Singapore · Asia
How many people die in Singapore every day?
In Singapore, about 66 people die every day, roughly one death every 22 minutes. That is about 24,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 132nd highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 83.5 years and the leading cause of death is cancer. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
66
Deaths per year
24,000
Life expectancy
83.5 years
Population
5,917,648
Death rate
4.1 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cancer
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Singapore
83.5
World avg
72.8
+10.7 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Singapore
4.1
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Singapore by time period
| Per hour | 2.7 |
| Per day | 66 |
| Per week | 460 |
| Per month | 2,000 |
| Per year | 24,000 |
What people die of in Singapore
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Singapore in 2023 was pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections, which accounted for 21.7% of all deaths, about 16 a day. It was followed by heart disease (ischaemic) and stroke.
Deaths from kidney diseases have increased about 4-fold since 2000, from about 304 to 1,097 a year.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 5,996 | 16 | 21.7% | +206% |
| 2 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 5,698 | 16 | 20.6% | +64% |
| 3 | Stroke | 1,706 | 4.7 | 6.2% | -3% |
| 4 | Lung cancer | 1,240 | 3.4 | 4.5% | +25% |
| 5 | Kidney diseases | 1,097 | 3.0 | 4% | +261% |
| 6 | Bowel (colorectal) cancer | 963 | 2.6 | 3.5% | +38% |
| 7 | Hypertensive heart disease | 815 | 2.2 | 3% | +121% |
| 8 | COVID-19 | 763 | 2.1 | 2.8% | n/a |
| 9 | Liver cancer | 566 | 1.6 | 2.1% | +30% |
| 10 | Breast cancer | 518 | 1.4 | 1.9% | +70% |
Deaths in Singapore since 2000
WHO estimates that about 27,603 people died in Singapore in 2023, 67% 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 | 16,573 deaths |
| 2010 | 19,106 deaths |
| 2019 | 22,592 deaths |
| 2023 | 27,603 deaths |
Life expectancy in Singapore since 1950
A baby born in Singapore in 1950 could expect to live about 54.1 years. By 2023 that had risen to 83.7, a gain of 29.6 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 54.1 years |
| 1980 | 71.5 years |
| 2000 | 77.8 years |
| 2010 | 81.6 years |
| 2019 | 83.7 years |
| 2023 | 83.7 years |
Singapore compared with similar countries in Asia
Among the 43 countries in Asia on this site, Singapore ranks 3rd for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 66 | 83.5 | Cancer |
| Lebanon | 93 | 74.9 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Turkmenistan | 104 | 68.1 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Kyrgyzstan | 104 | 71.5 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Oman | 33 | 78.2 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Laos | 132 | 68.1 | 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 Singapore every day?
In Singapore, about 66 people die every day, or roughly one death every 22 minutes. That adds up to about 24,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Singapore?
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Singapore. Cancer tends to lead in countries where people live long enough for it to overtake heart disease. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections first in 2023, with 21.7% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Singapore?
Life expectancy at birth in Singapore is 83.5 years, 10.7 years above the world average of 72.8. That ranks 8th of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Singapore high?
Singapore records about 4.1 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.