title: Leaving Sweden behind: Gains in life expectancy in Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sweden and Canada are known for quality of living and exceedingly high life expectancy, but recent data on how these countries compare are lacking. We measured life expectancy in Canada and Sweden during the past decade, and identified factors responsible for changes over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We calculated life expectancy at birth for Canada and Sweden annually from 2000 to 2010, and determined the ages and causes of death responsible for the gap between the two countries using Arriaga's method. We determined how population growth, ageing, and mortality influenced the number of deaths over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 2000-2010, life expectancy in Canada caught up with Sweden for men, and surpassed Sweden by 0.4 years for women. Sweden lost ground owing to a slower reduction in circulatory and tumour mortality after age 65 years compared with Canada. Nonetheless, population ageing increased the number of deaths in Canada, especially for mental and nervous system disorders. In Sweden, the number of deaths decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In only one decade, life expectancy in Canada caught up and surpassed Sweden due to rapid improvements in circulatory and tumour mortality. Population ageing increased the number of deaths in Canada, potentially stressing the health care system more than in Sweden.
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Canada University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Canada nathalie.auger@inspq.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Auger
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Canada Institut de Démographie de l'Université Paris 1, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Serbon
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rostila
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011158:Population Growth; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Canada; Sweden; demographic ageing; life expectancy; population growth