More Canadian taxpayers contributed to registered retirement savings plans last year, but only 31% of eligible taxfilers actually made contributions.

Based on tax returns filed for 2007, just under 6.3 million taxfilers contributed to RRSPs in 2007, up 1.6% from 2006, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday.

Contributions rose by 5.3% to $34.1 billion.

Among the provinces, the highest percentage increase in the number of contributors occurred in Newfoundland and Labrador, up 5.3%.

However, in absolute numbers Quebec had the largest gain with almost 25,700 persons.

The largest increase in contributions occurred in Saskatchewan, up 12.8%.

The fixed maximum amount for an RRSP contibution in 2007 was $19,000, up from $18,000 in 2006.

Almost 88% of taxfilers were eligible to contribute to an RRSP for the 2007 tax year, the same proportion as in 2006. Of this group of eligible taxfilers, 31% actually made contributions, unchanged from 2006, StatsCan said.

The $34.1 billion in RRSP contributions in 2007 represented about 6% of the total room available to eligible taxfilers, down from 7% in 2006.

Nationally, the median contribution was $2,780. The median was highest in the three territories, with Nunavut leading the way at $4,330 followed by the Northwest Territories at $3,600.

Among census metropolitan areas, Calgary contributors had the highest median, $3,770, followed by those in Vancouver at $3,470 and Toronto at $3,300.

IE