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Every year, Statistics Canada records the number of deaths across Canada — and the major diseases that Canadians are dying from. We combed through this data to find the leading causes of death, as well as which conditions were different among men and women.
Statistics Canada released its 2020 mortality data. Of the 307,205 Canadians who died, the top two causes of death were the same as in previous years – cancer and heart disease (killing 80,973 and 53,704 people, respectively).
A notable difference between Statcan’s 2019 and 2020 data is that suicide and kidney disease made the list of the top 10 leading causes of death in 2019, but were replaced by COVID-19 and chronic liver disease in 2020.
The other top 10 leading causes of death in 2020 stayed relatively the same compared to 2018 and 2019.
| Rank | Cause of death | Total number of deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancer | 80,973 |
| 2 | Heart disease | 53,704 |
| 3 | COVID-19 | 16,151 |
| 4 | Accidents | 15,508 |
| 5 | Cerebrovascular diseases | 13,695 |
| 6 | Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 11,722 |
| 7 | Diabetes | 7,566 |
| 8 | Flu and pneumonia | 5,931 |
| 9 | Alzheimer’s disease | 5,743 |
| 10 | Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis | 4,173 |
COVID-19 became the third highest cause of death in Canada in 2020, with a death rate of 16,151 people in total. COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death for men and the third leading cause of death for women.
These were the leading causes of death among Canadian men. Interestingly, the number of deaths caused by cerebrovascular diseases outranked the number of deaths caused by chronic lower respiratory diseases, unlike in 2019 where the situation was reversed. Other than that and the introduction of COVID-19, the leading causes of death for Canadian men stayed relatively the same from 2019 to 2020.
| Rank | Cause of death | Number of deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancer | 42,857 |
| 2 | Heart disease | 29,367 |
| 3 | Accidents | 9,245 |
| 4 | COVID-19 | 7,801 |
| 5 | Cerebrovascular diseases | 6,059 |
| 6 | Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 5,924 |
| 7 | Diabetes | 4,260 |
| 8 | Flu and pneumonia | 2,942 |
| 9 | Suicide | 2,874 |
| 10 | Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis | 2,683 |
As for Canadian women, deaths caused by accidents outranked deaths caused by chronic lower respiratory diseases in 2020, which is the reverse of 2019. Similarly, deaths cause by diabetes surpassed flu and pneumonia, unlike what we saw in 2019.
| Rank | Cause of death | Number of deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancer | 38,116 |
| 2 | Heart disease | 24,337 |
| 3 | COVID-19 | 8,350 |
| 4 | Cerebrovascular diseases | 7,636 |
| 5 | Accidents | 6,263 |
| 6 | Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 5,798 |
| 7 | Alzheimer’s disease | 3,814 |
| 8 | Diabetes | 3,306 |
| 9 | Flu and pneumonia | 2,989 |
| 10 | Kidney diseases | 2,012 |
Here are a few key differences between the leading causes of death for men vs. women in Canada.
With all this talk of death, it’s important to keep in mind that the average age of death in Canada is still relatively high. The average life expectancy is 79.82 years for men and 84.11 years for women. While there are many factors that can impact your life expectancy, like your environment and family history, the majority of Canadians live long lives.
To learn about the leading causes of death among Canadians, we turned to the Statistics Canada mortality data. Statistics Canada analyzes deaths and diseases each year, with the most recent data focused on 2020. We’ll update this page as new data is released.
The general rule is that the healthier you are, the less you’ll have to pay for life insurance. Each insurance provider has its own underwriting process. As such, some put more weight on certain evaluation factors over others. Take a look at a few points that will be assessed:
While no one can predict the future, life insurance can be a good way to help your loved ones even if the worst should happen. If you’re thinking about getting life insurance, compare quality providers below.
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Understanding the leading causes of death is just one of many factors life insurance companies will take into account when determining your rates. A good life insurance policy can protect your family financially if you pass away prematurely, and give you the peace of mind in knowing that your loved ones will be taken care of when you’re gone. To get great coverage at a premium you can afford, compare life insurance companies.
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