Non-communicable diseases drove 74% of global deaths in 2023, WHO reports

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) caused 74% of global deaths in 2023, up from 58% in 2000, according to new WHO estimates released Friday. Global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, nearly recovering to pre-pandemic levels, but healthy life expectancy lagged at 62.8 years. Cardiovascular diseases remained the leading killer, causing 9.5 million deaths, while dementia rose from the 19th to fifth leading cause of death since 2000. Depressive and anxiety disorder rates surged by 20% and 45% respectively between 2019 and 2023. WHO officials emphasized the need for stronger health data systems to help governments adapt policies to ageing populations and rising chronic disease burdens.