World’s leading causes of death remain dominated by cardiovascular diseases

Yesterday 15:45

By: Azzat Manal

World’s leading causes of death remain dominated by cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide, with ischemic heart disease and stroke accounting for millions of deaths each year, according to the latest mortality data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Ischemic heart disease ranked first among the world’s leading causes of death in 2023, claiming approximately 9.5 million lives, equivalent to around 16% of all deaths globally. The condition occurs when narrowed or blocked arteries restrict blood flow and reduce the supply of oxygen to the heart muscle.

Stroke was the second-largest cause of death, responsible for an estimated 6.8 million deaths, or roughly 11% of global mortality. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease followed in third place, with about 3.6 million deaths, while lower respiratory infections accounted for approximately 2.7 million deaths.

Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive decline, was responsible for around 2.1 million deaths and ranked among the world’s five leading causes of mortality. Its rise has been particularly notable over the past two decades, with deaths linked to dementia estimated to have tripled since 2000.

The WHO also reported that eight of the ten leading causes of death in 2023 were noncommunicable diseases. Together, these conditions accounted for approximately 74% of deaths worldwide, compared with 58% in 2000. Other major causes included diabetes, cancers of the trachea, bronchus and lung, hypertensive heart disease and kidney disease, alongside diarrhoeal diseases.

Overall, the ten leading causes of death were responsible for around 33 million fatalities in 2023, representing more than half of the estimated 61 million deaths recorded worldwide that year.

Despite progress in reducing the burden of ischemic heart disease in several parts of the world, the WHO highlighted continuing disparities in cardiovascular health. Some populations, particularly in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions, have experienced increased individual risk, underscoring differences in access to prevention and healthcare.

The figures also reflect broader demographic and health trends. As populations age and people live longer, chronic diseases are becoming an increasingly important part of the global mortality profile. At the same time, improvements in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases have contributed to changes in the ranking of major causes of death.

Global life expectancy reached approximately 73.3 years in 2023, almost returning to the 73.4-year level recorded in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, healthy life expectancy remained lower, at around 62.8 years, highlighting the difference between living longer and spending more years in good health.

COVID-19, meanwhile, no longer appeared among the world’s ten leading causes of death in 2023, marking the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that it fell outside the top ten.

The WHO’s latest figures underline the growing importance of preventing cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions, while also highlighting the challenges posed by population ageing, dementia and persistent inequalities in health outcomes across different regions.