Top 10 most common causes of death in the world
Life is beautiful, but unfortunately every life ends with death. So death is inevitable, and there are different paths to take. It can come from a number of different causes of death. Sometimes death comes suddenly and unexpectedly. However, this is not the rule. Most of the most common causes of death today are due to some long-term illness. The reasons for these illnesses can be very different. Sometimes it's just bad luck or genetics or old age, but sometimes it depends on your own lifestyle choices.
The following ranking lists the 10 most common causes of death today in the world. It also displays the known risk factors for these most common causes of death.
The 10 most common causes of death (currently) in the world
10 most common causes of death
as of August 2021
1. Cardiovascular Disease
Global annual deaths: ~16,500,000 People
responsible for ~27.2% of all global deaths
The subtype that causes the most deaths:
Atherosclerosis leading to coronary artery disease (CAD)
The biggest risk factors:
Age (risk triples every ten years of life)
- High Blood Pressure
- Obesity - Being sedentary
- Genetic predisposition
- Smoke
- Sleepless
- Air pollution
2. Cancer
Global annual deaths: ~10,000,000
responsible for ~16.5% of all global deaths.
The most fatal subtype:
Lung cancer
The danger elements
biggest :
- Fat
- Smoke
Infections (especially viral infections)
- Regularly eat processed meat
- sedentary
- Overexposure to UV radiation or radioactive substances
- Genetic predisposition
- Regularly drink alcohol
- Malnutrition
- Untreated celiac disease
- Crohn's disease
3. Coronavirus
Coronavirus (infectious disease)
Global annual deaths (as of December 2019): ~ 4,300,000 People
responsible for ~7.1 percent of all global deaths.
The subtype that causes most deaths:
Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV ‑ 2) leading to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The biggest risk factors for infection:
- Usually present in crowded places
- Do not wear a protective mask
- Not vaccinated against Coronavirus
The biggest risk factors for death after infection:
Age (infectious mortality rate is 28% in people over 85 years old, compared with 0.004% in people under 35 years old)
- High blood pressure
- Fat
- Smoke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary artery disease
- Irregular heartbeat
- Chronic kidney disease - Lung disease
- Addiction to opioids or methamphetamine
4. Respiratory diseases
Lung / respiratory disease
Annual global deaths: ~ 3,400,000 People
responsible for ~5.6% of all global deaths.
The subtype that causes the most deaths:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
The biggest risk factors:
- Smoke
- Air pollution
- Excessive exposure to dust
- Genetic predisposition
5. Pneumonia
Pneumonia (infectious disease) Global annual deaths: ~ 3,000,000 People
responsible for ~4.9% of all global deaths.
The most fatal subtype:
Bacterial pneumonia (especially caused by pneumococcal bacteria)
The biggest risk factors for infection:
- After various bacterial or viral infections
- Hospitalize
- Poor hygiene
Not vaccinated against pneumonia (especially pneumococcal bacteria)
The biggest risk factors for death after infection:
Age (most deaths occur in infected people over 65 years old or under 2 years old)
- Weakened immune system
- While under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Have a brain injury
- Smoke
6. Dementia
Dementia
Global annual deaths: ~ 2,000,000 People
responsible for ~3.3% of all global deaths.
The subtype that causes the most deaths:
Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
The biggest risk factors:
- Age (risk doubles every 6 years of life) - Sedentary
- Lack of cognitive stimulation
- Social isolation
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Smoke
- Fat
- High blood sugar
- Poor oral health
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
- Has a traumatic brain injury
- Regularly drink alcohol
- Polluted air
7. Diabetes
Diabetes Number of annual deaths globally: ~ 1,600,000
Responsible for ~2.6% of all global deaths.
The most fatal subtype:
Type 2 diabetes
The biggest risk factors:
Age (Type 1 is most common in children and adults under 25 years old; Type 2 is most common in people over 45 years of age)
- Genetic predisposition
- Obesity (Type 2)
- Physical inactivity (Category 2)
8. Traffic accidents
Traffic accidents
Global annual deaths: ~1,400,000
Responsible for ~2.3% of all global deaths.
The most fatal subtype:
Road traffic accidents caused by cars
The biggest risk factors:
- Distracted driving
- Excessive speed
- Drunk
- Driving in rain, snow or fog
- Night driving
9. Diarrhea
Diarrhea Global annual deaths: ~ 1,350,000 People
responsible for ~2.2% of all global deaths.
The subtype that causes most deaths:
There are no sub-categories
The biggest risk factor:
- Bacterial or viral infection
- Using antibiotics or some other drugs
Lactose intolerance (after eating dairy products)
- Consumption of artificial sweeteners or fructose
- Celiac disease
- Crohn's disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
10. Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (infectious disease)
Global annual deaths: ~1,300,000
Responsible for ~2.1% of all global deaths.
The most fatal subtype:
Pulmonary TB
The greatest risk factors (for both infection and mortality after infection):
- HIV AIDS
- Silicosis
- Malnutrition
- Malnutrition
- Chronic kidney failure
- Smoke
- Drinking too much alcohol
Certain medications (especially those for rheumatoid arthritis)
The 10 most common causes of death (currently) in the world
1. HEART / HEART DISEASE ONLY
Responsible for ~27.2% of all global deaths
2. CANCER
Responsible for ~16.5% of all deaths globally
3. CORONAVIRUS
Responsible for ~7.1% of all global deaths
4. RESPIRATORY DISEASE
Responsible for ~5.6% of all global deaths
5. PNEUMONIA
Responsible for ~4.9% of all global deaths
6. MEMORY DISEASE
Responsible for ~3.3% of all global deaths
7. DIABETES
Responsible for ~2.6% of all global deaths
8. TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
Responsible for ~2.3% of all deaths globally
9. DIARRHEA
Responsible for ~2.2% of all global deaths
10. TUBERCULOSIS
Responsible for ~2.1% of all deaths globally
List of the most common causes of death in the world by the number of people who die annually from their respective causes. The data source is WHO & World Life Expectancy. All types of cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and dementia are grouped into one category. Data on coronavirus deaths from Worldometers (as of August 2021).