Leading causes of death

Linking Environment and Health:
Leading Causes of Death

Top Ten Causes of Death by Region
Leading Causes of Death, 1990
WORLD DEATHS   
(000)   
PERCENTAGE
OF TOTAL
DEATHS
All causes 50,467
Ischemic heart disease 6,260 12.4
Cerebrovascular disease 4,381 8.7
Lower respiratory infections 4,299 8.5
Diarrheal diseases 2,946 5.8
Conditions arising during the perinatal period 2,443 4.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2,211 4.4
Tuberculosis 1,960 3.9
Measles 1,058 2.1
Road traffic accidents 999 2.0
Trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers 945 1.9
DEVELOPED REGIONS    
All causes 10,912
Ischemic heart disease 2,695 24.7
Cerebrovascular disease 1,427 13.1
Trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers 523 4.8
Lower respiratory infections 385 3.5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 324 3.0
Colon and rectum cancers 277 2.5
Stomach cancer 241 2.2
Road traffic accidents 222 2.0
Self–inflicted injuries 193 1.8
Diabetes mellitus 176 1.6
DEVELOPING REGIONS    
All causes

39,554
Lower respiratory infections 3,915 9.9
Ischemic heart disease 3,565 9.0
Cerebrovascular disease 2,954 7.5
Diarrheal diseases 2,940 7.4
Conditions arising during the perinatal period 2,361 6.0
Tuberculosis 1,922

4.9
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 1,887 4.8
Measles 1,058 2.7
Malaria 856 2.2
Road traffic accidents 777 2.0
Source: Christopher J.L. Murray and Alan D. Lopez, eds., The Global Burden of Disease: Volume 1 (World Health Organization, Harvard School of Public Health, and the World Bank, Geneva, 1996),  pp. 179–180.

Probability of Death by Region, 1990
Males, Ages 15-60
Females, Ages 15-60
Source:Christopher J.L. Murray and Alan D. Lopez, eds., The Global Burden of Disease: Volume 1 (World Health Organization, Harvard School of Public Health, and the World Bank, Geneva, 1996), p. 177.