The demographic changes which have

occurred in Canada have reflected the

growing population of Canada throughout the

sixteenth to the twenty first century. Canada

has experienced a population boom in the last

century, however, it only constitutes for about

one percent of the world's population. The

age sex structure has changed due to a variety

of causes in part due to the impact of western

civilization such as better health and increase

use of birth control.

Relatively greater number of men rather then

women came to New France in the early days

of Canada. This resulted in a imbalance of

men versus women until the late nineteenth

century. The population shifted from a mobile

population to a settler one. The number of

men has not decreased until the late twentieth

century.

The gradual aging of the population during the

twentieth century and the longer life

expectancies for women have eroded the

percentage of men to women. The excess of

men versus women can still be found in rural

communities across Canada, however, in the

cities the reverse has taken place. Women

tend to concentrate in cities due to the

employment opportunities and better social

services. The number of females

outnumbered the males over seventy five

because of the lower male life expectancy

after sixty five.

Canada's population has gradually aged as

the importance of immigration has declined

and natural increase has been the major

factor in the nation's growth in the last one

hundred years. For the first portion of

Canada's history the population was

dominately young. Canada's population has

shifted to a "aged"� population meaning that a

large percentage of the population is going to

be sixty five years old. This is a result of the

baby boomer generation growing old and the

low fertility rate in Canada. This is similar in

other western countries.

The increase in the age of the population has

been a result of falling mortality rates

throughout Canada. This has been due to

improvement of nutrition and medical

services. The decrease of infectious

diseases has also been a major factor,

although, degenerative disease have taken

their place. These are caused by stress and

worsening environmental conditions..

Before the nineteenth century fertility rates in

North America were as high as the present

levels in most developing countries. This was

a result of poor living conditions and lack of

development. This reflected the agricultural

settler society that was Canada at the time.

Large families were needed to farm the land.

After the early nineteenth century the birth rate

declined as living conditions improved. The

population shifted to a more urban society

resulting in smaller family sizes. Birthrates in

Canada have been dropping in recent

decades.

Effective birth control and family planning has

changed the demographics of the Canadian

population resulting in a smaller number

children. This phenomenon came about in

the 1950's when birth control was introduced

to women. Women were given more control

over the number of children they are willing to

bear resulting in lower birth rates in recent

decades.

The age sex structure of Canada has reflected

the changes which have taken place within

Canadian society over the course of the last

two centuries. The implication of the changes

have been wide ranging resulting in smaller

family units and emphasis placed on urban

centers as opposed to rural communities.