Canada’s veteran population is dwindling fast. Here are the numbers.

OTTAWA — Canada marked Remembrance Day on Tuesday — 80 years after the Second World War ended and 72 years since the end of the Korean War.

Only a few thousand Canadian veterans of those conflicts are still alive.

Veterans Affairs Canada provided these estimates based on the 2021 census:

First World War (1914-1918)

650,000: The number of Canadians and Newfoundlanders who served.

66,000: The number of Canadian service members who died during the conflict.

172,000: The number of Canadian service members who were wounded.

0: The number of surviving Canadian First World War veterans.

Second World War (1939-1945)

1.1 million: The number of Canadians and Newfoundlanders who served during the conflict.

45,000: The number of Canadian service members who died during the conflict.

3,691: The number of Canadian Second World War veterans still alive in 2025.

3,024: The number of surviving veterans who are men.

667: The number who are women.

Korean War (1950-1953)

26,000: The number of Canadians who served in the Korean War.

516: The number of Canadian service members who died during the conflict.

1,909: The number of Canadian Korean War veterans still alive in 2025.

1,702: The number of surviving Canadian Korean War veterans who are men.

207: The number who are women.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 11, 2025.

The Canadian Press