Rank, number of deaths, percentage of deaths, and age-specific mortality rates for the leading causes of death, by age group and sex, 2000 to most recent year.

In 2023, the leading causes of death in Canada were malignant neoplasms (cancer) and diseases of the heart. Together, these diseases accounted for around 44 percent of all deaths in Canada that year. COVID-19 was the sixth leading cause of death in Canada in 2023 with 2.4 percent of deaths. The leading causes of death in Canada In 2023, around 84,629 people in Canada died from cancer, making it by far the leading cause of death in the country. In comparison, an estimated 57,890 people died from diseases of the heart, while 20,597 died from accidents. In 2023, the death rate for diabetes mellitus was 18.1 per 100,000 population, making it the seventh leading cause of death. Diabetes is a growing problem in Canada, with around eight percent of the population diagnosed with the disease as of 2023. What is the deadliest form of cancer in Canada? In Canada, lung and bronchus cancer account for the largest share of cancer deaths, followed by colorectal cancer. In 2023, the death rate for lung and bronchus cancer was 41.8 per 100,000 population, compared to 19.6 deaths per 100,000 population for colorectal cancer. However, although lung and bronchus cancer are the deadliest cancers for both men and women in Canada, breast cancer is the second-deadliest cancer among women, accounting for 13.4 percent of all cancer deaths. Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer among men in Canada followed by prostate cancer. In 2023, colorectal cancer accounted for around 11.2 percent of all cancer deaths among men in Canada, while prostate cancer was responsible for 10.5 percent of such deaths.

In 2023, accidents were the third leading cause of death in Canada, with a death rate of 51.4 per 100,000 population. However, the leading causes of death in Canada are by far cancer and heart disease, accounting for a combined 44 percent of all deaths. This statistic displays the death rates for the leading causes of death in Canada in 2023.

Number of deaths, crude mortality rates and age standardized mortality rates (based on 2011 population) for selected grouped causes, by sex, 2000 to most recent year.

This table provides Canadians and researchers with provisional data to monitor weekly death trends by selected grouped causes of death in Canada. Given the delays in receiving the data from the provincial and territorial vital statistics offices, these data are considered provisional. Data in this table will be available by province and territory.

Cause of death, by non-communicable diseases (% of total) in Canada was reported at 89.81 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Cause of death, by non-communicable diseases (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

This statistic displays the age-standardized death rate in Canada from 2000 to 2023, including all causes. In 2007, around 714 out of 100 thousand Canadians died from any cause. In 2023, the death rate stood at nearly 814 per 100,000. Death rates in CanadaCardiovascular disease and cancer are two of the most common causes of death in Canada and among other developed countries. In Canada major cardiovascular diseases accounted for around 192 deaths per 100,000 population in 2023 and cancer accounted for around 211 deaths per 100,000 population. The overall death rate in Canada has steadily increased since 2010, but saw greater increases in the years 2020 to 2022, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in Canada, accounting for around five percent of all deaths that year. Life expectancy in CanadaBetween 1970 and 2019, Canada’s life expectancy at birth increased by 9.2 years. The life expectancy in Canada as of 2021 was at almost 82 years of age, one year above the average life expectancy for OECD countries. As is common around the world, the life expectancy for women in Canada is higher than that of men, with Canadian women expected to live an average of over four years longer than their male counterparts.

Number of deaths and mortality rates, by age group, sex, and place of residence, 1991 to most recent year.

Number and percentage of deaths, by month and place of residence, 1991 to most recent year.

Between 2023 and 2024, the Canadian province with the most deaths was Ontario, with a total of 130,556 deaths.

Cause of death, by injury (% of total) in Canada was reported at 5.4191 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Cause of death, by injury (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions (% of total) in Canada was reported at 4.7722 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

A ranking of the 30 most common causes of death each year in Alberta, by ranking and total number of deaths. Vital Statistics cause of death data from 2023 onward is available on the Interactive Health Data Application under the Mortality category - Interactive Health Data Application - Mortality category

Between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, there were around 330,590 deaths reported in Canada. Overall, the annual number of deaths recorded in Canada experienced an increase between 2001 and 2023.

Rank, number of deaths, percentage of deaths and age standardized mortality rates (based on 2011 population) for leading causes of death, by sex, 2000 to most recent year.

