Year-over-year change: -2.0%, trend down
5-year change: +6.7%, trend up
China
Total deaths: 11.5 million
View MoreDeaths from all causes during the year, both sexes
World Total63.6million
19502100
2026
Rankings at a glance
Highest 10 · Total number of deaths (2026)
China is projected to lead the world in total number of deaths at 11.5 million in 2026, followed by India (9.9 million) and the United States (3.1 million). Nigeria (2.8 million) and Indonesia (2.2 million) close out the top 5. Next up, Russia (1.9 million) and Pakistan (1.7 million). Brazil (1.6 million), Japan (1.6 million), and Germany (1.0 million) round out the top ten. The gap across the top ten is wide: China would have 11× the value of Germany (1.0 million). Five of the top ten are in Asia. Among these countries, Brazil is projected to see the largest year-over-year change at +2.2%.
Rank changes
How total number of deaths changed between 2021 and 2026
2021and2026
Historical trends
Key terms
- Life expectancy
- — Average number of years a newborn would live under current mortality conditions.
- Infant mortality rate
- — Deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births.
- Under-five mortality
- — Deaths of children under five per 1,000 live births.
- Crude death rate
- — Total deaths per 1,000 people each year.
Frequently asked questions
- Which country has the most total deaths?
- China is projected to have the most total deaths at 11.5 million deaths in 2026, according to UN Population Division (2024).
- Which country has the fewest total deaths?
- The Holy See is projected to have the fewest total deaths at 13 deaths in 2026, according to UN Population Division (2024).
- What is the global total deaths?
- The global total deaths is projected to be 63.6 million deaths in 2026, as published by the United Nations in World Population Prospects 2024.
