How well is Canada meeting health needs?
Health is visible through access to care, reported unmet needs and outcomes. Reading them together requires keeping survey populations, local coverage and mortality definitions clear.
Access to care and the consequences of illness are felt differently across ages and provinces. National averages help orient the question, while the underlying differences show what an average cannot settle.
2025 health snapshot · reviewed October 26, 2026
Adults 18 and over, Canada excluding territories. Point estimates with published 95% confidence intervals.
| Indicator | Estimate | 95% interval |
|---|---|---|
| Perceived health, fair or poor | 14.2% | 13.6%–14.7% |
| Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 15.1% | 14.5%–15.7% |
| Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 22.5% | 21.8%–23.2% |
| Diabetes | 8.9% | 8.5%–9.3% |
| High blood pressure | 19.6% | 19.0%–20.1% |
| Has a primary health care provider | 83.4% | 82.7%–84.1% |
Current regional estimates, adults 18+, 2025
| Group | Indicator | Estimate | 95% interval | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (excluding territories) | Perceived health, fair or poor | 14.2% | 13.6%–14.7% | Normal |
| Canada (excluding territories) | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 15.1% | 14.5%–15.7% | Normal |
| Canada (excluding territories) | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 22.5% | 21.8%–23.2% | Normal |
| Canada (excluding territories) | Diabetes | 8.9% | 8.5%–9.3% | Normal |
| Canada (excluding territories) | High blood pressure | 19.6% | 19.0%–20.1% | Normal |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Perceived health, fair or poor | 19.1% | 16.2%–22.2% | Normal |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 16.6% | 13.9%–19.7% | Normal |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 19.7% | 16.6%–23.3% | Normal |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Diabetes | 11.0% | 9.2%–13.1% | Normal |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | High blood pressure | 28.0% | 25.2%–30.9% | Normal |
| Prince Edward Island | Perceived health, fair or poor | 12.5% | 9.7%–15.9% | Normal |
| Prince Edward Island | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 14.5% | 11.2%–18.7% | Normal |
| Prince Edward Island | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 18.2% | 14.3%–22.8% | Normal |
| Prince Edward Island | Diabetes | 8.7% | 6.6%–11.5% | Normal |
| Prince Edward Island | High blood pressure | 18.0% | 14.9%–21.6% | Normal |
| Nova Scotia | Perceived health, fair or poor | 18.2% | 16.2%–20.3% | Normal |
| Nova Scotia | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 21.2% | 18.7%–24.0% | Normal |
| Nova Scotia | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 23.0% | 20.6%–25.6% | Normal |
| Nova Scotia | Diabetes | 11.6% | 10.2%–13.3% | Normal |
| Nova Scotia | High blood pressure | 25.5% | 23.5%–27.5% | Normal |
| New Brunswick | Perceived health, fair or poor | 16.3% | 14.3%–18.5% | Normal |
| New Brunswick | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 15.1% | 12.9%–17.6% | Normal |
| New Brunswick | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 20.0% | 17.6%–22.6% | Normal |
| New Brunswick | Diabetes | 12.2% | 10.6%–14.1% | Normal |
| New Brunswick | High blood pressure | 23.4% | 21.5%–25.4% | Normal |
| Quebec | Perceived health, fair or poor | 11.3% | 10.3%–12.3% | Normal |
| Quebec | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 9.0% | 8.1%–10.1% | Normal |
| Quebec | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 19.9% | 18.6%–21.4% | Normal |
| Quebec | Diabetes | 8.5% | 7.7%–9.3% | Normal |
| Quebec | High blood pressure | 18.6% | 17.6%–19.6% | Normal |
| Ontario | Perceived health, fair or poor | 14.5% | 13.5%–15.5% | Normal |
| Ontario | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 16.2% | 15.1%–17.5% | Normal |
| Ontario | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 23.2% | 21.9%–24.5% | Normal |
| Ontario | Diabetes | 9.4% | 8.6%–10.3% | Normal |
| Ontario | High blood pressure | 19.9% | 18.9%–21.0% | Normal |
| Manitoba | Perceived health, fair or poor | 15.2% | 13.4%–17.1% | Normal |
| Manitoba | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 15.8% | 13.8%–18.0% | Normal |
| Manitoba | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 22.4% | 20.2%–24.8% | Normal |
| Manitoba | Diabetes | 9.3% | 8.0%–10.8% | Normal |
| Manitoba | High blood pressure | 22.2% | 20.3%–24.3% | Normal |
