Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Diseases in Canada - Statistics & Facts
The leading causes of death in Canada include chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and diabetes. Cancer and heart disease account for the vast majority of deaths in Canada, with these two diseases responsible for almost 44 percent of all deaths in 2023. At that time, cerebrovascular diseases and chronic lower respiratory diseases both accounted for around four percent of deaths and were the fourth and fifth leading causes of death, respectively. As is the case in many other high-income countries, chronic diseases in Canada now contribute to many more deaths than communicable diseases. Lifestyle habits such as healthy eating, exercising, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol can decrease the risk of many chronic diseases.
