The populations in Mountain View and Red Deer counties followed Canada's aging trend between 2006 and 2011, with the number of residents 65 and older representing the counties' only expanding age group, new census figures released by Statistics Canada show.The 65 and older category in Red Deer County climbed 14.6 per cent during the five-year period, rising from 1,990 to 2,280 and representing 12.4 per cent of the county's population.In Mountain View County the same age group rose 10.1 per cent from 1,535 to 1,690, making up 13.7 per cent of the population.By contrast, the 14 and under group saw the largest decrease during the period, with a 10.6 per cent drop in Red Deer (from 3,595 to 3,215) and a 6.9 per cent decline in Mountain View (from 2,330 to 2,170). The 14 and under age group comprises 17.5 per cent of the population in Red Deer and 17.6 per cent in Mountain View.The single largest age group – 15 to 64 – shrank very slightly in both counties: from 12,965 to 12,855 in Red Deer and from 8,525 to 8,495 in Mountain View. Dubbed the “working-age group” by Statistics Canada, it makes up 70 per cent of the population in Red Deer and 69.8 per cent in Mountain View.Despite the increase in the 65 and older category, the proportion of seniors in each county remained below the national average of 14.8 per cent.However, the median age in the counties is higher than the national or provincial average.In Red Deer County the median age rose from 40.8 in 2006 to 43.4 in 2011, while in Mountain View it went up from 42.2 to 43.9. In Canada, the median age last year was 40.6, up from 39.5 in 2006, while in Alberta it was 36.5, up from 36.Data on gender released last week shows that males outnumber females in both counties. In Red Deer the total number of males in 2011 was 9,645 compared to 8,705 females. In Mountain View the total male population in 2011 was 6,415 compared to 5,945 females.While the male-female ratios vary according to age category, in Mountain View the stats show exactly the same number of women and men between the ages of 35 and 44. The census counted 370 men and 370 women between 35 and 39, and 435 men and 435 women between 40 and 44.
