Health Canada 2024 report indicates that 16,499 people died by euthanasia.

Euthanasia (MAiD) deaths increased by almost 7% representing 5.1% of all deaths.
Euthanasia (MAiD) deaths for people who were not terminally ill increased by 17%.

Alex Schadenberg

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Health Canada finally released their Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada on November 28, 2025. As slow as Health Canada was to release the report, last year's report was released on December 11, 2024.

For the purpose of this article I will refer to it as the 2024 report.

The 2024 report indicates that there were 16,499 reported (MAiD) euthanasia deaths which was up by 6.9% from 15,427 in 2023.

From legalization until December 31, 2024 there were 76,475 MAiD deaths in Canada. Considering that it is now at the end of November 2025, it is likely that there have been at least 92,000 MAiD (euthanasia) deaths in Canada since legalization.

The 2023 report indicated that there were 15,343 euthanasia deaths. The 2024 report stated that there were 15,427 euthanasia deaths in 2023, an increase of 84 deaths. Since the 2023 report was published in December, 2024, it is hard to understand a difference of 84 deaths.

On February 18, 2025, I predicted, based on the Ontario, Québec and Alberta euthanasia data, that there were likely 16,500 euthanasia deaths in 2024. My February, 2025 estimate was out by 1 death.

Quebec has the highest number of euthanasia deaths.

The 2024 report indicated that Québec had the highest number of euthanasia deaths.

According to the 2024 report: Quebec had 5,998 deaths, Ontario had 4,944, British Columbia had 2,997 deaths, Alberta had 1,117 deaths, Nova Scotia had 445 deaths, Saskatchewan had 341 deaths, New Brunswick had 283 deaths, Manitoba had 186 deaths, Newfoundland had 108 deaths, PEI had 57 deaths and the Yukon Territory had 14 deaths.

It is interesting that the Quebec government reported that there were 6058 euthanasia deaths in 2024 and the BC government reported that there were 3000. I wonder why there is a discrepancy?

The increase in Track 2 euthanasia deaths is very concerning. 

The total number of 2024 Canadian euthanasia deaths increased by 6.9%, while the total number of Track 2 euthanasia deaths increased by 17% representing 4.4% of all euthanasia deaths.

Track 2 refers to euthanasia deaths of people who do not have a terminal condition. To qualify for a Track 2 death, the person would need to have, among other qualifications, "a grievous and irremediable medical condition" which is not defined in the law.

According to the 2024 report there were 224 Track 2 deaths in 2021, 469 Track 2 deaths in 2022, 625 Track 2 deaths in 2023 and 732 in 2024.

It is important to note that people who die by euthanasia based on a Track 2 approval tend to be younger, are more likely to be women, and far more likely to be living with a disability.

Reasons for euthanasia.

It is assumed that pain and suffering is the primary reason why people seek to be killed by euthanasia. The 2024 report indicates that inadequate pain control or concern about it was the sixth most common reason for seeking to be killed.

According to the 2024 report:

• Loss of ability to engage in meaningful activities: Track 1 - 95.1%, Track 2 - 97.5;
• Loss of ability to perform to perform activities of daily living: Track 1 - 85.4%, Track 2 - 85.1%;
• Loss of Independence: Track 1 - 75.4%, Track 2 - 78.7%;
• Loss of Dignity: Track 1 - 63.5%, Track 2 - 73.9%;
• Emotional distress, anxiety, fear, existential suffering: Track 1 - 57.9%, Track 2 - 63.3%

Euthanasia and Disability

The 2024 report shows a clear connection between disability and death by euthanasia. In 2024, 31.6% (4858) of the Track 1 euthanasia deaths was a person with a disability and 61.5% (437) of the Track 2 euthanasia deaths was a person with a disability.

I believe that euthanasia based on disability is under-reported. Many people seek a euthanasia death based on disability related conditions but the person does not consider themselves to have a disability. When considering the 5 main reasons for someone seeking euthanasia, they are all related, in some way, to disability.

The Quebec data provides further evidence that euthanasia based on disability is under-reported. The 2024 report states that in Quebec only 12% of the Track 1 euthanasia deaths and 49.6% of the Track 2 euthanasia deaths were people with disabilities. Clearly there is a preference in Quebec to not claim that the person who dies by euthanasia is disabled.

People with disabilities should be very concerned about Track 2 euthanasia deaths. 61.5% of Track 2 euthanasia deaths (people who are not terminally ill) self-identified as being disabled.

People with disabilities were more likely to be younger with mobility issues being listed as the primary concern. It is not stated, but clear that Track 2 euthanasia deaths are primarily oriented to people with disabilities.

People with disabilities were also far more likely to have the reason for their death listed as "other." I have stated, several times, my concern with the "other category." People with disabilities who die under Track 1 are 46.1% categorized as "other" and Track 2 are 56.1% categorized as "other."

The 2024 report states that: Examples of "other" conditions include organ failure, diabetes, frailty, autoimmune conditions, chronic pain and mental disorders.

It should also not surprise anyone that people who die by Track 2 euthanasia are more likely to be poor, live in a poor neighborhood or institution and receive disability support services than people who die by Track 1 euthanasia.

Euthanasia and Loneliness.

The 2024 report attempts to explain away the issues of loneliness and isolation but according to the 2024 report, loneliness and isolation was related to 21.9% of Track 1 euthanasia deaths and 44.7% of Track 2 euthanasia deaths. Based on the 2024 report there were at least 3,800 people who listed loneliness and isolation as a primary reason for being killed.

As in previous years I believe that there were more than 3,800 people who wanted to be killed based on loneliness and isolation. People will state that their primary reason is related to their medical condition, but loneliness, isolation and mental health related conditions are often driving them to seek death while their medical condition is why they were approved to be killed.

It is also significant that 31.4% of those who died by Track 2 euthanasia were receiving mental health, social support professional services as compared to 9.4% of the Track 1 euthanasia deaths.

Considering the issue of euthanasia based on mental health, the data clearly indicates that mental health is a primary reason for euthanasia and very prevalent with relation to Track 2 deaths. This is not surprising since Track 2 deaths are people who are not terminally ill.

Currently the law would require that euthanasia based on mental illness would require the person to have another medical condition.

The Canadian parliament are currently debating Private Members Bill C-218, a bill that would reverse prevent the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness in Canada. We urge our supporters to do all that they can to support Bill C-218 (Article Link).

Over the next few weeks we will provide further analysis of the 2024 report.