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Deaths across the globe

In 2011, an estimated 55 million people died worldwide. Among them, non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic lung diseases were responsible for two-thirds of all deaths, up from 60% in 2000. Whereas communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutrition conditions collectively were responsible for a quarter of global deaths, and injuries caused 9% of all deaths.
Ischaemic heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory infections, chronic obstructive lung disease, diarrhoea and HIV/AIDS have remained the top major killers worldwide during the past decade. Chronic diseases cause increasing numbers of deaths worldwide.
In low-income countries, nearly 4 in every 10 deaths are among children under 15 years, and only 2 in every 10 deaths are among people aged 70 years and older. People predominantly die of infectious diseases: lower respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, diarrhoeal diseases, malaria and tuberculosis collectively account for almost one third of all deaths in these countries. Complications of childbirth due to prematurity, and birth asphyxia and birth trauma are among the leading causes of death, claiming the lives of many newborns and infants.
Measuring how many people die each year and why they died is one of the most important means — along with gauging how diseases and injuries are affecting people — for assessing the effectiveness of a country’s health system. Cause-of-death statistics help health authorities determine their focus for public health actions to reduce deaths from preventable and treatable causes.

Source - The Daily Star