| Saskatchewan | Perceived health, fair or poor | 14.3% | 12.6%–16.2% | Normal |
| Saskatchewan | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 15.6% | 13.6%–17.7% | Normal |
| Saskatchewan | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 21.6% | 19.3%–24.1% | Normal |
| Saskatchewan | Diabetes | 9.1% | 7.8%–10.6% | Normal |
| Saskatchewan | High blood pressure | 22.5% | 20.5%–24.7% | Normal |
| Alberta | Perceived health, fair or poor | 14.8% | 13.4%–16.3% | Normal |
| Alberta | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 18.4% | 16.8%–20.2% | Normal |
| Alberta | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 25.5% | 23.7%–27.4% | Normal |
| Alberta | Diabetes | 8.3% | 7.4%–9.3% | Normal |
| Alberta | High blood pressure | 18.5% | 17.2%–19.8% | Normal |
| British Columbia | Perceived health, fair or poor | 15.4% | 14.1%–16.9% | Normal |
| British Columbia | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 16.9% | 15.5%–18.5% | Normal |
| British Columbia | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 22.9% | 21.2%–24.8% | Normal |
| British Columbia | Diabetes | 7.2% | 6.4%–8.1% | Normal |
| British Columbia | High blood pressure | 17.2% | 16.1%–18.4% | Normal |
| Canada (excluding territories) | Has a primary health care provider | 83.4% | 82.7%–84.1% | Normal |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Has a primary health care provider | 75.9% | 71.0%–80.1% | Normal |
| Prince Edward Island | Has a primary health care provider | 66.3% | 60.5%–71.7% | Normal |
| Nova Scotia | Has a primary health care provider | 83.8% | 80.2%–86.9% | Normal |
| New Brunswick | Has a primary health care provider | 79.5% | 75.4%–83.1% | Normal |
| Quebec | Has a primary health care provider | 72.3% | 70.6%–73.9% | Normal |
| Ontario | Has a primary health care provider | 88.8% | 87.6%–90.0% | Normal |
| Manitoba | Has a primary health care provider | 85.4% | 82.0%–88.3% | Normal |
| Saskatchewan | Has a primary health care provider | 82.6% | 79.6%–85.3% | Normal |
| Alberta | Has a primary health care provider | 86.2% | 84.4%–87.9% | Normal |
| British Columbia | Has a primary health care provider | 84.2% | 82.5%–85.8% | Normal |
Current age estimates, Canada excluding territories, 2025
| Group | Indicator | Estimate | 95% interval | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 to 34 years | Perceived health, fair or poor | 9.6% | 8.6%–10.7% | Normal |
| 18 to 34 years | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 20.8% | 19.2%–22.4% | Normal |
| 18 to 34 years | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 24.1% | 22.5%–25.7% | Normal |
| 18 to 34 years | Diabetes | 1.8% | 1.2%–2.5% | Normal |
| 18 to 34 years | High blood pressure | 2.7% | 2.1%–3.5% | Normal |
| 35 to 49 years | Perceived health, fair or poor | 11.3% | 10.2%–12.4% | Normal |
| 35 to 49 years | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 16.2% | 15.1%–17.4% | Normal |
| 35 to 49 years | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 30.9% | 29.4%–32.5% | Normal |
| 35 to 49 years | Diabetes | 5.1% | 4.3%–6.0% | Normal |
| 35 to 49 years | High blood pressure | 10.0% | 9.0%–11.2% | Normal |
| 50 to 64 years | Perceived health, fair or poor | 16.6% | 15.4%–17.8% | Normal |
| 50 to 64 years | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 14.3% | 13.1%–15.5% | Normal |
| 50 to 64 years | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 23.8% | 22.4%–25.2% | Normal |
| 50 to 64 years | Diabetes | 13.0% | 12.0%–14.1% | Normal |
| 50 to 64 years | High blood pressure | 27.3% | 25.9%–28.8% | Normal |
| 65 years and over | Perceived health, fair or poor | 20.7% | 19.9%–21.6% | Normal |
| 65 years and over | Perceived mental health, fair or poor | 7.4% | 6.9%–8.0% | Normal |
| 65 years and over | Perceived life stress, most days quite a bit or extremely stressful | 10.4% | 9.7%–11.0% | Normal |
| 65 years and over | Diabetes | 17.7% | 16.9%–18.6% | Normal |
| 65 years and over | High blood pressure | 42.9% | 41.9%–43.9% | Normal |
| 18 to 34 years | Has a primary health care provider | 75.3% | 73.4%–77.1% | Normal |
| 35 to 49 years | Has a primary health care provider | 82.3% | 80.8%–83.6% | Normal |
| 50 to 64 years | Has a primary health care provider | 87.5% | 86.5%–88.5% | Normal |
| 65 years and over | Has a primary health care provider | 90.3% | 89.6%–91.0% | Normal |
E means use with caution. Unavailable or suppressed values are not filled; overlapping conditions must not be added.
