Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Cancer in Canada - Statistics & Facts
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, accounting for around 26 percent of all deaths in 2023. The most common types of new cancer cases at that time included breast, lung and bronchus, and prostate cancers. The estimated rate of all new cancer cases that year was around 513 per 100,000 people. The incidence rate of cancer among males has consistently been higher than that of females over the last few decades; however, the incidence rate among males has decreased in recent years whereas the rate among females has increased. In addition to the human toll, cancer also contributes to significant economic costs, with direct costs just to the health system in Canada estimated at around 30.2 billion Canadian dollars in 2024. The risk of developing cancer can be greatly reduced by avoiding known risk factors, such as tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, and unhealthy eating, highlighting the importance of education, awareness, and health living.
