Deaths from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes have risen by 43% across the Americas since 2000, according to the NCDs at a Glance 2025 report released today by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The report reveals that in 2021 alone, 6 million lives were lost to NCDs, making them the leading cause of death in the region and responsible for 65% of all fatalities—nearly 40% of which occurred before the age of 70.
While aging and population growth contribute to the increase, PAHO says the surge is largely driven by modifiable risk factors: tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and harmful alcohol consumption.
Cardiovascular diseases topped the list with 2.16 million deaths, followed by cancer (1.37 million), diabetes (over 420,000), and chronic respiratory diseases (more than 416,000). Suicide, the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15–29, accounted for 100,760 deaths.
“The surge in NCD deaths is an urgent wake-up call,” said PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa. “Too many people are dying prematurely from diseases that are largely preventable and treatable. With early detection, timely diagnosis, access to care, and strong policies, we can save lives. This report gives countries the tools they need to act.”
Risk factors climbing sharply
Obesity affected 33.8% of adults in 2022—a 28% rise since 2010—while 35.6% of adults were physically inactive. The prevalence of diabetes reached 13.1%, and more than 43 million people over age 30 lack access to the care they need. Hypertension affects over a third of adults, yet only 36.4% are effectively managing the condition.
Environmental and mental health issues are also contributing to the crisis. Air pollution has increased the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and suicide rates have jumped 17.4% since 2000, with men three times more likely than women to die by suicide.
Some gains, but region Is off track
Despite the rise in total deaths, the age-standardized mortality rate for NCDs has declined by 16.2% since 2000. Cardiovascular and chronic respiratory disease death rates dropped by nearly 30%, while cancer mortality rates fell by 24.6%. Progress has also been seen in tobacco use, which declined by 22.1%, and in diabetes treatment coverage, which rose from 46.6% to 57.7%.
Still, the Americas are not on track to meet the global goal of a 25% reduction in premature NCD mortality by 2025. Between 2010 and 2021, premature deaths from NCDs dropped by only 8%. Only five countries—Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Chile, and Grenada—are currently on track to meet the target, though eleven more could catch up with accelerated action.
PAHO’s roadmap to curb NCDs
To reverse the trend, PAHO recommends countries expand prevention policies—such as tobacco and alcohol regulation, front-of-package nutrition labeling, and promotion of physical activity—and improve primary care for early detection and treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Mental health and suicide prevention should also be integrated into first-level care.
Programs like PAHO’s HEARTS initiative, active in 33 countries and providing hypertension treatment to 5.7 million people, are already helping countries strengthen primary care and implement national strategies. HEARTS is also a core part of the Better Care for NCDs initiative.
The release of NCDs at a Glance 2025 comes ahead of the Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on NCD prevention and mental health, scheduled for September 2025. There, countries are expected to adopt a new political declaration—offering a critical opportunity to tackle the root causes of NCDs, promote health equity, and reshape health systems across the Americas.
