State of global health
Collecting and comparing health data from across the globe is a way to describe health problems, identify trends and help decision-makers set priorities.
Studies describe the state of global health by measuring the burden of disease – the loss of health from all causes of illness and deaths worldwide. They detail the leading causes of deaths worldwide and in every region, and provide information on more than 130 diseases and injuries across the world.
Global average life expectancy increased by 5 years between 2000 and 2015, the fastest increase since the 1960s
Life expectancy at birth reflects the overall mortality level of a population. It summarizes the mortality pattern that prevails across all age groups in a given year – children and adolescents, adults and the elderly. Global life expectancy at birth in 2015 was 71.4 years (73.8 years for females and 69.1 years for males).
Globally, healthy life expectancy (HLE) at birth in 2015 was estimated at 63.1 years
The gap between life expectancy and HLE at birth – 8.3 years in 2015 – represents the equivalent healthy years lost through morbidity and disability that a newborn could expect to experience. There are substantial differences between male and female HLE in all WHO regions, with female HLE being higher.
In 2015, more than 16 000 children under age five died every day
Almost all of these children’s lives could be saved if they had access to simple and affordable interventions such as exclusive breastfeeding, inexpensive vaccines and medication, clean water and sanitation. Children are at a greater risk of dying before age five if they are born in poor households, rural areas, or to mothers denied basic education.
45% of deaths among children under age five occur during the first four weeks of life
Prematurity, birth-related complications and neonatal sepsis were the leading causes of deaths among newborn babies in 2015. The Sustainable Development Goals specifically targets ending preventable newborn deaths by 2030, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1000 live births.
1.3 million deaths in 2015 were attributable to hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, that can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer. Most hepatitis deaths are due to hepatitis B and C. Globally, in 2015, an estimated 257 million people were living with chronic HBV infection, and 71 million people with chronic HCV infection. Few people with viral hepatitis have been diagnosed, and among those, treatment has reached only a small fraction.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) caused 37% of deaths in low-income countries in 2015, up from 23% in 2000
In low-resource settings, health-care costs for cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes or chronic lung diseases – the four main causes of NCD deaths – can quickly drain household resources, driving families into poverty. Globally, 70% (nearly 40 million) deaths in 2015 were due to NCDs. NCDs are often associated with older age groups, but 43% of all NCD deaths in 2015 occurred before the age of 70.
Ischaemic heart disease and stroke killed 15 million people in 2015
These and other types of cardiovascular diseases caused 31% of all deaths globally. Cessation of tobacco use, reduction of salt in the diet, consuming fruits and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as other NCDs.
Diabetes are among the 10 leading causes of deaths and disability worldwide
Disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) per 100 000 population due to diabetes increased by over 31% between 2000 and 2015, putting it in the top 10 causes of DALYs. Number of deaths, and death rate per 100 000 population, increased by 66% and 38%, respectively, during the same period.
Injuries claimed nearly 5 million lives in 2015
Over a quarter (27%) of these deaths were due to road traffic injuries. Low-income countries as a group had the highest mortality rate due to road traffic injuries with 28.5 deaths per 100 000 population – the global rate was 18.3. By contrast, high-income countries experienced the highest suicide rate at 14.5 deaths per 100 000 population – the global rate was 10.7.
