Alzheimer’s Disease Deaths in Canada (2000–2023): A Gradual Rise, Then a Decline

Alzheimer’s disease has remained a consistent cause of death in Canada, particularly among aging populations. From 2000 to 2019, the number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths steadily rose—from 5,007 in 2000 (2.3%) to a peak of 6,687 in 2017 (2.4%). However, recent years have shown a notable decline in both death count and overall mortality share.

By 2023, Alzheimer’s deaths dropped to 5,231, accounting for just 1.6% of all deaths—its lowest level in over two decades. The disease also fell in rank, shifting from the 7th leading cause in earlier years to 9th in more recent data.

Alzheimer’s Disease Deaths in Canada

Year	Rank of leading causes of death	Number of deaths	Percentage of deaths
2000	7	5,007	2.3%
2001	7	5,477	2.5%
2002	7	5,515	2.5%
2003	7	5,504	2.4%
2004	8	5,536	2.4%
2005	8	5,762	2.5%
2006	7	5,675	2.5%
2007	7	5,903	2.5%
2008	7	6,573	2.8%
2009	7	6,281	2.6%
2010	7	6,452	2.7%
2011	7	6,377	2.6%
2012	7	6,293	2.6%
2013	8	6,345	2.5%
2014	8	6,410	2.5%
2015	8	6,587	2.5%
2016	7	6,521	2.4%
2017	8	6,687	2.4%
2018	8	6,443	2.3%
2019	8	6,185	2.2%
2020	9	5,798	1.9%
2021	8	5,540	1.8%
2022	9	5,501	1.6%
2023	9	5,231	1.6%

Key Insights:

• Alzheimer’s deaths rose steadily between 2000 and 2017, then declined year over year from 2018 to 2023.
• The disease’s ranking fell from 7th to 9th, showing reduced proportional impact.
• Factors may include better diagnosis of other dementia types, shifts in coding, or improved care management.

Though its share of deaths has declined, Alzheimer’s remains a critical public health issue given Canada’s aging population and the burden of dementia-related illnesses on families and healthcare systems.

Source:

Source Name:	Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0394-01 Leading causes of death, total population, by age group
Source Link:	https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1310039401
Release Date:	2025-02-19