OTTAWA – Canadians are living longer than they used to and men are catching up to women's longevity rates, according to new numbers released by Statistics Canada Tuesday.

Total Canadian life expectancy, measured for those born between 2005 and 2007, has grown over the past decade by 2.3 years to a ripe old 80.7. Women can still expect to live longer, to an average 83 years old. Men can expect to live to be 78.3, but their expected lifespans grew faster: 2.9 years compared to women's 1.8 years growth over 10 years.

British Columbians, Ontarians and Quebeckers have the highest life expectancies. The lowest is in the three territories, averaging out at 75.8 years – significantly less than the 81.2 years British Columbians can expect to be on Earth.

The number of deaths in Canada continued to increase, with 2007 registering 235,217, the most since 1993 and up 3.1% from only one year before. Death rates also rose faster for women than for men.

Ontario and Quebec accounted for the majority of the deaths (71%). Saskatchewan and Newfoundland had the smallest increase, while the number of deaths actually declined in PEI and the Northwest Territories, and remained stable in Nunavut.

laura.payton@sunmedia.ca