2025 chronic-condition questionnaire changed to mark all that apply; no year-over-year change inferred. Primary-provider indicator uses table 13-10-0986-01, adults 18+, Canada excluding territories. Earlier provider series ends 2024 and is not spliced. Earlier 2024 detailed estimates remain dated in the record and are not the latest CCHS snapshot. Having a provider does not establish timely access.
Health indicators; Primary-provider indicator. Adapted from Statistics Canada, tables 13-10-0905-01 and 13-10-0986-01, 2025. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
A longer life. Uneven access to care.
Life expectancy has regained much of its pandemic decline. Provider attachment and unmet care needs show a different part of the picture, with meaningful variation across ages and provinces.
The access measures use different surveys and age groups. They cannot be added or treated as opposites. The 2025 primary-provider indicator uses a separate table; no cross-table trend is inferred. Mortality estimates remain preliminary.
Primary-provider snapshot: 2025 · unmet needs and life tables: 2024 · substance harms: through March 2026
Canada
Separate surveys and populations, both in 2024. The full provincial table below remains available without this control.
The unmet-needs point estimate changed by -0.4 percentage points from 2022 to 2024. This descriptive difference is not claimed statistically significant.
The access chart begins with the survey’s 2022 redesign: age 15+ and a larger sample. Provider attachment uses adults 18+ and a revised 2024 question. “Has a provider” does not necessarily mean a family doctor, timely appointments or all needs met.
Source: Statistics Canada — Unmet health care needs by gender and age group.
Source: Statistics Canada — Health indicator statistics, annual estimates.
Who reports unmet care needs?
In 2024, women+ reported unmet care needs at 9.7%, compared with 7.9% for men+. The women+ estimate was 1.8 percentage points higher.
Unmet health care needs, age 15+
| Year | Men+ | Women+ | Women+ minus men+ (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 8.1% · Very good | 10.4% · Very good | 2.3 |
| 2023 | 8.2% · Very good | 10.0% · Very good | 1.8 |
| 2024 | 7.9% · Very good | 9.7% · Very good | 1.8 |
These Canadian Income Survey estimates exclude the territories. The comparison begins in 2022, when the survey changed its age coverage and sample. Differences and changes are descriptive; no statistical-significance test is claimed. Survey quality travels with each estimate. The gender categories are the issuer’s own, not a classification inferred by Countability.
Source: Statistics Canada — unmet health care needs, table 13-10-0836-01. Difference = women+ estimate minus men+ estimate, in percentage points.
Having a provider is a different measure
A regular healthcare provider is one form of access. It does not establish whether an appointment is available when needed, or whether every need is met.
Regular healthcare provider, 2024
| Age | Males, % (95% interval) | Females, % (95% interval) | Females minus males (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total, 18 years and over | 79.2% (78.2–80.2) | 85.9% (85.0–86.6) | 6.7 |
| 18 to 34 years | 67.7% (65.0–70.3) | 79.5% (77.2–81.6) | 11.8 |
| 35 to 49 years | 78.5% (76.6–80.4) | 85.3% (83.7–86.8) | 6.8 |
| 50 to 64 years | 84.4% (82.7–85.9) | 87.9% (86.4–89.3) | 3.5 |
| 65 years and over | 90.0% (89.0–90.9) | 91.7% (90.9–92.4) | 1.7 |
These CCHS estimates cover adults aged 18 and over in the provinces, using the revised 2024 provider question. Sex and age categories, survey respondents and age coverage differ from the unmet-needs table. They cannot be linked to identify the same people. Intervals describe each published estimate, not the difference between them; no cause or statistically significant difference is inferred.
Source: Statistics Canada — health indicators, table 13-10-0905-01. Point differences are disclosed arithmetic; confidence intervals are the issuer’s published intervals.
For procedure-specific evidence, read the comparison of surgical and diagnostic waits, including what completed-procedure records leave out.
Where institutions disagree
What cannot yet be known
Does having a regular provider mean Canadians receive care when they need it?
What is missing: The held surveys separately measure provider attachment and self-reported unmet need on different age and response bases; the released aggregates do not link the same people or measure their appointment waits. Annual access estimates exclude the territories. Mortality and substance-harm records have different populations, coverage and preliminary periods.
Consequence: The pages compare each measure across its own valid population and show them side by side without adding them, linking individuals, ranking health systems or attributing outcomes to access or policy.
What would change the record
- Compatible released tables connecting attachment, timely access and unmet need on the same population, with territorial coverage and the uncertainty needed for comparison.
- PHAC publishes substance-related harms through December 2025 — 2026-06-15.
- PHAC publishes substance-related harms through March 2026 — 2026-09-22.
This page brings together the evidence, institutional disagreements and gaps behind a continuing question. Where the record supports an answer, it appears with its date, sources, limits, Brief and Receipt. New evidence can change that answer.
Related on this site
This page holds the current public record for this question. For a more specific question, see Work with Countability.
Work with Countability