Statistics Canada
www.statcan.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Table 2
Ten leading causes of infant death, by sex, Canada1
Archived Content
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.
| Deaths | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||||||
| rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | |
| Both sexes | ||||||||||
| Total, all causes of infant death 2 (A00-Y89) | ... | 1,881 | ... | 1,771 | ... | 1,863 | ... | 1,775 | ... | 1,765 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | 1 | 408 | 1 | 409 | 1 | 447 | 1 | 412 | 1 | 423 |
| Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified (P07) | 2 | 249 | 2 | 228 | 2 | 224 | 2 | 252 | 2 | 218 |
| Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (P01) | 3 | 181 | 3 | 147 | 3 | 170 | 3 | 143 | 3 | 120 |
| Sudden infant death syndrome (R95) | 4 | 113 | 5 | 106 | 4 | 112 | 5 | 84 | 5 | 96 |
| Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes (P02) | 5 | 107 | 4 | 131 | 5 | 93 | 4 | 106 | 4 | 98 |
| Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia (P20-P21) | 6 | 70 | 7 | 50 | 6 | 79 | 6 | 71 | 6 | 82 |
| Neonatal haemorrhages (P50-P52, P54) | 7 | 58 | 6 | 58 | 8 | 53 | 8 | 53 | 7 | 60 |
| Respiratory distress of newborn (P22) | 8 | 38 | 8 | 38 | 9 | 46 | 9 | 46 | 9 | 44 |
| Bacterial sepsis of newborn (P36) | 8 | 38 | 10 | 32 | 10 | 37 | 10 | 31 | 10 | 41 |
| Necrotizing enterocolitis of newborn (P77) | 10 | 35 | 13 | 21 | 11 | 31 | 12 | 25 | 11 | 31 |
| rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | |
| Total, all causes of infant death 2 (A00-Y89) | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | 1 | 21.7 | 1 | 23.1 | 1 | 24.0 | 1 | 23.2 | 1 | 24.0 |
| Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified (P07) | 2 | 13.2 | 2 | 12.9 | 2 | 12.0 | 2 | 14.2 | 2 | 12.4 |
| Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (P01) | 3 | 9.6 | 3 | 8.3 | 3 | 9.1 | 3 | 8.1 | 3 | 6.8 |
| Sudden infant death syndrome (R95) | 4 | 6.0 | 5 | 6.0 | 4 | 6.0 | 5 | 4.7 | 5 | 5.4 |
| Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes (P02) | 5 | 5.7 | 4 | 7.4 | 5 | 5.0 | 4 | 6.0 | 4 | 5.6 |
| Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia (P20-P21) | 6 | 3.7 | 7 | 2.8 | 6 | 4.2 | 6 | 4.0 | 6 | 4.6 |
| Neonatal haemorrhages (P50-P52, P54) | 7 | 3.1 | 6 | 3.3 | 8 | 2.8 | 8 | 3.0 | 7 | 3.4 |
| Respiratory distress of newborn (P22) | 8 | 2.0 | 8 | 2.1 | 9 | 2.5 | 9 | 2.6 | 9 | 2.5 |
| Bacterial sepsis of newborn (P36) | 8 | 2.0 | 10 | 1.8 | 10 | 2.0 | 10 | 1.7 | 10 | 2.3 |
| Necrotizing enterocolitis of newborn (P77) | 10 | 1.9 | 13 | 1.2 | 11 | 1.7 | 12 | 1.4 | 11 | 1.8 |
| rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | |
| Total, all causes of infant death 2 (A00-Y89) | ... | 511.3 | ... | 499.4 | ... | 544.5 | ... | 526.6 | ... | 526.6 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | 1 | 110.9 | 1 | 115.3 | 1 | 130.6 | 1 | 122.2 | 1 | 126.2 |
| Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified (P07) | 2 | 67.7 | 2 | 64.3 | 2 | 65.5 | 2 | 74.8 | 2 | 65.0 |
| Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (P01) | 3 | 49.2 | 3 | 41.5 | 3 | 49.7 | 3 | 42.4 | 3 | 35.8 |
| Sudden infant death syndrome (R95) | 4 | 30.7 | 5 | 29.9 | 4 | 32.7 | 5 | 24.9 | 5 | 28.6 |
| Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes (P02) | 5 | 29.1 | 4 | 36.9 | 5 | 27.2 | 4 | 31.4 | 4 | 29.2 |
| Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia (P20-P21) | 6 | 19.0 | 7 | 14.1 | 6 | 23.1 | 6 | 21.1 | 6 | 24.5 |
| Neonatal haemorrhages (P50-P52, P54) | 7 | 15.8 | 6 | 16.4 | 8 | 15.5 | 8 | 15.7 | 7 | 17.9 |
| Respiratory distress of newborn (P22) | 8 | 10.3 | 8 | 10.7 | 9 | 13.4 | 9 | 13.6 | 9 | 13.1 |
| Bacterial sepsis of newborn (P36) | 8 | 10.3 | 10 | 9.0 | 10 | 10.8 | 10 | 9.2 | 10 | 12.2 |
| Necrotizing enterocolitis of newborn (P77) | 10 | 9.5 | 13 | 5.9 | 11 | 9.1 | 12 | 7.4 | 11 | 9.2 |
| Deaths | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||||||
| rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | |
| Males | ||||||||||
| Total, all causes of infant death 2 (A00-Y89) | ... | 1,043 | ... | 983 | ... | 1,030 | ... | 953 | ... | 983 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | 1 | 224 | 1 | 222 | 1 | 241 | 1 | 203 | 1 | 224 |
| Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified (P07) | 2 | 125 | 2 | 122 | 2 | 114 | 2 | 121 | 2 | 115 |
| Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (P01) | 3 | 116 | 3 | 81 | 3 | 93 | 3 | 74 | 3 | 77 |
| Sudden infant death syndrome (R95) | 4 | 65 | 4 | 70 | 4 | 72 | 4 | 57 | 5 | 59 |
| Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes (P02) | 5 | 53 | 5 | 63 | 5 | 55 | 4 | 57 | 4 | 61 |
| Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia (P20-P21) | 6 | 45 | 7 | 32 | 6 | 42 | 6 | 40 | 6 | 50 |
| Neonatal haemorrhages (P50-P52, P54) | 7 | 33 | 6 | 35 | 7 | 29 | 7 | 30 | 7 | 38 |
| Respiratory distress of newborn (P22) | 8 | 24 | 8 | 22 | 10 | 22 | 9 | 28 | 8 | 28 |
| Bacterial sepsis of newborn (P36) | 9 | 20 | 9 | 19 | 9 | 25 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 24 |
| Accidents (unintentional injuries) (V01-X59) | 9 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | |
| Total, all causes of infant death 2 (A00-Y89) | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | 1 | 21.5 | 1 | 22.6 | 1 | 23.4 | 1 | 21.3 | 1 | 22.8 |
| Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified (P07) | 2 | 12.0 | 2 | 12.4 | 2 | 11.1 | 2 | 12.7 | 2 | 11.7 |
| Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (P01) | 3 | 11.1 | 3 | 8.2 | 3 | 9.0 | 3 | 7.8 | 3 | 7.8 |
| Sudden infant death syndrome (R95) | 4 | 6.2 | 4 | 7.1 | 4 | 7.0 | 4 | 6.0 | 5 | 6.0 |
| Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes (P02) | 5 | 5.1 | 5 | 6.4 | 5 | 5.3 | 4 | 6.0 | 4 | 6.2 |
| Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia (P20-P21) | 6 | 4.3 | 7 | 3.3 | 6 | 4.1 | 6 | 4.2 | 6 | 5.1 |
| Neonatal haemorrhages (P50-P52, P54) | 7 | 3.2 | 6 | 3.6 | 7 | 2.8 | 7 | 3.1 | 7 | 3.9 |
| Respiratory distress of newborn (P22) | 8 | 2.3 | 8 | 2.2 | 10 | 2.1 | 9 | 2.9 | 8 | 2.8 |
| Bacterial sepsis of newborn (P36) | 9 | 1.9 | 9 | 1.9 | 9 | 2.4 | 13 | 1.4 | 9 | 2.4 |
