{"title":"Heart disease killed 9.5 million people in 2023, the world's top killer","url":"https://numberreels.com/v/heart-disease-killed-9-5-million-people-in-2023--20261016-ranked-bars","publisher":"NumberReels","source":"World Health Organization, Global Health Estimates (fact sheet 2 October 2026)","sourceUrl":"https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death","asOf":"2023 data","publishedAt":"2026-10-16","unit":" million","columns":[{"key":"label","label":"Name"},{"key":"value","label":"Value","unit":" million"},{"key":"note","label":"Note"}],"rows":[{"label":"Heart disease","value":9.5,"note":"blocked blood flow to the heart"},{"label":"Stroke","value":6.8},{"label":"COPD lung disease","value":3.6},{"label":"Lung infections","value":2.7},{"label":"Dementia","value":2.1}],"citations":[{"url":"https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death","publisher":"World Health Organization","figure":"2023: 61 million deaths worldwide; ischaemic heart disease 9.5 million (16%), stroke 6.8 million (11%), COPD 3.6 million (6%), lower respiratory infections 2.7 million, Alzheimer's and other dementias 2.1 million; heart disease deaths up 3.0 million since 2000","quote":"In 2023, the 10 leading causes of death accounted for 33 million deaths, or 54% of the total 61 million deaths worldwide.","tier":1},{"url":"https://nairametrics.com/2026/10/03/who-says-these-10-diseases-claimed-33-million-lives-in-one-year/","publisher":"Nairametrics","figure":"WHO's 2023 top causes: ischaemic heart disease 9.5 million, stroke 6.8 million, COPD 3.6 million, lower respiratory infections 2.7 million, Alzheimer's and dementias 2.1 million, of 61 million deaths","quote":"Ischaemic heart disease: 9.5 million; Stroke: 6.8 million; COPD: 3.6 million; Lower respiratory infections: 2.7 million; Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: 2.1 million","tier":"weak"},{"url":"https://ourworldindata.org/causes-of-death","publisher":"Our World in Data (IHME Global Burden of Disease)","figure":"Independent estimate: heart diseases are the most common cause of death, about a third of deaths (a wider cardiovascular grouping)","quote":"Heart diseases were the most common cause, responsible for a third of all deaths globally.","tier":2},{"url":"https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension","publisher":"World Health Organization (hypertension fact sheet, 25 Sep 2025)","figure":"About 1.4 billion adults aged 30-79 had hypertension in 2024; about 23% had it under control; reducing hypertension prevents heart attack, stroke and kidney damage","quote":"An estimated 1.4 billion adults aged 30-79 years worldwide had hypertension in 2024 ... Approximately 320 million adults with hypertension (23%) have it under control.","tier":1},{"url":"https://www.who.int/thailand/news/detail/24-09-2025-launch-of-the-who-global-hypertension-report-2025","publisher":"World Health Organization (Thailand office)","figure":"WHO Global Hypertension Report 2025 launch: only about 1 in 5 people with hypertension have it under control","quote":"only 1 in 5 individuals with hypertension have it under control","tier":1},{"url":"https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)","publisher":"World Health Organization (cardiovascular diseases fact sheet, 31 Jul 2025)","figure":"19.8 million people died of cardiovascular diseases in 2022 (32% of deaths); the main behavioural risks are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol","quote":"The most important behavioural risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol.","tier":1}]}