The proportion of seniors in Hamilton hit 15.6 per cent, higher than the record percentage of the Canadian population that is 65 and older.

Statistics Canada released its 2011 census data for age and gender Tuesday morning. The data shows Hamilton's population of seniors, aged 65 or older, at about 16 per cent, higher than the 14.8 per cent of the national population.

In numbers, this totals 81,575 in Hamilton. Statistics Canada reported in March in its population and dwelling data that Hamilton's population is 519,949 in 2011.

"Hamilton's population is growing slower than the national average," said Byron Spencer, an economic professor at McMaster University.

To compare, Spencer said Hamilton is growing at about half the pace of Toronto.

In Canada, the population of seniors is at a record high in 2011, at nearly 5 million or 14.8 per cent. Despite this, Canada's number of seniors is amongst the lowest in the G8 countries.

Spencer said Hamilton's higher percentage of seniors has to do with the fact that the city is not attracting young people and immigrants.

"I suspect it has to do with the availability of jobs," Spencer said. "People tend to move where there are jobs."

What Spencer said about young could be true, according to Statistics Canada's data on the working population.

Hamilton's population aged 15-64 is reported as roughly 65 per cent, below the national average of 68.5 per cent, or just over 23,000,000 Canadians.

The data report also shows Canadians aged 14 and under fell from 17.7 per cent in 2006 to 16.7 per cent in 2011. This means there are just over 5 million Canadian children.

The population aged 4 and under is higher than it has been since the baby boom from 1956-1961, according to Statistics Canada. The under-4 population grew in every province and territory.

Centarians also represent one of Canada's fastest growing populations. The 2011 census counted 5,825 Canadians aged 100 years or older.

Click here to read the Stats Can summary.