Leading causes of death in Canada in 2021

In 2021, 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 fourth leading cause of death in Canada in 2021 with almost five percent of deaths.

The leading causes of death in Canada

In 2021, around 82,822 people in Canada died from cancer, making it by far the leading cause of death in the country. In comparison, an estimated 55,271 people died from diseases of the heart, while 19,257 died from accidents or unintentional injuries. In 2021, the death rate for diabetes mellitus was 19.5 per 100,000 population, making it the seventh leading cause of death. Diabetes is a growing problem in Canada, with around 7.3 percent of the population diagnosed with the disease as of 2021.

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 2021, the death rate for lung and bronchus cancer was 45.5 per 100,000 population, compared to 21.2 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 13.5 percent of all cancer deaths. Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer among men in Canada followed by prostate cancer. In 2021, colorectal cancer accounted for around 12 percent of all cancer deaths among men in Canada while prostate cancer was responsible for 10 percent of such deaths.