Leading causes of death in Canada in 2023

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.