People are living almost as long as they did before COVID-19, but the illnesses that shorten and spoil those lives are changing. That is the headline from the World Health Organization's latest Global Health Estimates, released on 2 October 2026, which track life expectancy, causes of death and disease burden between 2000 and 2023. The picture is of a world that has largely recovered from the pandemic but is increasingly shaped by heart disease, diabetes, dementia, depression and anxiety.
Life expectancy is almost back to pre-pandemic levels
According to WHO, global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, close to the 73.4 years recorded in 2019, before the pandemic.
Healthy life expectancy, which measures the years people can expect to live in good health, has recovered more slowly. It reached 62.8 years in 2023, still 0.4 years below its 2019 level. In other words, people are getting back the years they lost, but not all of those years are healthy ones.
"Living longer is one of the great achievements of public health," said Dr Alain Labrique, Director of WHO's Department of Data, Digital Health, Analytics and AI. "The next challenge is to ensure that those additional years are lived in good health, while health systems are equipped to respond to the changing needs of populations."
Chronic diseases now dominate
The long-term shift towards noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the chronic illnesses that are not passed from person to person, continues. WHO reports that:
- NCDs accounted for 74% of deaths worldwide in 2023, up from 58% in 2000.
- Eight of the world's ten leading causes of death in 2023 were NCDs.
- For the first time, communicable diseases caused less than half of all deaths in low-income countries in 2023.
Infections remain serious problems in poorer countries, but even there chronic illness now causes the majority of deaths.
Heart disease is still the biggest burden
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death and disease burden worldwide. In 2023, ischaemic heart disease alone, where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the heart, caused around 9.5 million deaths and 210 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). DALYs measure the years of healthy life lost to early death and disability.
Many parts of the world have made real progress against heart disease since 2000. However, WHO says individual-level risk increased in its Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions. The South-East Asia region includes India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. WHO describes this as a sign of persistent inequality in cardiovascular health.
Diabetes, dementia and mental health are rising
The estimates also point to several fast-growing problems:
- Diabetes: the risk of dying from diabetes has risen substantially since 2000, particularly in South-East Asia.
- Dementia: Alzheimer disease and other dementias became the fifth leading cause of death globally in 2023, up from 19th in 2000. Global deaths from dementia tripled over that period.
- Depression and anxiety: between 2019 and 2023, the global age-standardised DALY rate rose by about 20% for depressive disorders and nearly 45% for anxiety disorders. Together these conditions accounted for an estimated 110 million years of healthy life lost in 2023.
- Drug use disorders: WHO says the Americas recorded the largest increases in mortality risk and healthy life lost between 2000 and 2023, while the Western Pacific saw substantial declines.
Why these numbers matter
WHO says the value of the estimates lies in what countries do with them. "By showing how causes of death and disease burden are changing over time and across populations, they give countries evidence to help shape health policies and priorities," Dr Labrique said.
What it means for you and your family
Several of the biggest drivers of chronic disease can be measured early and managed:
- Know your blood pressure. WHO estimates that about 44% of adults with hypertension do not know they have it. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms and is a major cause of heart attack and stroke.
- Check your blood sugar. Diabetes can go unnoticed for years. If you are over 30, have a family history or carry extra weight, ask a doctor about testing.
- Use free screening where it exists. In India, the national programme for non-communicable diseases offers population-based screening for adults aged 30 and above, including yearly blood pressure and blood sugar checks, at government health facilities.
- Take mental health seriously. Persistent low mood, worry or loss of interest that lasts for weeks deserves the same attention as a physical symptom. Talk to a doctor or a qualified counsellor.
- Stay active and avoid tobacco. Regular activity, less salt and not smoking lower the risk of several conditions in WHO's top ten.
If you already live with a chronic condition, keep regular follow-up appointments and take any prescribed medicines as your doctor advises.
FAQ
What are the WHO Global Health Estimates? They are WHO's estimates of deaths, causes of death and disability across countries over time, used to track trends and set priorities.
Has life expectancy fully recovered after COVID-19? Almost. Global life expectancy was 73.3 years in 2023, compared with 73.4 in 2019. Healthy life expectancy is still 0.4 years below its 2019 level.
What is the leading cause of death in the world? Ischaemic heart disease. It caused about 9.5 million deaths in 2023, according to WHO.
Why is dementia rising so quickly? WHO's figures show dementia deaths tripled between 2000 and 2023. Population ageing is a major factor, because the risk of dementia rises with age.
