In 2021, across OECD countries, diseases of the circulatory system and cancer were the two leading causes of death, accounting for approximately 28 and 21 percent of all deaths, respectively. COVID-19 also ranked among the leading causes, contributing to approximately seven percent of total deaths. This statistic depicts the distribution of the main causes of mortality across OECD countries in 2021 or from the nearest year.
Share of the main causes of mortality across OECD countries worldwide in 2021
Other causes of death not shown in the figure represent 21 percent of all deaths.
Values in the figure have been rounded up, so the total sum with "Other causes" may not precisely equal 100 percent.Â
Mortality rates are calculated by dividing the number of deaths recorded within a country in a given year by its population. These rates are adjusted to the age distribution of the 2015 OECD population to remove variations arising from differences in age structures across countries and over time.
The source for mortality rates is the World Health Organization (WHO) Mortality Database.
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OECD. (November 7, 2023). Share of the main causes of mortality across OECD countries worldwide in 2021 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1450878/share-of-main-causes-of-death-across-oecd-countries/
OECD. "Share of the main causes of mortality across OECD countries worldwide in 2021." Chart. November 7, 2023. Statista. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1450878/share-of-main-causes-of-death-across-oecd-countries/
OECD. (2023). Share of the main causes of mortality across OECD countries worldwide in 2021. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1450878/share-of-main-causes-of-death-across-oecd-countries/
OECD. "Share of The Main Causes of Mortality across Oecd Countries Worldwide in 2021." Statista, Statista Inc., 7 Nov 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1450878/share-of-main-causes-of-death-across-oecd-countries/
OECD, Share of the main causes of mortality across OECD countries worldwide in 2021 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1450878/share-of-main-causes-of-death-across-oecd-countries/ (last visited December 22, 2024)
Share of the main causes of mortality across OECD countries worldwide in 2021 [Graph], OECD, November 7, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1450878/share-of-main-causes-of-death-across-oecd-countries/
