Chart 3A: Distribution of paediatric deaths across age groups (2016) and Chart 3B: Distribution of paediatric deaths across age groups (2017)

  • Charts 3A and 3B illustrate the number of death investigations completed by the OCC compared with the total number of Ontario deaths in 2016 and 2017, distributed by age group. Proportionately, infants compose the largest subgroup of deaths, followed by adolescents.

Chart 4A: Proportion of Ontario deaths investigated by the OCC across age groups (2016)

  • Chart 4A  illustrates that in 2016, the OCC investigated approximately 21% of infant deaths (< 1 year), 63% of deaths of 1-4 year olds, 51% of the 5-9 year olds, 59% of 10-14 year olds and 79% of adolescent deaths (15-19 year olds).

Chart 4B: Proportion of Ontario deaths investigated by the OCC across age groups (2017)

  • Chart 4B  illustrates that in 2017, the OCC investigated approximately 18% of infant deaths (< 1 year), 70% of deaths of 1-4 year olds, 55% of the 5-9 year olds, 78% of 10-14 year olds and 90% of adolescent deaths (15-19 year olds).

Chart 5A: Manner of death in OCC investigations – distribution across age groups (2016) and Chart 5B: Manner of death in OCC investigations – distribution across age groups (2017)

  • Charts 5A and 5B illustrate the manners of paediatric deaths investigated by a coroner in 2016 and 2017.  The charts demonstrate that there is a change in the distribution of the manner of death provided by Ontario coroners that follows age progression from infancy to adolescence. Natural and undetermined deaths dominate investigations of children under one, gradually changing to non-natural manners (accident, homicide and suicide) which are more prevalent among adolescents.