John Elflein
Research expert covering health and health care
Cancer in Canada - Statistics & Facts
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, accounting for around 25 percent of all deaths in 2022. The most common types of new cancer cases in 2023 included breast, lung and bronchus, and prostate cancers. The estimated rate of all new cancer cases that year was around 513 per 100,000 people. The incidence rate of cancer among males has consistently been higher than that of females over the last few decades; however, the incidence rate among males has decreased in recent years whereas the rate among females has increased.
Deaths from cancer
It was predicted that, in 2023, there would be around 86,700 deaths due to cancer in Canada. According to the latest figures, there is about a 24 percent chance that a male in Canada will die from some type of cancer and a 21 percent chance for females. Cancer mortality rates and incidence rates in Canada differ by gender, but also by geography, with the highest cancer incidence rates found in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. However, Nunavut has the highest cancer mortality rate with around 310 deaths per 100,000 population, compared to a rate of 218 per 100,000 population in Newfoundland and Labrador, the province with the second highest mortality rate.Cancer risk factors
Some common and well-known risk factors for cancer include age, sun exposure, tobacco and alcohol use, a poor diet, and being overweight. As the dangers of tobacco use have become more recognized and policies have been implemented limiting use and promotion, rates of smoking have decreased. In 2022, about 11.6 percent of Canadians were smoking currently, daily, or occasionally, a decrease from 23 percent in 2003. In contrast, rates of obesity in Canada have increased in recent years. This is likely due to poor diet and a lack of exercise. In 2022, around 30 percent of adults in Canada were considered obese.