This dataset reports the daily reported number of deaths involving COVID-19 by fatality type. Learn how the Government of Ontario is helping to keep Ontarians safe during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak. Effective November 14, 2024 this page will no longer be updated. Information about COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses is available on Public Health Ontario’s interactive respiratory virus tool: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Data-and-Analysis/Infectious-Disease/Respiratory-Virus-Tool Data includes: * Date on which the death occurred * Total number of deaths involving COVID-19 * Number of deaths with “COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death” * Number of deaths with “COVID-19 contributed but not underlying cause” * Number of deaths where the “Cause of death unknown” or “Cause of death missing” ##Additional Notes The method used to count COVID-19 deaths has changed, effective December 1, 2022. Prior to December 1 2022, deaths were counted based on the date the death was updated in the public health unit’s system. Going forward, deaths are counted on the date they occurred. On November 30, 2023 the count of COVID-19 deaths was updated to include missing historical deaths from January 15, 2020 to March 31, 2023. CCM is a dynamic disease reporting system which allows ongoing update to data previously entered. As a result, data extracted from CCM represents a snapshot at the time of extraction and may differ from previous or subsequent results. Public Health Units continually clean up COVID-19 data, correcting for missing or overcounted cases and deaths. These corrections can result in data spikes and current totals being different from previously reported cases and deaths. Observed trends over time should be interpreted with caution for the most recent period due to reporting and/or data entry lags. As of December 1, 2022, data are based on the date on which the death occurred. This reporting method differs from the prior method which is based on net change in COVID-19 deaths reported day over day. Data are based on net change in COVID-19 deaths for which COVID-19 caused the death reported day over day. Deaths are not reported by the date on which death happened as reporting may include deaths that happened on previous dates. Spikes, negative numbers and other data anomalies: Due to ongoing data entry and data quality assurance activities in Case and Contact Management system (CCM) file, Public Health Units continually clean up COVID-19, correcting for missing or overcounted cases and deaths. These corrections can result in data spikes, negative numbers and current totals being different from previously reported case and death counts. Public Health Units report cause of death in the CCM based on information available to them at the time of reporting and in accordance with definitions provided by Public Health Ontario. The medical certificate of death is the official record and the cause of death could be different. Deaths are defined per the outcome field in CCM marked as “Fatal”. Deaths in COVID-19 cases identified as unrelated to COVID-19 are not included in the number of deaths involving COVID-19 reported. "_Cause of death unknown_" is the category of death for COVID-19 positive individuals with cause of death still under investigation, or for which the public health unit was unable to determine cause of death. The category may change later when the cause of death is confirmed either as “COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death”, “COVID-19 contributed but not underlying cause,” or “COVID-19 unrelated”. "_Cause of death missing_" is the category of death for COVID-19 positive individuals with the cause of death missing in CCM. Rates for the most recent days are subject to reporting lags All data reflects totals from 8 p.m. the previous day. This dataset is subject to change.

In 2023, around 192 out of 100,000 Canadians died from major cardiovascular diseases. In 2000, the death rate stood at over 247 deaths per 100,000. This statistic displays the age-standardized death rate for major cardiovascular diseases in Canada from 2000 to 2023. Cardiovascular health Cardiovascular health and disease has come to the forefront of healthcare in recent years, as the burden due to these diseases and related conditions has increased over time in an aging population. Public health strategies are focused on reducing the impact of cardiovascular conditions through education and interventions targeted at decreasing the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases- many of which involve lifestyle and diet elements. Medical interventions for cardiovascular disease can range from emergency interventions to surgical procedures to pharmacological treatments: in Canada, medications for the cardiovascular system held over two percent of the sales share for patented drugs in 2021. Causes of death in Canada Worldwide, Canada ranks in the top twenty countries for life expectancy and is well above the OECD average, with the average life expectancy higher for Canadian women than for men. Much like in other developed countries, malignant neoplasms join cardiovascular diseases in the leading causes of death in Canada; other main causes of death in the country include accidents, cerebrovascular diseases, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Over the past couple decades, the age-standardized death rate for all causes among Canada’s population has increased; in 2023, it reached nearly 814 per 100,000 population.

The number of maternal deaths and maternal mortality rates for selected causes, 2000 to most recent year.

Number of deaths caused by diseases of the circulatory system, by age group and sex, 2000 to most recent year.

Canada CA: Number of Maternal Death data was reported at 42.000 Person in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 52.000 Person for 2022. Canada CA: Number of Maternal Death data is updated yearly, averaging 35.000 Person from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2023, with 39 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 60.000 Person in 2020 and a record low of 26.000 Person in 1987. Canada CA: Number of Maternal Death data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. A maternal death refers to the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.;WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group, and UNDESA/Population Division. Trends in maternal mortality estimates 2000 to 2023. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2025;Sum;