The global mortality rate has declined by 67 percent since 1950, despite population growth and aging, according to a recent report by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD). The study, published in The Lancet medical journal, analyzed data from 204 countries and territories, as well as 660 subnational locations, between 1990 and 2023. The findings were presented at the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany.
The report reveals that global life expectancy has returned to pre-pandemic levels, increasing by over 20 years since 1950 to 76.3 years for females and 71.5 years for males. However, significant regional disparities persist, with life expectancy ranging from 83 years in high-income regions to 62 years in sub-Saharan Africa. The study also highlights an emerging crisis of higher death rates among adolescents and young adults, attributed to suicide and substance use in North and Latin America, and infectious diseases and unintentional injuries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Between 2011 and 2023, the highest increase in deaths was recorded among those aged 20 to 39 in high-income North America, largely due to suicide, drug overdose, and excessive alcohol use. The report also notes that deaths among those aged 5 to 19 rose in Eastern Europe, high-income North America, and the Caribbean within the same period. Furthermore, geographic inequities in mean age at death are profound, with the highest mean age of death recorded in high-income regions and the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa.
In Nigeria, the report shows that fewer people are dying now than in 1990, with a significant decline in the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) between 1990 and 2023. The rate for both sexes dropped from 1,722.41 deaths per 100,000 people in 1990 to 1,085.19 in 2023. The report emphasizes that tremendous progress has been made in reducing infectious diseases and injuries, but cuts to development assistance for health threaten this success.
The study, led by Dr. Christopher Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), highlights that many countries, particularly those with limited resources, need better access to prevention and treatment for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs account for nearly two-thirds of the world’s total death and disability, led by ischemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The burden of mental disorders continues to surge globally, with anxiety and depression increasing death and disability by 63 percent and 26 percent, respectively.
The report’s findings underscore the need for continued efforts to address health disparities and improve access to healthcare worldwide. As the global health landscape continues to evolve, it is essential to prioritize prevention and treatment of NCDs, as well as address the emerging crisis of higher death rates among adolescents and young adults.