Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 74% of deaths worldwide in 2023, up from 58% in 2000, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The figures come from WHO's latest Global Health Estimates, which track life expectancy, causes of death and disease burden from 2000 to 2023.
Life expectancy returns to pre-pandemic levels
Global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, close to the 73.4 years recorded in 2019. However, healthy life expectancy has recovered more slowly. It reached 62.8 years in 2023, still 0.4 years below its 2019 level.