Diabetes in Canada - Statistics & Facts

Diabetes is a chronic health condition in which the body does not make enough insulin or does not use it as well as it should, resulting in abnormally high blood sugar levels. The three main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. It is estimated that type 2 diabetes accounts for around 90 to 95 percent of all cases. Possible complications due to diabetes, especially if it is left untreated, include a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, and hearing impairment. Diabetes is a rising health concern in Canada and was the seventh leading cause of death in the country in 2020, accounting for around 2.5 percent of all deaths that year. Furthermore, diabetes is currently the second largest therapeutic medicine class in Canada by share of total spending, highlighting the increasing burden of this disease.

How many people in Canada have diabetes?

In 2021, it was estimated that around 2.37 million people in Canada had been diagnosed with diabetes, or about 7.3 percent of the population. Diabetes is more common among men than women, however rates of the disease have risen for both over the past couple decades. Older people are also more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes with around 21 percent of men aged 65 years and older reporting being diagnosed with diabetes compared to just five percent of men aged 35 to 49 years. As of 2021, the provinces with the highest rates of diabetes in Canada were New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, while British Columbia and Alberta reported the lowest rates.

The impact of diabetes

Although rates of diabetes have increased over the past couple decades, death rates for diabetes decreased from the year 2000 to 2020. However, the death rate for diabetes in Canada has remained relatively unchanged since the year 2009 and in 2020 there were approximately 20 deaths per 100,000 population due to the disease. Common risk factors for type 2 diabetes include having prediabetes, having a family member with diabetes, being physically inactive, and being overweight. Obesity is a growing problem in many countries around the world and Canada is no different, with around 29 percent of the population estimated to be obese as of 2021. In addition to the human toll of diabetes, the disease also has a substantial financial impact. It was estimated that in 2021 diabetes-related health expenditure in Canada totaled around 14.3 billion U.S. dollars, with this expenditure expected to rise to 15.3 billion U.S. dollars by the year 2045.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Seventh leading cause of death in Canada: Diabetes mellitus

Death rate for diabetes mellitus in Canada (per 100,000 population): 19.9

Amount spent in drug stores in Canada for diabetes therapy in 2021 (in billion Canadian dollars): 2.77bn CAD

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Overview

Premium Statistic Leading causes of death in Canada in 2020
Leading causes of death in Canada in 2020
Distribution of the leading causes of death in Canada in 2020
Premium Statistic Death rate for diabetes mellitus in Canada 2000-2020
Death rate for diabetes mellitus in Canada 2000-2020
Death rate for diabetes mellitus in Canada from 2000 to 2020 (per 100,000 population)
Basic Statistic Top therapeutic classes by share of total spending in Canada 2021
Top therapeutic classes by share of total spending in Canada 2021
Leading 10 therapeutic classes of medications by share of total spending in Canada in 2021
Basic Statistic Canadian drug stores' top drug therapeutic classes purchases in 2021
Canadian drug stores' top drug therapeutic classes purchases in 2021
Top therapeutic classes purchased by drug stores in Canada in 2021 (in million Canadian dollars)

Prevalence of diabetes in Canada

Basic Statistic Percent of Canadians reported diabetes diagnosis 2003-2021
Percent of Canadians reported diabetes diagnosis 2003-2021
Percentage of Canadians who reported being diagnosed with diabetes from 2003 to 2021
Premium Statistic Number of Canadians reported diabetes diagnosis 2003-2021
Number of Canadians reported diabetes diagnosis 2003-2021
Number of Canadians who reported being diagnosed with diabetes from 2003 to 2021
Basic Statistic Percentage of Canadians with a diabetes diagnosis 2003-2021, by gender
Percentage of Canadians with a diabetes diagnosis 2003-2021, by gender
Percentage of Canadians who had been diagnosed with diabetes from 2003 to 2021, by gender
Premium Statistic Number of Canadians with a diabetes diagnosis 2003-2021, by gender
Number of Canadians with a diabetes diagnosis 2003-2021, by gender
Number of Canadians who had been diagnosed with diabetes from 2003 to 2021, by gender
Premium Statistic Share of Canadians who reported diabetes diagnosis 2021, by age and gender
Share of Canadians who reported diabetes diagnosis 2021, by age and gender
Percentage of Canadians who reported being diagnosed with diabetes as of 2021, by age and gender
Basic Statistic Number of Canadian adults with diabetes as of 2021, by age and gender
Number of Canadian adults with diabetes as of 2021, by age and gender
Number of Canadian adults who had been diagnosed with diabetes as of 2021, by age and gender
Basic Statistic Share of individuals with diabetes in Canada as of 2021, by province
Share of individuals with diabetes in Canada as of 2021, by province
Percentage of people in Canada diagnosed with diabetes as of 2021, by province
Premium Statistic Number of individuals with diabetes in Canada as of 2021, by province
Number of individuals with diabetes in Canada as of 2021, by province
Number of people in Canada diagnosed with diabetes as of 2021, by province

Diabetes costs

Basic Statistic Diabetes-related health expenditure in Canada from 2021 to 2045
Diabetes-related health expenditure in Canada from 2021 to 2045
Diabetes-related health expenditure in Canada in 2021 and forecasts for 2030 and 2045 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Diabetes-related health expenditure per person in Canada from 2011 to 2045
Diabetes-related health expenditure per person in Canada from 2011 to 2045
Diabetes-related health expenditure per person in Canada in 2011 and 2021 and forecasts for 2030 and 2045 (in U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic Canadian healthcare system costs for diabetes treatment in 2022, by province
Canadian healthcare system costs for diabetes treatment in 2022, by province
Healthcare system costs for diabetes treatment in Canada in 2022, by province (in million Canadian dollars)

Risk factor: Obesity

Basic Statistic Share of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by gender
Share of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by gender
Percentage of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by gender
Premium Statistic Number of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by gender
Number of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by gender
Number of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by gender
Premium Statistic Share of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by age
Share of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by age
Percentage of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by age
Basic Statistic Number of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by age
Number of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by age
Number of Canadian adults who were overweight or obese in 2021, by age
Premium Statistic Share of Canadian adults who were obese in 2021, by province
Share of Canadian adults who were obese in 2021, by province
Percentage of Canadian adults who were obese in 2021, by province
Basic Statistic Share of Canadian adolescents who were overweight or obese 2015-2021, by gender
Share of Canadian adolescents who were overweight or obese 2015-2021, by gender
Percentage of Canadian adolescents who were overweight or obese from 2015 to 2021, by gender
Premium Statistic Share of Canadian adolescents who were overweight or obese in 2021, by province
Share of Canadian adolescents who were overweight or obese in 2021, by province
Percentage of Canadian adolescents who were overweight or obese in 2021, by province

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