A bar chart displaying the share of deaths by cause worldwide in 2023, showing cardiovascular diseases and cancers as the leading causes.

A bar chart showing the estimated share of total annual deaths from various causes globally in 2023. Cardiovascular diseases account for 31.9% and cancers for 17.6%.

Share of deaths by cause, World, 2023 The estimated share of total annual deaths from each cause. Cardiovascular diseases 31.9% Cancers 17.6% Chronic respiratory diseases 6.9% Pneumonia 4.2% Digestive diseases 4% Alzheimer's disease 3.7% Diabetes 3.3% Neonatal deaths 2.7% Kidney disease 2.5% Road incidents 2.2% Liver disease 2.1% Enteric infections 2.1% Diarrheal diseases 1.8% Tuberculosis 1.7% Covid-19 1.4% HIV/AIDS 1.4% Suicide 1.3% Malaria 1.1% Homicide 0.7% Parkinson's disease 0.7% Drowning 0.5% Nutritional deficiencies 0.5% Meningitis 0.4% Protein-energy malnutrition 0.4% Maternal deaths 0.4% Drug disorders 0.3% Alcohol use disorders 0.3% Conflict (including terrorism) 0.3% Fire 0.3% Hepatitis 0.2% Natural disasters 0.1% Hot or cold exposure 0.1% Terrorism <0.1% in 2021 Our World in Data Data source: IHME, Global Burden of Disease (2025); National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) OurWorldInData.org/causes-of-death | CC BY