Health in Nunavut, Canada: official figures
Life expectancy at birth in Nunavut was 70.84 years in 2022–2024, against 81.65 years for Canada; the lowest of 12 provinces and territories with data. Ten years earlier, in 2012–2014, it was 70.73 years (up 0.11 years).
How Nunavut compares with other territories
Life expectancy at birth, 2022–2024 (2022–2024)
Nunavut ranks 12 of 12, highest first. Three-year life tables; Yukon is not published for recent periods.
| Rank | Region | Life expectancy at birth, 2022–2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Nova Scotia | 80.30 years |
| 7 | New Brunswick | 80.12 years |
| 8 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 79.17 years |
| 9 | Saskatchewan | 79.02 years |
| 10 | Manitoba | 78.90 years |
| 11 | Northwest Territories | 76.29 years |
| 12 | Nunavut | 70.84 years |
Life expectancy at age 65, 2022–2024 (2022–2024)
Nunavut ranks 12 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Life expectancy at age 65, 2022–2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Prince Edward Island | 20.03 years |
| 7 | New Brunswick | 19.91 years |
| 8 | Manitoba | 19.90 years |
| 9 | Nova Scotia | 19.55 years |
| 10 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 18.99 years |
| 11 | Northwest Territories | 18.69 years |
| 12 | Nunavut | 16.21 years |
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births, 2024 (2024)
Nunavut ranks 1 of 13, highest first. Small numbers of deaths make rates in the smaller provinces and territories vary from year to year.
| Rank | Region | Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nunavut | 21.2 |
| 2 | Northwest Territories | 8.4 |
| 3 | Manitoba | 7.4 |
| 4 | Saskatchewan | 6.3 |
| 5 | New Brunswick | 6.0 |
| 6 | Quebec | 4.9 |
| 7 | Alberta | 4.4 |
Adults rating their health very good or excellent, 2023–2024 (2023–2024)
Nunavut ranks 13 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults rating their health very good or excellent, 2023–2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | British Columbia | 50.1% |
| 8 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 50.0% |
| 9 | Saskatchewan | 49.5% |
| 10 | Nova Scotia | 47.3% |
| 11 | Northwest Territories | 44.4% |
| 12 | New Brunswick | 43.2% |
| 13 | Nunavut | 41.9% |
Adults who smoke daily or occasionally, 2023–2024 (2023–2024)
Nunavut ranks 1 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults who smoke daily or occasionally, 2023–2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nunavut | 63.1% |
| 2 | Northwest Territories | 25.6% |
| 3 | Yukon | 17.7% |
| 4 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 15.0% |
| 5 | Nova Scotia | 13.8% |
| 6 | New Brunswick | 13.8% |
| 7 | Saskatchewan | 12.4% |
More on Nunavut: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Canada
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Table 13-10-0972-01: Health characteristics, two-year period estimates (Web Data Service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 69d18cb0c5d4…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 13-10-0713-01: Infant deaths and mortality rates, by age group (Web Data Service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7630920ec549…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 13-10-0140-01: Life expectancy and other elements of the abridged life table, three-year estimates, Prince Edward Island and the territories (Web Data Service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ab5670868b2…)
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