WHO estimates reveal shifting global health landscape as noncommunicable diseases rise

Global life expectancy has returned to close to pre-pandemic levels, while noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) now account for a growing share of deaths worldwide, according to a press release issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 2 October 2026. The latest Global Health Estimates track changes in life expectancy, causes of death and disease burden across countries and regions between 2000 and 2023. Conditions such as diabetes, dementia, mental health disorders and drug use disorders are driving a changing burden of disease. Eight of the world’s ten leading causes of death in 2023 were NCDs. The findings point to a global health landscape recovering from the pandemic while continuing to evolve.

Global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, close to the 73.4 years recorded in 2019. Healthy life expectancy recovered more slowly, reaching 62.8 years in 2023, still 0.4 years below its 2019 level. NCDs accounted for 74% of deaths globally in 2023, compared with 58% in 2000. For the first time, communicable diseases accounted for less than half of all deaths in low-income countries in 2023. This marks another step in the global epidemiological transition.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death and disease burden worldwide. In 2023, ischaemic heart disease alone caused approximately 9.5 million deaths and 210 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). While many regions have recorded substantial progress since 2000, individual-level risk rose in the WHO Western Pacific and South-East Asia Regions. The risk of dying from diabetes has also risen substantially since 2000, particularly in South-East Asia. Dementia became the fifth leading cause of death globally in 2023, compared with 19th in 2000, with global deaths tripling over the period.

Mental health conditions are a growing part of the changing picture. Between 2019 and 2023, the global age-standardized DALY rate increased by approximately 20% for depressive disorders and nearly 45% for anxiety disorders. Together, these conditions accounted for an estimated 110 million years of healthy life loss in 2023. The WHO Region of the Americas recorded the largest increases in mortality and healthy life loss related to drug use disorders between 2000 and 2023, while the Western Pacific saw substantial declines.

“Living longer is one of the great achievements of public health,” said Dr Alain Labrique, Director of WHO’s Department of Data, Digital Health, Analytics and AI.

Dr Labrique added that the next challenge is to ensure additional years are lived in good health, with health systems equipped to respond to changing population needs. He noted that the value of the estimates lies in showing how causes of death and disease burden shift over time and across populations. The data give countries evidence to shape health policies and priorities. They also help WHO support countries in building resilient digital and data infrastructure and strengthening capacity to analyze health data. The Global Health Estimates enable policy-makers and health partners to track changes in population health, identify emerging trends and determine where further action is needed.