The world’s 10 leading causes of death claimed an estimated 33 million lives in 2023, accounting for 54% of the 61 million deaths recorded globally, according to the World Health Organization.
Non-communicable diseases dominated the ranking, with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions accounting for most of the deaths.
Ischaemic heart disease was the world’s leading killer, claiming 9.5 million lives, followed by stroke with 6.8 million deaths.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ranked third at 3.6 million deaths, while lower respiratory infections were the leading communicable disease, causing 2.7 million deaths.
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias accounted for 2.1 million deaths, followed by diabetes mellitus at 2 million and trachea, bronchus and lung cancers at 1.8 million.
Hypertensive heart disease caused 1.6 million deaths, kidney diseases 1.4 million, and diarrhoeal diseases 1.3 million.
The figures underscore the overwhelming contribution of chronic non-communicable diseases to the global mortality burden, while infectious diseases remain a significant cause of death, particularly lower respiratory and diarrhoeal infections.
