The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) is a comprehensive international research program that assesses death, disease, and disability worldwide. It quantifies how diseases, injuries, and risk factors affect populations and helps identify where health systems should focus their efforts.
The GBD does not only study mortality but also measures how many people live with illness or disability, enabling countries to understand the total loss of healthy life and design better health policies.
The study is coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, USA, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), national governments, and health research institutions.
Originally initiated in 1990 by the World Bank, Harvard University, and WHO, the GBD has evolved into a massive collaboration involving more than 16,000 experts from over 150 countries. In India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) play a key role. Findings are regularly published in the medical journal The Lancet.
The GBD calculates:
Data are collected from government records, hospital systems, surveys, and disease registries. In countries with limited information, scientific models are used to fill gaps.
The GBD 2023 report revealed that India’s health burden has shifted from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
In 1990, diarrhoeal diseases and respiratory infections were the top killers. By 2023, ischaemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) became the leading causes of death.
India’s age-standardised mortality rate improved from 1,513 deaths per lakh in 1990 to 871 per lakh in 2023, reflecting stronger health services and better living standards. Life expectancy increased from 58.46 years in 1990 to 71.56 years in 2023, with women living slightly longer than men. However, lifestyle changes, poor diet, and lack of physical activity have made NCDs the major threat to health.
Mental health problems are now among the fastest-growing causes of disability worldwide.
The epidemiological transition from infectious to chronic diseases reflects a broader socio-economic transformation. While improvements in sanitation, immunisation, and healthcare have reduced infections, urban lifestyles, ageing populations, and stress have led to rising NCDs.
India must focus on:
Despite these challenges, the GBD remains the most reliable and standardised global health assessment tool.
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