Diabetes in Canada: An interactive report on key statistics: Risk and protective factors

Age and sex

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing with age. In 2023–2024, a greater proportion of individuals living with diabetes^{footnote †footnote *} were 65 years and older:

• 25.7% were aged 65 to 79 years
• 31.7% were aged over 80 years

Among individuals aged 1 to 19, the prevalence of diabetes was highest among those aged 15 to 19 years (0.7%).

In 2023–2024, diabetes was more common in males than females. This was true across age groups over age 35 years. Among those aged 20 to 34 years, diabetes was more common in females than males. There were no differences between sexes for individuals aged 1 to 19 years.

Education level

Between 2019 and 2020, among adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *}:

• 19.6% did not complete high school^{footnote ¤}, compared to 9.1% without diabetes.

Among adults with diabetes who did not complete high school:

• there was a similar proportion of males (51.0%) and females (49.0%)
• close to half (49.2%) were aged 65 to 79 years

Income group

Between 2019 and 2020, among adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *}:

• a higher proportion had a household income in the lowest quintile^{footnote ¤} (26.4%) compared to those without diabetes (19.6%)

Among adults with diabetes and a household income in the two lowest quintiles:

• there was a similar proportion of males (51.8-52.2%) and females (47.8-48.2%)
• close to 60% were older than 65 years

Immigrant status

Between 2019 and 2020, among adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *}:

• a greater proportion were a landed immigrant or non-permanent resident^{footnote ¤} (31.5%) compared to those without diabetes (27.5%)

Among adults with diabetes who were a landed immigrant or non-permanent resident:

• there was a greater proportion of males (60.6%) than females (39.4%)
• 41.9% were aged 65 to 79 years

Geographical area

Between 2019 and 2020, among adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *}:

• a higher proportion reported living in a rural area^{footnote ¤} (19.3%) compared to those living without diabetes (16.4%)

Among adults with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *} living in a rural area^{footnote ¤}:

• there was a greater proportion of males (57.0%) than females (43.0%)
• 44.7% were aged 65 to 79 years

Physical activity

The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines recommends 150 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per week.

In 2020, among adults aged 18 years and older living with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *}:

• 64.4% did not meet the physical activity recommendation^{footnote ¤} compared to 44.6% of those without diabetes

Among adults living with diabetes who did not meet the physical activity recommendation:

• there was a greater proportion of males (55.1%) than females (44.9%)
• 41.2% were aged 65 to 79 years

Note: For adults, the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines (CPAG) were replaced with the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines in 2020. The physical activity recommendation within the 24-Hour Guidelines is similar to that of the CPAG (equal to 150 min or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week), with the exception that the requirement that physical activity be achieved in bouts of 10 minutes was removed. Available self-reported data within the CCHS does not permit measuring unbouted moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

Eating fruits and vegetables

In 2020, among adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *}:

• 79.2% ate fruits and vegetables less than 5 times per day^{footnote ¤} compared to 74.8% of adults without diabetes

Among adults living with diabetes who ate fruits and vegetables less than 5 times per day:

• there was a greater proportion of males (60.3%) than females (39.7%)
• 34.6% and 40.8% were aged 50 to 64 and 65 to 79 years, respectively

Smoking

Between 2019 and 2020, among adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *}:

• 13.1% were smokers (daily and occasional)^{footnote ¤} compared to 14.9% of adults without diabetes

Among adults living with diabetes who smoked:

• there was a greater proportion of males (62.1%) than females (37.9%)
• close to half (49.3%) were aged 50 to 64 years

Prediabetes

Between 2007 and 2019, 6.3% of adults aged 20 to 79 years living in Canada had prediabetes ^{footnote Ф}. There was no significant difference in the rate of prediabetes between sexes. A greater proportion of adults with prediabetes ^{footnote Ф} were in the older age groups (50 years and older).

Gestational diabetes

In 2022, among pregnant individuals aged 10 to 65 years old:

• gestational diabetes was present in 10.7% of total hospital deliveries in Canada (excluding Quebec)

• the highest rate was observed among those aged 45 years and older^Footnote1

Hypertension

In 2023–2024, 67.4% of adults 20 years and older with diabetes^{footnote †footnote *} also had diagnosed hypertension (high blood pressure). Since hypertension may develop after diabetes, further estimates by sex and age group are in the Outcomes tab.

Overweight and obesity

Between 2019 and 2020, among adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *}:

• 31.8% had a BMI classified as overweight (BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m²)^{footnote ¤} compared to 35.9% of adults without diabetes

Among adults living with diabetes who had a BMI classified as overweight:

• there was a greater proportion of males (64.2%) than females (35.8%)
• 32.2% and 43.1% were aged 50 to 64 and 65 to 79 years, respectively

Between 2019 and 2020, among adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *}:

• 51.2% had a BMI classified as obese^{footnote ¤} (equal to 30 kg/m² and higher), compared to 26.3% of adults without diabetes

Among adults living with diabetes who had a BMI classified as obese:

• there was a greater prorportion of males (55.1%) than females (44.9%)
• 38.5% and 37.7% were aged 50 to 64 and 65 to 79 years, respectively

Sleep apnea

Between 2019 and 2020, among adults aged 18 years and older living with diabetes^{footnote ‡footnote *}:

• 18.7% had sleep apnea^{footnote ¤}, compared to 6.3% of those without diabetes

Among adults living with diabetes and sleep apnea:

• there was a greater proportion of males (64.4%) than females (35.6%)
• 40.8% and 40.2% were aged 50 to 64 and 65 to 79 years, respectively