India · Asia
How many people die in India every day?
In India, about 28,493 people die every day, roughly one death every 3 seconds. That is about 10,400,000 deaths a year, 16.8% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 2nd highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 67.2 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
28,493
Deaths per year
10,400,000
Life expectancy
67.2 years
Population
1,428,627,663
Death rate
7.3 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cardiovascular disease
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
India
67.2
World avg
72.8
-5.6 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
India
7.3
World avg
7.7
Deaths in India by time period
| Per hour | 1,187 |
| Per day | 28,493 |
| Per week | 199,452 |
| Per month | 866,667 |
| Per year | 10,400,000 |
What people die of in India
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in India in 2023 was heart disease (ischaemic), which accounted for 15.6% of all deaths, about 4,445 a day. It was followed by COPD and stroke.
Deaths from diabetes have increased about 4-fold since 2000, from about 144,788 to 640,910 a year. Deaths from tuberculosis have fallen by 64% since 2000, from about 847,530 to 307,377 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) | 1,622,299 | 4,445 | 15.6% | +115% |
| 2 | COPD | 1,115,425 | 3,056 | 10.7% | +119% |
| 3 | Stroke | 1,057,140 | 2,896 | 10.2% | +125% |
| 4 | Diabetes | 640,910 | 1,756 | 6.2% | +343% |
| 5 | Diarrhoeal diseases | 514,900 | 1,411 | 5% | -53% |
| 6 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 385,246 | 1,055 | 3.7% | -42% |
| 7 | Tuberculosis | 307,377 | 842 | 3% | -64% |
| 8 | Hypertensive heart disease | 276,911 | 759 | 2.7% | +175% |
| 9 | Falls | 255,393 | 700 | 2.5% | +88% |
| 10 | Road injuries | 232,883 | 638 | 2.2% | +31% |
Deaths in India since 2000
WHO estimates that about 10,380,569 people died in India in 2023, 15% 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 | 9,048,635 deaths |
| 2010 | 8,993,602 deaths |
| 2019 | 9,528,694 deaths |
| 2023 | 10,380,569 deaths |
Life expectancy in India since 1950
A baby born in India in 1950 could expect to live about 41.2 years. By 2023 that had risen to 72, a gain of 30.8 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 41.2 years |
| 1980 | 53.6 years |
| 2000 | 62.7 years |
| 2010 | 67.2 years |
| 2019 | 70.7 years |
| 2023 | 72 years |
India compared with similar countries in Asia
Among the 43 countries in Asia on this site, India ranks 39th for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 28,493 | 67.2 | Cardiovascular disease |
| China | 29,315 | 78.2 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Indonesia | 4,932 | 67.6 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Pakistan | 4,110 | 66.1 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Bangladesh | 2,384 | 72.4 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Japan | 4,274 | 84.8 | Cancer |
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 India every day?
In India, about 28,493 people die every day, or roughly one death every 3 seconds. That adds up to about 10,400,000 deaths a year, 16.8% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in India?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in India. 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 15.6% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in India?
Life expectancy at birth in India is 67.2 years, 5.6 years below the world average of 72.8. That ranks 134th of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in India high?
India records about 7.3 deaths per 1,000 people each year, below 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.