John Elflein
Research expert covering health and health care
Diseases in Canada - Statistics & Facts
The leading causes of death in Canada include diseases such as cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and diabetes. Cancer and heart disease account for the vast majority of deaths in Canada, but death rates from other diseases such as chronic liver disease/cirrhosis and chronic lower respiratory diseases have risen in recent years. An increase in the share of Canadians diagnosed with diabetes is also troubling, with almost eight percent of the population currently diagnosed with this disease.
Cancer in Canada
In the year 2023, there were around 239,100 new cancer cases in Canada. The three most common types of cancer in Canada are lung and bronchus cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Although breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in Canada and prostate cancer the most common form among men, lung and bronchus cancer is the deadliest cancer for both men and women. In 2023, around 86.7 thousand Canadians died from all forms of cancer with lung and bronchus cancer accounting for 20.6 thousand of these deaths. However, the overall death rate from cancer in Canada has not significantly increased in recent years perhaps due to earlier diagnosis, improved treatment, and increased preventative behaviors among the general public.Diabetes in Canada
Diabetes is a chronic health condition in which the body cannot properly control or use the insulin that it produces. When left untreated diabetes can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and kidney disease. It is estimated that almost 2.6 million Canadians are currently living with diabetes. The share of Canadians diagnosed with diabetes has increased steadily over the past couple decades, with around 7.8 percent of the population diagnosed as of 2022 compared to 4.6 percent in 2003. Diabetes is more common among males in Canada than among females, and those aged 65 years and older report the highest rates of diabetes among all age groups. However, the death rate from diabetes in Canada has generally decreased in recent years, most likely due to early diagnosis and easier access to treatment.
