Census 2011 shows seniors are Canada’s fastest growing group

Canadians have new insight into what our nation looks like, as new data from the 2011 Census became available this morning.

And we're looking pretty grey.

For the first time in history, the number of people getting ready to retire is higher than the number of people who are entering the workforce, an expected side-effect of aging baby boomers.

According to Statistics Canada, seniors (aged over 65) account for 14.8 per cent of all Canadians, up from 13.7 per cent in 2006.

What's more shocking is who makes up the second fastest growing group in Canada; there are 25.7 per cent more people over age 100 than there were five years ago. Centenarians numbered 5,825 in 2011.

Certain parts of the country are particularly showing their age more than others, too. The Atlantic provinces had the highest percentage of people age 65 and older, each boasting a population of at least 16 per cent seniors (Newfoundland and Labrador: 16%, Prince Edward Island: 16.3%, Nova Scotia: 16.6% and New Brunswick: 16.5%). British Columbia and Quebec aren't far off, either, with 15.7 per cent and 15.9 per cent respectively.