Update: WHO estimates show longer lives, more deaths from chronic disease and dementia
Oct. 2, 2026 — This updates our Oct. 2 report on WHO's new life expectancy figures. Global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, close to the 73.4 years of 2019, while healthy life expectancy recovered more slowly, to 62.8 years, still 0.4 years below its 2019 level, according to WHO's latest Global Health Estimates, which cover 2000 to 2023.
Noncommunicable diseases caused 74% of deaths in 2023, up from 58% in 2000, and eight of the 10 leading causes of death. WHO said that in 2023, for the first time, communicable diseases accounted for less than half of deaths in low-income countries.
Ischemic heart disease remained the top killer, with about 9.5 million deaths. Dementia rose to the fifth leading cause of death, from 19th in 2000, with deaths tripling over that period. Between 2019 and 2023, the age-standardized rate of healthy life lost rose about 20% for depressive disorders and nearly 45% for anxiety disorders.
"The next challenge is to ensure that those additional years are lived in good health," said Dr. Alain Labrique, who directs WHO's data and digital health department.
The wall: Country-level figures are in WHO's estimates database and were not summarized in the release.
Tier: Confirmed (based on WHO's Oct. 2 release on its Global Health Estimates)
Sources
- World Health Organization, New WHO estimates show changing global health landscape (Oct. 2, 2026)
- World Health Organization, Global Health Estimates (data)
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