315	260
25 to 29	980	935	585	320	40	20	20
30 to 34	1,340	1,265	630	595	45	55	20
35 to 39	1,245	1,195	640	480	75	30	30
40 to 44	1,385	1,320	650	620	55	30	35
45 to 49	1,900	1,820	920	840	65	50	30
50 to 54	2,795	2,730	1,360	1,265	100	40	25
55 to 59	3,215	3,120	1,590	1,435	90	50	45
60 to 64	2,840	2,745	1,250	1,395	100	35	55
65 & over	6,575	6,245	2,805	3,315	130	100	230
65 to 74	3,645	3,500	1,585	1,855	65	45	95
75 to 84	2,420	2,255	1,035	1,180	40	45	120
85 & over	515	490	185	285	25	10	20
Total - Age^Footnote4	23,075	22,150	10,950	10,440	755	425	505

Source: Statistics Canada.

Veterans Affairs Canada

Since November 2010, the Department has been serving more modern-day Canadian Armed Forces Veterans than traditional War Service Veterans.

Table 1.4 Veterans and Survivors Served by VAC (Unique)

VAC Unique Veterans and Survivors by Type	Actuals as of March 31, 2022					Average Age (March 31, 2022)
VAC Unique Veterans and Survivors by Type	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20	2020–21	2021–22	Average Age (March 31, 2022)
War Service Veterans	20,273	15,644	12,375	8,026	5,880	96
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans	97,231	101,049	106,744	112,252	118,820	60
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Veterans	13,169	13,136	14,081	16,640	19,135	58
Subtotal: Veterans	130,673	129,829	133,200	136,918	143,835	61
War Service Survivors	47,375	43,184	37,828	34,398	30,441	89
CAF Survivors	9,847	11,928	14,848	15,729	16,630	69
RCMP Survivors	1,032	1,139	1,225	1,317	1,429	75
Subtotal: Survivors	58,254	56,251	53,901	51,444	48,500	82
Total: VAC Veterans and Survivors	188,927	186,080	187,101	188,362	192,335	66

VAC Unique Veterans and Survivors by Service Type	Forecast^{Footnote 11}
VAC Unique Veterans and Survivors by Service Type	2022–23	2023–24	2024–25	2025–26	2026–27
War Service Veterans	4,400	3,200	2,300	1,600	1,100
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans	125,800	132,600	134,300	135,900	137,500
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Veterans	21,500	23,800	24,700	25,500	26,200
Subtotal: Veterans	151,600	159,600	161,200	163,000	164,700
War Service Survivors	26,900	23,600	20,300	17,600	15,200
CAF Survivors	18,000	19,500	20,900	22,400	23,800
RCMP Survivors	1,600	1,800	1,900	2,100	2,300
Subtotal: Survivors	46,500	44,800	43,200	42,100	41,300
Total: VAC Veterans and Survivors^{Footnote 4}	198,100	204,400	204,400	205,100	206,000

Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch

Table 1.5 Total Number of Veterans by Sex, Service Type, and Age - March 2022

All Veterans by Sex	War Service	CAF	RCMP	Total	% Total
Male	4,802	104,345	15,908	125,055	87%
Female	1,040	14,009	3,220	18,269	13%
Unknown	38	466	7	511	0%
Total	5,880	118,820	19,135	143,835	100%

Male Veterans
Age	War Service	CAF	RCMP	Total	% Male
29 and under	0	1,987	113	2,100	1%
30 to 39	0	11,551	1,460	13,011	9%
40 to 49	0	13,429	2,774	16,203	11%
50 to 59	0	23,091	3,094	26,185	18%
60 to 69	0	19,909	3,816	23,725	16%
70 to 79	0	16,728	3,340	20,068	14%
80 to 89	323	14,991	1,174	16,488	11%
90 and over	4,479	2,659	137	7,275	5%
Total	4,802	104,345	15,908	125,055	87%

Female Veterans
Age	War Service	CAF	RCMP	Total	% Female
29 and under	0	466	36	502	0%
30 to 39	0	2,021	437	2,458	2%
40 to 49	0	3,102	1,074	4,176	3%
50 to 59	0	4,416	1,054	5,470	4%
60 to 69	0	2,784	517	3,301	2%
70 to 79	0	526	95	621	0%
80 to 89	18	558	7	583	0%
90 and over	1,022	136	0	1,158	1%
Total	1,040	14,009	3,220	18,269	13%

Total Unknown Veterans
Age	War Service	CAF	RCMP	Total	% Unknown
29 and under	0	4	0	4	0%
30 to 39	0	5	0	5	0%
40 to 49	0	9	0	9	0%
50 to 59	0	72	1	73	0%
60 to 69	0	106	1	107	0%
70 to 79	0	122	2	124	0%
80 to 89	2	127	3	132	0%
90 and over	36	21	0	57	0%
Total	38	466	7	511	0%

Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch

Table 1.6 Veterans served by Area Office as of March 2022

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 Plans^{Footnote 12}
Halifax	229	14,355	1,494	16,078	1,797
Sydney	41	1,573	159	1,773	185
Subtotal: Nova Scotia Area^{Footnote 13}	270	15,928	1,653	17,851	1,982
Campbellton	43	975	136	1,154	78
Charlottetown	46	1,305	266	1,617	187
Cornerbrook	16	670	132	818	149
Oromocto	46	4,706	313	5,065	893
Saint John	113	4,565	624	5,302	357
St John's	66	2,000	473	2,539	310
Subtotal: NF and LAB, NB, PEI	330	14,221	1,944	16,495	1,974
Montreal	346	6,057	597	7,000	798
St-Jean	0	10	2	12	2
Subtotal: Western Quebec Area	346	6,067	599	7,012	800
Quebec	77	9,995	147	10,219	1,639
Subtotal: Quebec Area	77	9,995	147	10,219	1,639
Gatineau	28	2,506	308	2,842	289
Ottawa	273	8,625	1,365	10,263	963
Pembroke	48	4,136	153	4,337	527
Subtotal: National Capital Area	349	15,267	1,826	17,442	1,779
Kingston	105	4,693	176	4,974	496
Peterborough	140	1,030	42	1,212	153
Thunder Bay	84	697	20	801	105
Toronto	709	2,089	139	2,937	225
Trenton	68	3,322	31	3,421	325
Subtotal: Central Ontario Area	1,106	11,831	408	13,345	1,304
Hamilton	253	1,860	119	2,232	200
London	152	1,421	116	1,689	228
North Bay	524	4,421	321	5,266	304
Mississauga	111	1,901	33	2,045	246
Windsor	170	1,583	87	1,840	133
Subtotal: South Western Ontario Area	1,210	11,186	676	13,072	1,111
Brandon	55	1,157	279	1,491	159
Calgary	255	4,429	1,587	6,271	475
Edmonton	189	8,450	1,884	10,523	1,002
Regina	79	803	667	1,549	70
Saskatoon	94	793	456	1,343	97
Winnipeg	182	2,557	619	3,358	336
Subtotal: Prairie Area	854	18,189	5,492	24,535	2,139
Kelowna	89	1,230	894	2,213	124
Penticton	178	1,766	1,100	3,044	182
Prince George	26	488	451	965	63
Surrey	311	1,938	1,771	4,020	177
Vancouver	246	1,463	773	2,482	233
Victoria	395	7,891	1,317	9,603	597
Subtotal: British Columbia and the North	1,245	14,776	6,306	22,327	1,376
Subtotal: Foreign Country Operations	93	1,339	68	1,500	123
Subtotal: Unknown/Missing	0	21	16	37	3
Total	5,880	118,820	19,135	143,835	14,230

Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch

Footnotes

Footnote 1

For the purposes of the 2021 Census, Canadian military service includes service with the Regular Force or Primary Reserve Force as an Officer or Non-Commissioned Member. It does not include service with the Cadets, Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service (COATS) instructors or the Canadian Rangers.

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Footnote 2

Veterans living in Canada counted on Census Day (May 11, 2021).

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Footnote 3

Estimated War Service Veterans are included in the StatsCan Census total estimated Canadian Veteran population count of 461,240.

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Footnote 4

Totals may not add due to rounding.

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Footnote 5

'Age' refers to the age of a person (or subject) of interest at last birthday (or relative to a specified, well-defined reference date).

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Footnote 6

Gender refers to an individual's personal and social identity as a man, woman or non-binary person (a person who is not exclusively a man or a woman).

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Footnote 7

Men+ - This category includes men and boys, as well as some non-binary persons.

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Footnote 8

Women+ - This category includes women and girls, as well as some non-binary persons.

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Footnote 9

This category includes persons who identify as any two or all three of the following: First Nations (North American Indian), Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit).

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Footnote 10

Not captured elsewhere -This category includes persons who do not identify as First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) but who report having Registered or Treaty Indian status and/or Membership in a First Nation or Indian band.

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Footnote 11

VAC Client and Expenditure Forecast is prepared in October 2022 by the Statistics Directorate, Finance.

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Footnote 12

A Case Plan is a set of organized interventions/actions accompanied by a chronological listing of scheduled follow ups and monitoring, which respond to the unmet needs and desired goals of the Veteran.

Return to footnote 12 referrer

Footnote 13

Nova Scotia Area includes Foreign Countries Operations.

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Table 1.1 Estimated Veteran Population by Province

Table 1.2 Enumerated Veterans by Age Group and Gender

Table 1.3 Estimated Veterans by Indigenous Status (First Nation, Métis, Inuk) and Age Group

Veterans Affairs Canada

Table 1.4 Veterans and Survivors Served by VAC (Unique)

Table 1.5 Total Number of Veterans by Sex, Service Type, and Age - March 2022

Table 1.6 Veterans served by Area Office as of March 2022

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