Falls among older adults in Canada: Data blog

Summary of the most recent national-level statistics on fall-related deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department (ED) visits among older adults in Canada.

Last updated: 2025-11-28

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Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada

Date published: November 2025

Adults aged 65 years and older are at increased risk for falls. This risk can be attributed to factors such as:

decreased mobility and balance
muscle weakness
visual impairment^{Footnote 1}

Falls among older adults can have serious health and social consequences. Falls are the leading cause of hospitalizations and death and can result in:

disability
increased caregiver responsibilities
admission to long-term care
impacts on quality of life
and even death

Overview

Canada has an aging population and increasing life expectancy. Between 2017 and 2022, deaths due to falls increased 51% in adults aged 65 years and older. Specifically, numbers rose from 4,752 to 7,182 (these estimates exclude Yukon). Similarly, fall-related hospitalizations rose 47% between 2008 and 2019. Numbers increased from 49,152 to 72,392 (these estimates exclude Quebec)^{Footnote 2}. Fall-related hospital stays typically last 9 days longer than an average hospital stay for those over 65 years^{Footnote 2}.

In 2018, the direct cost of fall-related injuries among adults aged 65 years and older was estimated to be $5.6 billion. This cost is double compared to the cost in the 25 to 64 years age group^{Footnote 3}.

Background

The Public Health Agency of Canada released a surveillance report on falls among older adults in 2022. The report has national-level health statistics from a variety of health data sources. This data blog builds on the report by providing the most recent national-level statistics and information on factors contributing to falls.

Adults aged 65 years and older will be more than a fifth of the Canadian population by 2068^{Footnote 4}. Continuing to monitor fall-related injuries and deaths and their risk factors will help prevention efforts. These efforts are part of Canada’s participation in the Decade of healthy ageing.

Deaths due to falls

Deaths due to falls increased 51% from 2017 to 2022. In 2022, 7,621 adults aged 65 years and older died of falls in Canada. Mortality rates generally rose with age among both men and women. In each age group, men had higher mortality rates compared to women. However, women had a higher overall mortality rate (110.7 per 100,000 compared to 97.1 per 100,000). In total, more women died from falls (n = 4,349) compared to men (n = 3,272). This reflects the fact that there are more women than men 65 and older in Canada.

Figure 1: Text description

Age group (years)	Count (Men)	Count (Women)	Rate per 100,000 (Men)	Rate per 100,000 (Women)
65 to 69	168	115	15.0	9.7
70 to 74	290	224	32.4	23.0
75 to 79	425	395	65.8	54.3
80 to 84	628	620	161.6	127.3
85 to 89	763	931	357.8	295.9
90+	998	2,064	913.5	864.7
All 65+	3,272	4,349	97.1	110.7

Figure 1: Notes

Source: Statistics Canada's Canadian Vital Statistics- Death Database 2022

Fall-related hospitalizations

In 2022^{Footnote 5}, there were 78,076 fall-related hospitalizations among adults 65 and older (this estimate excludes Quebec). Falls cause 89% of injury-related hospitalizations in this age group. Hospitalizations for fall-related injuries increased 36% between 2008 and 2019 for older adults in residential care. They increased 50% for those in household residence. Over 83% of fall-related hospitalizations were among older adults living in household residence^{Footnote 2}.

Of these falls, women accounted for nearly two-thirds of hospitalizations (n = 49,919). For both men and women, hospitalization rates increased with age. However, hospitalization rates among women were consistently higher compared to men^{Footnote 2}.

Over a third (34%) of fall-related hospitalizations (n = 26,848) among adults 65 years and older involved a hip fracture^{Footnote 2}. For more information on hip fractures and other health statistics, visit Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System.

Figure 2: Text description

Age group (years)	Count (Men)	Count (Women)	Rate per 1,000 (Men)	Rate per 1,000 (Women)
65 to 69	3,703	4,635	4.4	5.1
70 to 74	4,330	6,067	6.4	8.1
75 to 79	4,923	7,871	10.0	14.1
80 to 84	5,279	9,139	17.8	24.7
85 to 89	5,284	10,143	31.9	42.8
90+	4,638	12,064	53.2	68.0
All 65+	28,157	49,919	11.0	16.6

Figure 2: Notes

Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information's Discharge Abstract Database 2022^{Footnote 5}

Fall-related emergency department (ED) visits

70% of older adults suffering a fall-related injury sought medical attention, mostly in a hospital emergency department^{Footnote 2}. In 2022^{Footnote 5}, there were 200,825 fall-related ED visits reported in Ontario and Alberta among adults aged 65 years and older. Of these ED visits, nearly two-thirds (n = 126,765) were among women. Similar to hospitalizations, ED visit rates increased with age for both men and women. ED visit rates among women were also consistently higher compared to men.

Figure 3: Text description

Age group (years)	Count (Men)	Count (Women)	Rate per 1,000 (Men)	Rate per 1,000 (Women)
65 to 69	13,998	21,657	26.5	37.9
70 to 74	13,653	21,586	32.9	46.4
75 to 79	13,499	21,768	44.7	61.9
80 to 84	12,231	20,608	65.8	87.1
85 to 89	11,469	19,783	109.1	129.5
90+	9,210	21,363	165.0	187.2
All 65+	74,060	126,765	46.5	67.0

Figure 3: Notes

Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information's National Ambulatory Care Reporting System 2022^{Footnote 5}

Factors contributing to falls among older adults

As presented in Table 1, there are many risk factors associated with falls. Factors may stem from biological, behavioural, social or economic, and environmental factors. These factors can impact the safety of everyday activities; for example, 61% of falls occurred while walking^{Footnote 2}.

Table 1: Factors contributing to falls, Government of British Columbia^{Footnote 1}

Factors	Examples
Biological	Decreased mobility and balance Muscle weakness visual impairment Acute or chronic illness and disability
Behavioural	History of falls Fear of falling Poor nutrition and/or hydration Lack of physical activity Inappropriate footware and clothing
Social	Low income Low education Inadequate housing Lack of support networks and social isolation Limited access to appropriate health or social services
Environmental	Home hazards: Clutter, lack of stair railings, loose rugs or other tripping hazards Lack of grab bars in the bathroom Poor lighting, especially on stairs

Fall prevention

Falls can be prevented, and prevention efforts involve a number of key strategies.

Strategies for individuals include:

performing balance and strength exercises
getting proper sleep
eating well and staying hydrated

Broader strategies at the community level include:

providing educational opportunities to older adults on fall prevention strategies (like knowledge of medical equipment, exercise programs and fall prevention skills)
installing handrails and grab bars
removing debris such as snow and ice from public walkways

For more information on fall prevention for older adults, visit You CAN Prevent Falls! and Parachute: Falls in seniors.

Data notes

Counts were based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes W00–W19.

References and footnotes

Footnote 1

Government of British Columbia. What Contributes to Falls?. Government of British Columbia [cited 2023 October 11].

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Footnote 2

Public Health Agency of Canada. Surveillance report on falls among older adults in Canada. Public Health Agency of Canada; 2022 March [cited 2023 October 11].

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Footnote 3