
Death rate for all causes in Canada 2000-2020
Death rates in Canada
Cardiovascular 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 191 deaths per 100,000 population in 2020 and cancer accounted for around 213 deaths per 100,000 population. The decrease in mortality rate in Canada can be attributed to improvements in preventive programs, social and environmental aspects, and medical care. Other factors such as improved treatment and diagnosis of high blood pressure and lipid levels, as well as lower rates of smoking and physical inactivity may have also helped to lower the death rate. In the early 1900s, the main reason that death rates declined was due to an improved ability to withstand and prevent infectious diseases, one of the leading causes of death during that time.
Life expectancy in Canada
Between 1970 and 2017, Canada’s life expectancy at birth increased by 9.1 years. The life expectancy in Canada as of 2020 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.