Share of deaths by cause worldwide 1990-2021| ��ƽ��

Distribution of causes of death worldwide in 1990 and 2021

Characteristic	2021	1990
Cardiovascular diseases	28.6%	26.7%
Cancers	14.6%	12.5%
COVID-19	11.6%	-
Chronic respiratory diseases	6.5%	6.5%
Digestive diseases	3.7%	4.1%
Lower respiratory infections	3.2%	6.5%
Alzheimer's disease and other dementias	2.9%	1.4%
Neonatal deaths	2.7%	6.4%
Diabetes mellitus	2.4%	1.5%
Kidney disease	2.3%	1.2%
Liver disease	2.1%	2.2%
Enteric infections	2%	7%
Road injuries	1.8%	2.4%
Diarrheal diseases	1.7%	6.4%
Tuberculosis	1.7%	3.9%
Malaria	1.1%	1.6%
Suicide	1.1%	1.5%
HIV/AIDS	1.1%	0.7%
Homicide	0.6%	0.8%
Parkinson's disease	0.6%	0.3%
Drowning	0.4%	1.1%
Nutritional deficiencies	0.3%	1.2%
Protein-energy malnutrition	0.3%	1.1%
Meningitis	0.3%	0.9%
Maternal disorders	0.3%	0.7%
Fire	0.2%	0.3%
Alcohol use disorders	0.2%	0.2%
Drug disorders	0.2%	0.1%
Hepatitis	0.1%	0.3%
Conflict (including terrorism)	0.1%	0.3%
Natural disasters*	0.1%	0.1%
Hot or cold exposure*	0.1%	0.1%
Terrorism*	0.1%	0.1%

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Sources

IHME; OWID

Release date

September 2024

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

1990 and 2021

Supplementary notes

Release date represents the date figures were accessed.
Data refers to the specific cause of death, which is distinguished from risk factors for death, such as air pollution, diet and other lifestyle factors. This is shown by cause of death as the percentage of total deaths.

Citation formats

The global landscape of mortality has undergone significant changes from 1990 to 2021, but cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide. In 2021, cardiovascular diseases accounted for 28.6 percent of all deaths, followed by cancers at 14.6 percent. Notably, COVID-19 emerged as the third leading cause of death in 2021, responsible for 11.6 percent of global fatalities.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The emergence of COVID-19 as a major cause of death underscores the profound impact of the pandemic on global health. By May 2023, the virus had infected over 687 million people worldwide and claimed nearly 6.87 million lives. The United States, India, and Brazil were among the most severely affected countries. The pandemic's effects extended beyond direct mortality, influencing healthcare systems and potentially exacerbating other health conditions.

Shifts in global health priorities

While infectious diseases like COVID-19 have gained prominence, long-term health trends reveal significant progress in certain areas. The proportion of neonatal deaths decreased from 6.4 percent in 1990 to 2.7 percent in 2021, reflecting improvements in maternal and child health care. However, challenges persist in addressing malnutrition and hunger, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The Global Hunger Index 2024 identified Somalia, Yemen, and Chad as the countries most affected by hunger and malnutrition, highlighting the ongoing need for targeted interventions in these regions.