The Average Retirement Age in Canada

 I retired at officially at age 60. I worked or unretired for another 8 years and finally retired at age 68,

So,  I was curious as to hat the retirement age was in 2025. The numbers surprised me. As of 2025, the average retirement age in Canada hit a record high of 65.4 years . The most recent data from Statistics Canada places the average at 65.1 years as of 2023, up from a low of 60.9 in 1998 .

Here is how the numbers break down:

Group	Average Retirement Age
Overall Average	65.1 - 65.4 years
Men	65.9 years
Women	64.2 years
Public Sector Employees	63.1 years
Private Sector Employees	65.4 years
Self-Employed	68.0 years

 Over the past two decades, the average retirement age has risen by over four years. In 2003, the average Canadian retired at 61.7; today, they work until well past 65 .

Three main factors are driving this shift:

1. Canadians Are Living and Working Longer
The labour force participation rate for seniors aged 65 and older reached 15.2% in 2025, the highest since tracking began in 1976. That's nearly 1.2 million seniors still in the workforce . More older adults are choosing to work for pay, up from just 6.6% in 1994 .

2. Financial Pressures Are Real
Many Canadians are delaying retirement because of inflation, higher living costs, and concerns about having enough savings . The retirement period (the time between stopping work and passing away) peaked in 2012 at 22.7 years. By 2025, that period had shrunk to 20.5 years as people retire later .

3. The Rise of "Unretirement"
Many older adults who thought they had retired have returned to the workforce, often in part-time or contract roles. They stay connected to the labour market for financial reasons, personal fulfillment, or both. This "unretirement" trend is contributing significantly to the rising average age.

What This Means for You

If you are planning to retire early, you would be retiring earlier than the current average. This means:

• You will need more personal savings since you will not yet qualify for Old Age Security (age 65 minimum) and your Canada Pension Plan payments will be permanently reduced if taken early
• You are part of a minority but not alone, many Canadians do retire earlier due to health reasons or personal choice

As one analysis notes, after falling to a low of 60.9 in the late 1990s, "the average age at retirement then reversed course and has since steadily increased to its current high" . The trend shows no sign of changing.