Environmental Scan — June 2004

Demographics

Globally, an entrenched and growing imbalance in population growth patterns will continue to challenge quality of life and governments around the world to respond.

The aging global population is unprecedented in human history with uneven dependency patterns between the developing and developed world.

Growth in poorer countries will foster rising discontentment and a corresponding increase in both internal and international migrations.

Canada will be among a group of nations in the world significantly affected. Our future quality of life will be challenged by current demographic patterns. Innovative policies and strategies will be critical.

In this section...

• rich nation/poor nation contrasts in fertility, population growth and dependent sectors fuels increasing international migration
• refugee numbers are growing - displaced people are an increasing humanitarian challenge
• skilled workers flow to developed world
• Canada challenged by declining population growth prospects and potential labour shortages
• trend to urban and suburban living will continue to challenge cities - infrastructure, homelessness, health, environment, etc.
• the family is an institution in transformation
• Aboriginal populations are growing faster than general population - they are younger, increasingly urban and concentrated in the North and Prairies

To obtain an electronic copy (PDF) of this section or the complete report, please send a request by e-mail to the Strategic Policy and Planning Branch of the RCMP to