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Child and youth deaths in Ontario and Canada: Trends over time
While deaths of children and youth comprise a small percentage of those investigated by the OCC, each of these deaths is challenging from emotional and investigative perspectives. It is important to consider the findings published in the Annual Report within the broader context of childhood deaths in Canada.
While the OCC defines the paediatric age group from live birth to the nineteenth birthday, adolescent data provided by Statistics Canada also includes the nineteenth year (i.e. up to the twentieth birthday). For the purpose of the comparisons demonstrated in Charts 1 – 4, data from the OCC includes investigations of adolescent deaths up until the twentieth birthday as well. On average, the OCC investigates 63 deaths of individuals in their nineteenth year. For Charts 1 – 4, please note that 2016 is the most recent year for which complete data is available nationally.
Chart 1: Comparison of child and youth deaths in Canada and Ontario with Ontario coroner’s cases 0-19 years of age (2005-2016)
- Chart 1 illustrates the number of child and youth deaths per year and compares the number of cases investigated by the OCC with the provincial and national numbers. Between 2005 and 2016 the year to year totals have remained fairly consistent.
Chart 2: Paediatric population vs. paediatric deaths in Ontario compared with Canadian totals
- Chart 2 provides the actual numbers of child and youth deaths per year and shows the percentage of paediatric deaths in Ontario as a proportion of the national total. Between 2005 and 2016, the year to year totals have remained fairly consistent.
Year | Paediatric Population – Canada (Total) | Paediatric Population – Ontario (Total) | % of Ontario paediatric population vs. Canada | Paediatric Deaths - Canada (Total) | Paediatric Deaths - Ontario (Total) | % of Ontario paediatric deaths vs. Canada |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | 7,874,686 | 3,129,130 | 40% | 3640 | 1335 | 37% |
2006 | 7,865,435 | 3,127,664 | 40% | 3513 | 1249 | 36% |
2007 | 7,859,930 | 3,116,390 | 40% | 3591 | 1297 | 36% |
2008 | 7,869,257 | 3,112,369 | 40% | 3517 | 1237 | 35% |
2009 | 7,867,349 | 3,101,042 | 39% | 3423 | 1247 | 36% |
2010 | 7,850,628 | 3,087,884 | 39% | 3424 | 1201 | 35% |
2011 | 7,833,278 | 3,074,838 | 39% | 3245 | 1122 | 35% |
2012 | 7,828,135 | 3,062,498 | 39% | 3247 | 1166 | 36% |
2013 | 7,848,394 | 3,069,969 | 39% | 3295 | 1157 | 35% |
2014 | 7,843,048 | 3,051,984 | 39% | 3135 | 1092 | 35% |
2015 | 7,838,448 | 3,034,963 | 39% | 3112 | 1086 | 35% |
2016 | 7,879,910 | 3,043,712 | 39% | 3120 | 1134 | 36% |
Average | 7,854,875 | 3,084,370 | n/a | 3355 | 1194 | n/a |