WHO estimates reveal a changing global health landscape

Global health is showing signs of recovery after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although new figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlight a major shift in the diseases affecting people worldwide

The WHO’s latest Global Health Estimates, from 2000 to 2023, show that people are living longer overall. However, the growing impact of noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and dementia, is creating new challenges for health systems.

Life expectancy recovers after pandemic

Global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, close to the 73.4 years recorded in 2019 before the pandemic.

However, healthy life expectancy has recovered more slowly. In 2023, it was 62.8 years still 0.4 years below its pre-pandemic level.

The figures suggest that while people are living longer, some of those additional years are still being affected by illness and disability.

Chronic diseases account for more deaths

Noncommunicable diseases are becoming an increasingly important part of the global health picture. They accounted for 74% of deaths worldwide in 2023, compared with 58% in 2000.

Eight of the world’s 10 leading causes of death were noncommunicable diseases in 2023. This trend is no longer limited to wealthier countries. For the first time, communicable diseases made up less than half of all deaths in low-income countries in 2023.

Heart disease remains the world’s biggest health burden. Ischaemic heart disease alone caused around 9.5 million deaths and 210 million disability-adjusted life years in 2023.

Dementia and diabetes continue to rise

The estimates also show growing concern around other chronic conditions.

The risk of dying from diabetes has increased since 2000, particularly in South-East Asia. Dementia has also risen sharply, becoming the world’s fifth leading cause of death in 2023, compared with 19th in 2000. Global deaths from dementia tripled during the period.

Mental health conditions are also contributing significantly to the global burden of disease. Between 2019 and 2023, the global age-standardised burden from depressive disorders increased by around 20%, while the burden from anxiety disorders rose by nearly 45%.

A changing health challenge

The latest figures show that global health is recovering from the pandemic while undergoing a longer-term transformation.

As populations age and chronic diseases become more common, countries face increasing pressure to strengthen healthcare systems, improve prevention and tackle inequalities in access to care.