How many people die from diabetes per year

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Global Mortality Attributable to Diabetes: Annual Estimates

Diabetes-Related Deaths: A Global Overview

Diabetes is a significant global health issue, contributing to a substantial number of deaths each year. Estimating the exact number of deaths attributable to diabetes is complex due to the lack of reliable data in many countries and the fact that many diabetes-related deaths are due to complications such as cardiovascular disease or renal failure.

Annual Mortality Estimates

2013 Estimates

In 2013, it was estimated that diabetes was responsible for approximately 5.1 million deaths among adults aged 20-79 years, accounting for 8.4% of all-cause deaths in this age group. Sensitivity analyses suggested that this number could range from 3.3 million to 6.6 million deaths, depending on adjustments in relative risk calculations.

2010 Estimates

For the year 2010, the estimated number of excess deaths attributable to diabetes was around 3.96 million for adults aged 20-79 years, representing 6.8% of global mortality across all ages. The proportion of deaths due to diabetes varied significantly by region, from 6% in the African Region to 15.7% in North America.

2000 Estimates

In the year 2000, diabetes was estimated to cause 2.9 million excess deaths globally, which was about 5.2% of all deaths. The impact of diabetes on mortality was more pronounced in high-income regions such as the U.S., Canada, and the Middle East, where it accounted for over 8% of deaths.

2019 Estimates

By 2019, the number of deaths attributable to diabetes had risen to an estimated 4.2 million among adults aged 20-79 years. This represented 11.3% of global deaths in this age group, with the highest proportions observed in the Middle East and North Africa (16.2%) and the lowest in the Africa Region (6.8%).

Long-Term Trends and Projections

The global burden of diabetes has been increasing over the years. For instance, in 2017, diabetes was estimated to cause around 5 million deaths worldwide among individuals aged 20-99 years. Projections indicate that the number of people with diabetes and related deaths will continue to rise, with significant increases expected by 2045 .

Regional Variations

The impact of diabetes on mortality varies significantly across different regions. For example, in 2013, the highest rates of diabetes-attributable mortality were observed in South-East Asian women aged 50-59 years, with countries like China and India having the highest absolute numbers of diabetes-related deaths. Similarly, in 2019, the Africa Region had the highest proportion of diabetes-related deaths among people under 60 years of age, while the Europe Region had the lowest.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a major contributor to global mortality, with millions of deaths each year attributable to the disease. The burden of diabetes-related deaths is expected to increase, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Effective prevention and management strategies are essential to mitigate this growing health crisis.