Cuba · Americas
How many people die in Cuba every day?
In Cuba, about 301 people die every day, roughly one death every 5 minutes. That is about 110,000 deaths a year, 0.2% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 74th highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 73.7 years and the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
301
Deaths per year
110,000
Life expectancy
73.7 years
Population
11,194,449
Death rate
9.8 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cardiovascular disease
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Cuba
73.7
World avg
72.8
+0.9 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Cuba
9.8
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Cuba by time period
| Per hour | 13 |
| Per day | 301 |
| Per week | 2,110 |
| Per month | 9,167 |
| Per year | 110,000 |
What people die of in Cuba
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Cuba in 2023 was heart disease (ischaemic), which accounted for 20.2% of all deaths, about 65 a day. It was followed by stroke and pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections.
Deaths from hypertensive heart disease have increased about 4-fold since 2000, from about 1,328 to 4,970 a year.
WHO counts single causes, so heart disease and stroke appear as separate rows. Grouped together as cardiovascular disease, the category in the summary above, they are the largest killer.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 23,769 | 65 | 20.2% | +24% |
| 2 | Stroke | 11,932 | 33 | 10.1% | +45% |
| 3 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 9,234 | 25 | 7.8% | +80% |
| 4 | Alzheimer's and other dementias | 5,936 | 16 | 5% | +253% |
| 5 | Lung cancer | 5,210 | 14 | 4.4% | +40% |
| 6 | Hypertensive heart disease | 4,970 | 14 | 4.2% | +274% |
| 7 | COPD | 4,650 | 13 | 3.9% | +40% |
| 8 | Prostate cancer | 3,662 | 10 | 3.1% | +92% |
| 9 | Bowel (colorectal) cancer | 3,237 | 8.9 | 2.7% | +80% |
| 10 | Falls | 2,930 | 8.0 | 2.5% | +60% |
Deaths in Cuba since 2000
WHO estimates that about 117,768 people died in Cuba in 2023, 54% more than in 2000. Totals rise as populations grow and age, even when health improves. WHO’s modelled estimates can differ from the headline figures above, which come from a different source.
| 2000 | 76,401 deaths |
| 2010 | 91,111 deaths |
| 2019 | 109,145 deaths |
| 2023 | 117,768 deaths |
Life expectancy in Cuba since 1950
A baby born in Cuba in 1950 could expect to live about 59 years. By 2023 that had risen to 78.1, a gain of 19.1 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 59 years |
| 1980 | 72.6 years |
| 2000 | 75.9 years |
| 2010 | 77.9 years |
| 2019 | 77.4 years |
| 2023 | 78.1 years |
Cuba compared with similar countries in Americas
Among the 24 countries in Americas on this site, Cuba ranks 18th for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuba | 301 | 73.7 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Dominican Republic | 186 | 74.1 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Haiti | 274 | 64 | Lower respiratory infections |
| Honduras | 142 | 75.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Bolivia | 197 | 64 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Guatemala | 260 | 71.8 | Cardiovascular disease |
Sources: WHO Global Health Estimates 2023 (deaths by cause and totals); UN World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (life expectancy). Figures are modelled estimates and are rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How many people die in Cuba every day?
In Cuba, about 301 people die every day, or roughly one death every 5 minutes. That adds up to about 110,000 deaths a year, 0.2% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Cuba?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Cuba. Heart disease and stroke are the biggest killers in most countries, driven largely by high blood pressure, smoking, diet and inactivity. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put heart disease (ischaemic) first in 2023, with 20.2% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Cuba?
Life expectancy at birth in Cuba is 73.7 years, 0.9 years above the world average of 72.8. That ranks 97th of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Cuba high?
Cuba records about 9.8 deaths per 1,000 people each year, above the world average of 7.7. Crude death rates are higher in countries with older populations, so a high rate does not always mean poor health care.