WHO Global Health Estimates: life expectancy back to 73.3 years as noncommunicable diseases cause 74% of deaths
2 October 2026
WHO released its latest Global Health Estimates on 2 October 2026, covering 2000 to 2023.
Global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, close to the 73.4 years recorded in 2019.
Healthy life expectancy reached 62.8 years in 2023, still 0.4 years below its 2019 level.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 74% of deaths in 2023, compared with 58% in 2000.
Ischaemic heart disease alone caused approximately 9.5 million deaths in 2023.
Dementia became the fifth leading cause of death globally in 2023, compared with 19th in 2000.
In plain words
NCDs Noncommunicable diseases — Diseases such as diabetes, dementia and heart disease that do not pass from person to person.
DALY Disability-adjusted life year — A measure of years of healthy life lost through premature death and disability.