GENEVA, October 2. /TASS/. Average life expectancy has reached 73.3 years, approaching the 2019 pre-pandemic figure, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.

"Following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, global life expectancy has returned to close to pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) account for an increasing share of deaths," the WHO noted. In 2023, global life expectancy "reached 73.3 years, close to the 73.4 years recorded in 2019." However, healthy life expectancy "has recovered more slowly, reaching 62.8 years in 2023, still 0.4 years below its 2019 level."

At the same time, according to WHO estimates, "the long-term shift towards NCDs continues." In 2023, NCDs accounted for 74% of all deaths worldwide, whereas in 2000, this figure was 58%.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death. In 2023, ischemic heart disease caused approximately 9.5 million deaths. It also accounted for a total of "210 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), measured in years of healthy life lost.".