| Accidents (unintentional injuries) (V01-X59) | 9 | 1.9 | 10 | 1.6 | 13 | 1.4 | 14 | 1.3 | 13 | 1.3 |
| rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | |
| Total, all causes of infant death 2 (A00-Y89) | ... | 553.8 | ... | 539.4 | ... | 587.3 | ... | 550.4 | ... | 572.5 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | 1 | 118.9 | 1 | 121.8 | 1 | 137.4 | 1 | 117.2 | 1 | 130.5 |
| Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified (P07) | 2 | 66.4 | 2 | 66.9 | 2 | 65.0 | 2 | 69.9 | 2 | 67.0 |
| Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (P01) | 3 | 61.6 | 3 | 44.4 | 3 | 53.0 | 3 | 42.7 | 3 | 44.8 |
| Sudden infant death syndrome (R95) | 4 | 34.5 | 4 | 38.4 | 4 | 41.1 | 4 | 32.9 | 5 | 34.4 |
| Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes (P02) | 5 | 28.1 | 5 | 34.6 | 5 | 31.4 | 4 | 32.9 | 4 | 35.5 |
| Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia (P20-P21) | 6 | 23.9 | 7 | 17.6 | 6 | 23.9 | 6 | 23.1 | 6 | 29.1 |
| Neonatal haemorrhages (P50-P52, P54) | 7 | 17.5 | 6 | 19.2 | 7 | 16.5 | 7 | 17.3 | 7 | 22.1 |
| Respiratory distress of newborn (P22) | 8 | 12.7 | 8 | 12.1 | 10 | 12.5 | 9 | 16.2 | 8 | 16.3 |
| Bacterial sepsis of newborn (P36) | 9 | 10.6 | 9 | 10.4 | 9 | 14.3 | 13 | 7.5 | 9 | 14.0 |
| Accidents (unintentional injuries) (V01-X59) | 9 | 10.6 | 10 | 8.8 | 13 | 8.0 | 14 | 6.9 | 13 | 7.6 |
| Deaths | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||||||
| rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | rank 3 | number | |
| Females | ||||||||||
| Total, all causes of infant death 2 (A00-Y89) | ... | 838 | ... | 788 | ... | 833 | ... | 822 | ... | 782 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | 1 | 184 | 1 | 187 | 1 | 206 | 1 | 209 | 1 | 199 |
| Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified (P07) | 2 | 124 | 2 | 106 | 2 | 110 | 2 | 131 | 2 | 103 |
| Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (P01) | 3 | 65 | 4 | 66 | 3 | 77 | 3 | 69 | 3 | 43 |
| Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes (P02) | 4 | 54 | 3 | 68 | 5 | 38 | 4 | 49 | 4 | 37 |
| Sudden infant death syndrome (R95) | 5 | 48 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 40 | 7 | 27 | 4 | 37 |
| Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia (P20-P21) | 6 | 25 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 37 | 6 | 31 | 6 | 32 |
| Neonatal haemorrhages (P50-P52, P54) | 6 | 25 | 6 | 23 | 8 | 24 | 8 | 23 | 8 | 22 |
| Bacterial sepsis of newborn (P36) | 8 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 18 | 9 | 17 |
| Necrotizing enterocolitis of newborn (P77) | 8 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 17 |
| Respiratory distress of newborn (P22) | 10 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 8 | 24 | 9 | 18 | 11 | 16 |
| rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | rank 3 | percent | |
| Total, all causes of infant death 2 (A00-Y89) | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 | ... | 100.0 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | 1 | 22.0 | 1 | 23.7 | 1 | 24.7 | 1 | 25.4 | 1 | 25.4 |
| Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified (P07) | 2 | 14.8 | 2 | 13.5 | 2 | 13.2 | 2 | 15.9 | 2 | 13.2 |
| Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (P01) | 3 | 7.8 | 4 | 8.4 | 3 | 9.2 | 3 | 8.4 | 3 | 5.5 |
| Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes (P02) | 4 | 6.4 | 3 | 8.6 | 5 | 4.6 | 4 | 6.0 | 4 | 4.7 |
| Sudden infant death syndrome (R95) | 5 | 5.7 | 5 | 4.6 | 4 | 4.8 | 7 | 3.3 | 4 | 4.7 |
| Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia (P20-P21) | 6 | 3.0 | 8 | 2.3 | 6 | 4.4 | 6 | 3.8 | 6 | 4.1 |
| Neonatal haemorrhages (P50-P52, P54) | 6 | 3.0 | 6 | 2.9 | 8 | 2.9 | 8 | 2.8 | 8 | 2.8 |
| Bacterial sepsis of newborn (P36) | 8 | 2.1 | 11 | 1.6 | 11 | 1.4 | 9 | 2.2 | 9 | 2.2 |
| Necrotizing enterocolitis of newborn (P77) | 8 | 2.1 | 12 | 1.5 | 12 | 1.1 | 13 | 1.1 | 9 | 2.2 |
| Respiratory distress of newborn (P22) | 10 | 1.7 | 9 | 2.0 | 8 | 2.9 | 9 | 2.2 | 11 | 2.0 |
| rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | rank 3 | infant rate 4 , 5 | |
| Total, all causes of infant death 2 (A00-Y89) | ... | 466.8 | ... | 457.1 | ... | 499.4 | ... | 501.5 | ... | 478.3 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | 1 | 102.5 | 1 | 108.5 | 1 | 123.5 | 1 | 127.5 | 1 | 121.7 |
| Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified (P07) | 2 | 69.1 | 2 | 61.5 | 2 | 65.9 | 2 | 79.9 | 2 | 63.0 |
| Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (P01) | 3 | 36.2 | 4 | 38.3 | 3 | 46.2 | 3 | 42.1 | 3 | 26.3 |
| Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes (P02) | 4 | 30.1 | 3 | 39.4 | 5 | 22.8 | 4 | 29.9 | 4 | 22.6 |
| Sudden infant death syndrome (R95) | 5 | 26.7 | 5 | 20.9 | 4 | 24.0 | 7 | 16.5 | 4 | 22.6 |
| Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia (P20-P21) | 6 | 13.9 | 8 | 10.4 | 6 | 22.2 | 6 | 18.9 | 6 | 19.6 |
| Neonatal haemorrhages (P50-P52, P54) | 6 | 13.9 | 6 | 13.3 | 8 | 14.4 | 8 | 14.0 | 8 | 13.5 |
| Bacterial sepsis of newborn (P36) | 8 | 10.0 | 11 | 7.5 | 11 | 7.2 | 9 | 11.0 | 9 | 10.4 |
| Necrotizing enterocolitis of newborn (P77) | 8 | 10.0 | 12 | 7.0 | 12 | 5.4 | 13 | 5.5 | 9 | 10.4 |
| Respiratory distress of newborn (P22) | 10 | 7.8 | 9 | 9.3 | 8 | 14.4 | 9 | 11.0 | 11 | 9.8 |
The geographic distribution of deaths in this table is based on the deceased's usual place of residence. Counts in this table exclude deaths of non-residents of Canada.
An infant death is the death of a child under one year of age.
The ranking of the leading causes of death is based on the number of infant deaths.
The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of infants aged less than one year during a given year per 100,000 live births in the same year.
Infant mortality rate calculations in this table use live births in the calendar year as denominator (see the publication "Births" catalogue number 84F0210XIE).
Note(s):
See "Introduction", "Glossary" and "Definitions, data sources and methods" sections.
Source(s):
Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database (CANSIM table 102-0562).
