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.

This table contains 52020 series, with data for years 1996 - 1996 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (170 items: Canada; Newfoundland and Labrador; Health and Community Services St. John's Region; Newfoundland and Labrador; Health and Community Services Eastern Region; Newfoundland and Labrador ...), Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Males; Females ...), Selected causes of death (ICD-9) (17 items: Total; all causes of death; All malignant neoplasms (cancers);Lung cancer; Colorectal cancer ...), Characteristics (6 items: Number of deaths; Low 95% confidence interval; number of deaths; Mortality; High 95% confidence interval; number of deaths ...).

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.

Number of deaths caused by external causes of morbidity and mortality, by age group and sex, for Canada only.

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

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.

Rank, number of deaths, percentage of deaths, and mortality rates for the leading causes of infant death (under one year of age), by sex, 2000 to most recent year.

Number of deaths and age-specific mortality rates for selected grouped causes, by age group and sex, 2000 to most recent year.

Number of deaths by selected causes (ICD-9: World Health Organization (WHO), International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) and sex, 1979 to 1999.

This table contains 70641 series, with data for years 1997 - 1997 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (167 items: Canada; Health and Community Services Eastern Region; Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland and Labrador; Health and Community Services St. John's Region; Newfoundland and Labrador ...), Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Males; Females ...), Selected causes of death (ICD-9) (17 items: Total; all causes of death; All malignant neoplasms (cancers);Lung cancer; Colorectal cancer ...), Characteristics (9 items: Number of deaths; Low 95% confidence interval; number of deaths; Mortality; High 95% confidence interval; number of deaths ...).

This table contains 238 series, with data for years 2000 - 2004 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (14 items: Canada; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island; Newfoundland and Labrador ...), Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Males; Females ...), Selected causes of death (ICD-10) (7 items: Colorectal cancer; Lung cancer; Female breast cancer; Prostate cancer ...).

This table contains 52020 series, with data for years 1996 - 1996 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (170 items: Canada; Newfoundland and Labrador; Health and Community Services St. John's Region; Newfoundland and Labrador; Health and Community Services Eastern Region; Newfoundland and Labrador ...), Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Males; Females ...), Selected causes of death (ICD-9) (17 items: Total; all causes of death; All malignant neoplasms (cancers);Lung cancer; Colorectal cancer ...), Characteristics (6 items: Number of deaths; Low 95% confidence interval; number of deaths; Mortality; High 95% confidence interval; number of deaths ...).

In 2022, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in Canada, with a death rate of 50.6 per 100,000 population. However, the leading causes of death in Canada are by far cancer and heart disease, accounting for a combined 42 percent of all deaths. This statistic displays the death rates for the leading causes of death in Canada in 2022.

In 2021, the leading cause of death for infants less than one year of age in Canada was congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities. This statistic shows the leading causes of infant mortality in Canada in 2021.

Life expectancy at birth is decomposed by selected causes of death, including certain types of cancers, infectious diseases, circulatory diseases, respiratory diseases, and external causes. External causes include drug poisoning deaths, falls and transportation accidents. Changes in mortality rates for a given cause of death change over time and contribute to the overall change in life expectancy.

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.

This table contains 47094 series, with data for years 1997 - 1997 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (167 items: Canada; Health and Community Services Eastern Region; Newfoundland and Labrador; Health and Community Services St. John's Region; Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland and Labrador ...), Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Males; Females ...), Selected causes of death (ICD-9) (17 items: Total; all causes of death; Colorectal cancer; Lung cancer; All malignant neoplasms (cancers) ...), Characteristics (6 items: Number of potential years of life lost; High 95% confidence interval; number of potential years of life lost; Low 95% confidence interval; number of potential years of life lost; Potential years of life lost ...).

Rank, number of deaths, percentage of deaths and age standardized mortality rates (based on 2021 estimated population) for leading causes of death, by sex, 2000 to most recent year.