Residents of B.C.’s largest cities are living longer than ever. But their counterparts in the B.C. Interior are not. In fact, babies born in 2024 in many rural and remote areas are expected to live shorter lives than their neighbours born in 2014.
This series explores 20 years of life expectancy data obtained exclusively by The Tyee, taking a closer look at what diverging trends mean for people living in British Columbia.
The first story in the series crunches the numbers. The second visits the Cariboo-Chilcotin, which has one of the lowest life expectancies in the province, and which has seen a decline in life expectancy since 2014. The third story in the series looks to Richmond, which has the highest life expectancy in B.C., to glean lessons and examine contributing factors.
In This Series
BC’s Life Expectancies Are Diverging, Exclusive Data Shows
In Richmond, 90 is the new 80. But in the BC Interior, life expectancies are shorter than 20 years ago.
People Are Living Shorter Lives in the Cariboo
Residing in the rough-and-tumble region comes with many benefits. But it can be hard, too.
Richmond Is Where British Columbians Live Longest
The city isn’t the wealthiest in BC. So how did 90 become the new 80 there?