World’s 5 Biggest Killers to Cost $47 Trillion

The global economic impact of the five leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic respiratory disease, cancer, diabetes and mental ill-health—could total $47 trillion over the next 20 years, according to a study released by the World Economic Forum.

“The Global Economic Burden of Non-communicable Diseases” report analyzes the overall costs of NCDs to the global economy. Findings show the estimated cumulative output loss over the next 20 years represents approximately 4% of annual global GDP. While mental ill-health is typically left off the list of top NCDs, it alone accounts for more than $16 trillion, or one-third, of the overall $47 trillion anticipated spend on NCDs.

“Think of what could be achieved if these resources were productively invested in an area like education,” said Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. “The need for immediate action is critical to the future of the global economy.”

A joint executive summary for the two reports, highlighting the complementary findings, is available here.