The Daily. Tuesday, May 7, 2002

Deaths

A woman born in 1999 could still expect to live, on average, longer than a man, but the gap in life expectancy between the sexes continues to close, according to the latest vital statistics.

Life expectancy at birth, a key indicator of a population's health status, reached record highs for both sexes in 1999. A man born in 1999 could expect to live 76.3 years, up 0.2 years from 1998. A woman's life expectancy at birth reached 81.7 years, also up 0.2 years.

The gap in life expectancy between the sexes closed from 5.5 years in 1998 to 5.4 years in 1999. It has been narrowing over the past two decades. From 1979 to 1999, life expectancy for women improved by 2.9 years, while life expectancy for men improved a substantial 4.9 years.

Age-standardized mortality rates from all causes of death declined 2% for both sexes to 637.7 deaths per 100,000 population. The rate for men, while remaining higher than that for women, decreased to 816.5 deaths per 100,000 population. The rate for women fell to 505.4 deaths.

Age-standardized mortality rates are calculated to compare death rates in populations that differ in age composition across time and/or geographic area.

After five years of declines, the infant mortality rate remained unchanged in 1999 at 5.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. The mortality rate of infant boys in 1999 was 5.7 deaths, slightly higher than 4.8 for infant girls.

The infant mortality rate has decreased by 1 death per 1,000 live births since 1993, a 16% decline. In this period, the infant mortality rate of boys dropped 18%, while that of girls declined 15%. From 1998 to 1999, the infant mortality rate declined in all provinces and territories except Manitoba, Ontario and Alberta.

About 36% of deaths in 1999 were due to diseases of the circulatory system (over 78,900 deaths), while malignant neoplasms (cancers) accounted for 28% (61,650 deaths). Among diseases of the circulatory system, the most common causes of death were ischaemic heart disease (19%) and cerebrovascular disease (7%).

Over one-half (51%) of deaths due to malignant neoplasms were in one of four sites: lung; colorectal; female breast; and prostate. Lung cancer age-standardized mortality rates for both sexes increased slightly.

Age-standardized mortality rates for female breast cancer fell for the third straight year. There was similar good news for men, as age-standardized mortality rates for prostate cancer fell for the fourth straight year.

Deaths due to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) fell 11% to 431 in 1999 - the lowest level since Canada began classifying them in 1987. Among men, 365 died from HIV infection, down 12% in 1999, while 66 women died, down 6%.

Deaths reported as suicides (4,074) were up a sharp 10% in 1999 - the biggest percentage increase since 1986. There were 3.8 suicides among men for every suicide among women. Suicides increased 10% among both sexes.

People in their 40s accounted for almost one-quarter of the suicides (1,002), up 24% from 1998. The second largest number of suicides were by people in their 30s. The number of teen suicides fell 6% to 284.

The shelf tables Causes of death, 1999 (84F0208XPB, $20) are now available. To order this product or custom tabulations, call Client Services (613-951-1746), Health Statistics Division. Additional shelf tables from the deaths database, Deaths, 1999 (84F0211XPB, $20), Leading causes of death at different ages, 1999 (84F0503XPB, $20), and Mortality summary list of causes, 1999 (84F0209XPB, $20) will be available soon. See How to order products.

For more information or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Patricia Tully (613-951-1759; patricia.tully@statcan.gc.ca) or Leslie Geran (613-951-5243; leslie.geran@statcan.gc.ca), Health Statistics Division.

Life expectancy⁽¹⁾ at birth