Cardiovascular Diseases Cause One-Third of All Deaths in India: Report

PTI |  September 05, 2025, New Delhi : Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of mortality in India, accounting for nearly 31 percent of all deaths, according to the latest data from the Sample Registration Survey under the Registrar General of India.

The Report on Causes of Death: 2021-2023, issued on Wednesday, revealed that non-communicable diseases are the primary cause of death in the country, comprising 56.7 percent of all fatalities. "Communicable, maternal, perinatal, and nutritional conditions constitute another 23.4 percent of deaths. In the 2020-2022 period, which was impacted by COVID-19, the corresponding values were 55.7 percent and 24.0 percent, respectively," the report stated.

Cardiovascular diseases, primarily a result of lifestyle factors, remain the dominant cause of death, claiming nearly 31 percent of lives. Following cardiovascular diseases, respiratory infections account for 9.3 percent of deaths, malignant and other neoplasms contribute 6.4 percent, and respiratory diseases are responsible for 5.7 percent.

Notably, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the 30-plus age group, while intentional injuries, such as suicide, are the most common cause of death among those aged 15-29.

The report further highlights other significant causes of death, including digestive diseases (5.3 percent), fever of unknown origin (4.9 percent), unintentional injuries (other than motor vehicle accidents) (3.7 percent), diabetes mellitus (3.5 percent), and genitourinary diseases (3.0 percent).

Injuries, in general, account for 9.4 percent of all deaths, while ill-defined causes make up 10.5 percent of fatalities. However, the majority of ill-defined causes are recorded in older age groups (70 years and above), the report notes.

While the findings provide crucial insights into the country's mortality situation, the report cautioned that the results should be interpreted with care, as there is a possibility of misclassification of causes of death. "Despite this limitation, the study presents valuable findings that will help enrich understanding of the mortality situation and the associated challenges in India," it said.

The report is based on direct sources and provides a comprehensive breakdown of the causes of death, cross-classified by age, sex, residence, and major zones across the country. It analyzes the top ten causes of death, stratified by various variables, and examines mortality from special conditions, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, and malignancies.