A recent Global News article highlighting new Statistics Canada data suggests that Canadians may not be as healthy as they were a decade ago. The report looked at functional health, a broad measure that reflects how well people are able to function in daily life, including areas such as mobility, cognition, emotional health, and pain. The findings show a noticeable decline, particularly among younger adults.

In 2015, 68.6% of Canadian adults reported being in “very good” or “perfect” functional health. By 2024, that number had dropped to 56.4%. This change is especially striking because functional health had remained stable for adults under 65 from 1994 to 2015, and even improved for those over 75. Over the past decade, however, that progress has stalled, with declines seen across nearly all younger age groups.

Young adults experienced the steepest drop. Among those aged 18 to 34, the percentage reporting very good to perfect health fell from 73.4% in 2015 to 60.1% in 2024. Adults aged 35 to 49 saw a similar decline. These trends challenge the common assumption that younger populations are naturally healthier and suggest that stress, lifestyle factors, and overall well-being may be shifting.

Much of the decline appears to be driven by worsening emotional health. The percentage of Canadians who reported feeling happy and interested in life dropped from 78.3% in 2015 to 61.2% in 2024. Young adults were hit hardest, and by 2024 they reported worse emotional health than adults aged 50 and older.

Pain also became more common. In 2015, 77.9% of Canadians reported living without pain or discomfort. By 2024, that figure had declined to 72%. Women and older adults were more likely to experience ongoing pain, which can affect mobility, energy levels, and overall quality of life.

The decline in functional health was seen across all provinces. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick reported the lowest levels, while Quebec had the highest. Women across all age groups also reported worse functional health than men.

While the report doesn’t pinpoint exact causes, the findings highlight something important: health is about more than just avoiding disease. Emotional well-being, pain levels, and the ability to function day-to-day all play a role. This data serves as a reminder that health isn’t just about living longer, it’s about living well. And that’s something worth prioritizing at every age.