COVID-19 Drops Out of Top 10 Causes of Death as Chronic Diseases Rise Globally: WHO

Global Life Expectancy Recovers as COVID-19 Falls Out of Top Ten Causes of Death

New estimates from the World Health Organization show that overall life expectancy has rebounded near pre-pandemic levels as COVID-19 exited the world’s top 10 causes of death in 2023 for the first time since the pandemic began, resulting in an estimated 0.9 million fatalities and placing 14th worldwide. Updated assessments from the organization now position COVID-19 as the primary cause of global mortality in 2021 with 9.4 million direct fatalities, preceded by 5.3 million deaths in 2020, which results in a combined two-year direct mortality count of 14.7 million.

By 2023, global life expectancy at birth recovered to 73.3 years, approaching the 73.4 years recorded in 2019. This recovery follows a sharp decline of 1.8 years between 2019 and 2021 that pulled life expectancy down to 71.4 years. Healthy life expectancy, which tracks years lived in full health, rose to 62.8 years in 2023 but remained 0.4 years below pre-pandemic levels.

Noncommunicable Diseases Drive Three Out of Four Deaths Worldwide

Noncommunicable diseases accounted for 74% of all deaths worldwide in 2023, up from 58% in 2000. Eight of the 10 leading causes of death globally were chronic conditions led by ischaemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ischaemic heart disease remained the world’s top killer, claiming about 9.5 million lives or 16% of the 61 million total deaths in 2023. Deaths from the condition have risen by 3.0 million since 2000, representing the largest increase of any single cause.

Stroke killed 6.8 million people and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claimed 3.6 million. Lower respiratory infections ranked fourth with 2.7 million deaths, returning to 2019 levels and reclaiming its position as the deadliest communicable disease. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias rose to the fifth leading cause of death, killing 2.1 million people with women accounting for 66% of those deaths. Diabetes deaths more than doubled since 2000 to reach 2.0 million, while lung cancer deaths climbed from 1.1 million to 1.8 million.

Low-Income Countries Face Persistent Infectious Disease Burdens

In low-income countries, communicable diseases still caused seven of the 10 leading causes of death in 2023, though they now cause fewer than half of all deaths in those nations. Lower respiratory infections remained the top killer in low-income nations, a position held continuously since around 2010 except for 2021, maintaining more than 350,000 annual deaths since 2000. Malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV remained in the low-income top 10 despite significant drops in fatalities. HIV and AIDS deaths fell 62% globally over the study period, pushing the disease from seventh to 22nd overall.

Depressive and Anxiety Disorders Drive Global Disease Burden

Mental health conditions and drug use disorders joined diabetes and dementia in driving a shifting global disease burden. The age-standardized rate of healthy life lost to depressive disorders increased by about 20% worldwide between 2019 and 2023, while anxiety disorders surged by nearly 45%. Regional disparities also emerged as individual risks for ischaemic heart disease increased in the WHO Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions despite declining burdens across much of the rest of the world. Diabetes mortality risks also rose substantially, particularly in South-East Asia.

Frequently Asked Questions About Global Mortality Trends

What specific data does the WHO dataset cover?

The estimates track more than 160 diseases and injuries from 2000 to 2023 across global populations.

How many total deaths occurred globally in 2023?

The 10 leading causes of death accounted for 33 million deaths out of a total of 61 million deaths worldwide in 2023.

Which condition showed the largest increase in deaths since 2000?

Ischaemic heart disease experienced the largest increase, rising by 3.0 million deaths to reach 9.5 million fatalities in 2023.

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