People around the world are generally living longer than in the past. According to the WHO, global average life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023.
However, living longer does not necessarily mean spending more years in good health.
WHO figures show that people can expect to live an average of just 62.8 years in good health.
This means that many people spend their final years living with illnesses that can affect both their health and daily lives.
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More people are dying from chronic diseases
The WHO's latest report, published on October 2, 2026, also shows that chronic and other noncommunicable diseases account for an increasing proportion of deaths worldwide.
In 2000, these diseases accounted for 58 percent of all deaths. By 2023, that figure had risen to 74 percent.
Part of the explanation is that fewer people are dying prematurely from infectious diseases and childbirth-related conditions.
As a result, more people are reaching older ages, when the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia increases.
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One disease stands out in particular
According to the WHO, four main factors are driving this trend: an ageing population, global population growth, fewer premature deaths, and improvements in disease detection and reporting.
These changes have had a particularly significant impact on dementia statistics.
WHO data shows that the number of people dying from dementia tripled between 2000 and 2023.
As a result, dementia has risen from the 19th to the fifth leading cause of death worldwide.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.