Silent killers: Noncommunicable Diseases account for majority of global deaths
Despite the frequent headlines dominated by violence, pandemics, and disaster, the leading causes of death worldwide are far less dramatic, but far more persistent.
According to the latest figures from IHME Global Burden of Disease and Global Terrorism Database, 74% of global deaths are caused by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)—long-term, often lifestyle-related illnesses that receive relatively little attention in public discourse compared to infectious diseases or violent conflict.
A breakdown of global mortality
The data segments the primary causes of death into three categories:
1. Noncommunicable Diseases (74%)
Leading this category:
- Heart diseases: 33%
- Cancer: 18%
- Chronic respiratory diseases: 7%
- Digestive disorders: 4.5%
- Neurological conditions: 3.9%
- Diabetes: 2.7%
- Other NCDs: 5.7%
This overwhelming majority underscores the need for urgent investment in public health systems, prevention campaigns, and healthier living initiatives to address the rising burden of chronic diseases—particularly in aging populations and increasingly urbanized societies.
2. Infectious diseases (14%)
Despite considerable progress in combating infectious diseases globally, they still represent a significant portion of deaths:
- Pneumonia: 4.4%
- Diarrheal diseases: 2.7%
- Tuberculosis: 2%
- HIV/AIDS: 1.5%
- Malaria: 1.1%
- Other infections: 2.1%
These diseases predominantly affect low- and middle-income countries and remain a top concern for global health organizations working to reduce mortality through vaccination, sanitation, and access to medical care.
3. Injuries, accidents, and other causes (12%)
This category includes both preventable and external factors:
- Neonatal deaths: 3.3%
- Transport accidents: 2.3%
- Other accidents: 3.1%
- Suicides: 1.3%
- Homicides: 0.7%
- War-related deaths: 0.2%
- Terrorism: 0.05%
- Maternal deaths & nutritional deficiencies: 0.8% combined
Despite media focus, deaths from war, terrorism, and violence account for only a tiny fraction of global mortality.
