Top 20 Causes of Mortality Throughout the World

Updated June 26, 2019 | Infoplease Staff
All countries
RankCauseTotal deaths (in thousands)% of total
1.Ischaemic heart disease7,20812.6%
2.Cerebrovascular disease5,5099.7
3.Lower respiratory infections3,8846.8
4.HIV/AIDS2,7774.9
5.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease2,7484.8
6.Diarrheal diseases1,7983.2
7.Tuberculosis1,5662.7
8.Malaria1,2722.2
9.Cancer of trachea/bronchus/lung1,2432.2
10.Road traffic accidents1,1922.1%
11.Childhood Diseases1,1242.0
12.Other unintentional injuries9231.6
13.Hypertensive heart disease 9111.6
14.Self-inflicted8731.5
15.Stomach cancer8501.5
16.Cirrhosis of the liver7861.4
17.Nephritis/nephrosis6771.2
18.Colon/rectum cancer6221.1
19.Liver cancer6181.1
20.Measles6111.1
Source: The World Health Report, 2003, The World Health Organization (WHO).

See also Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Tropical Diseases, Rare and Deadly Diseases, Food-Borne Diseases, Mosquito and Tick-Borne Diseases, Childhood Diseases.


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