According to the World Health Organization (WHO), preventable diseases continue to account for a significant number of deaths in Kenya. In 2021, communicable, maternal, perinatal, and nutritional conditions accounted for about 50% of all deaths in the country. This is in contrast to the global trend, where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now account for nearly three out of every four deaths. The WHO's Global Health Estimates, released on October 2, track changes in deaths and disease burden across countries from 2000 to 2023.
The leading causes of death in Kenya, as per the WHO's 2021 estimates, are tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and lower respiratory infections. These diseases have been consistently among the top causes of death in the country. Globally, however, ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in 2023, followed by stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lower respiratory infections. The WHO's estimates also show that global life expectancy has recovered following the disruption caused by COVID-19, reaching 73.3 years in 2023.
The WHO's Global Health Estimates highlight the changing landscape of disease burden across countries. In Kenya, the figures differ in scope from the latest figures published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The KNBS 2024 Kenya Vital Statistics Report shows that 113,379 deaths were registered in health facilities during the year. Pneumonia was the leading recorded cause among these deaths, accounting for 9,682, followed by cancer with 8,954 and cardiovascular diseases with 7,478.
The WHO's estimates also reveal that mental health conditions are contributing to the global disease burden. Between 2019 and 2023, the global age-standardised disease burden increased by about 20% for depressive disorders and nearly 45% for anxiety disorders. These conditions accounted for an estimated 110 million years of healthy life lost through premature death and disability in 2023.
Dr. Alain Labrique, director of WHO's Department of Data, Digital Health, Analytics and AI, emphasized the importance of the estimates in shaping health policies and priorities. He noted that the value of these estimates lies not only in the numbers themselves but also in the insights they provide on how causes of death and disease burden are changing over time and across populations.
The WHO's estimates show that COVID-19 dropped out of the world's 10 leading causes of death for the first time since the pandemic began. However, the disease has had a lasting impact on global health, and its effects are still being felt. The estimates also highlight the need for countries to build resilient, essential digital and data infrastructure while strengthening national capacity to analyze health data and generate timely, actionable insights.
The Kenyan government and health stakeholders can use the WHO's estimates to inform health policies and priorities. By understanding the leading causes of death and disease burden in the country, policymakers can develop targeted interventions to address these challenges. The estimates also underscore the need for continued investment in healthcare infrastructure and data systems to support the analysis and use of health data.
Key points
- Preventable diseases account for 50% of deaths in Kenya in 2021
- WHO's Global Health Estimates track changes in deaths and disease burden across countries from 2000 to 2023
- Non-communicable diseases now account for nearly three out of every four deaths globally
