In 2023, the death rate in India remained nearly unchanged at around **** deaths per 1,000 inhabitants. The crude death rate is the annual number of deaths in a given population, expressed per 1,000 people. When looked at in unison with the crude birth rate, the rate of natural increase can be determined.Find more statistics on other topics about India with key insights such as life expectancy of women at birth, total fertility rate, and crude birth rate.

India death rate for 2025 is 7.53, a 0.76% increase from 2024.

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<li>India death rate for 2024 was <strong>7.47</strong>, a <strong>0.77% increase</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>India death rate for 2023 was <strong>7.42</strong>, a <strong>0.49% increase</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>India death rate for 2022 was <strong>7.38</strong>, a <strong>0.49% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Crude death rate indicates the number of deaths occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.

BackgroundEven in low and middle income countries most deaths occur in older adults. In Europe, the effects of better education and home ownership upon mortality seem to persist into old age, but these effects may not generalise to LMICs. Reliable data on causes and determinants of mortality are lacking. Methods and FindingsThe vital status of 12,373 people aged 65 y and over was determined 3–5 y after baseline survey in sites in Latin America, India, and China. We report crude and standardised mortality rates, standardized mortality ratios comparing mortality experience with that in the United States, and estimated associations with socioeconomic factors using Cox's proportional hazards regression. Cause-specific mortality fractions were estimated using the InterVA algorithm. Crude mortality rates varied from 27.3 to 70.0 per 1,000 person-years, a 3-fold variation persisting after standardisation for demographic and economic factors. Compared with the US, mortality was much higher in urban India and rural China, much lower in Peru, Venezuela, and urban Mexico, and similar in other sites. Mortality rates were higher among men, and increased with age. Adjusting for these effects, it was found that education, occupational attainment, assets, and pension receipt were all inversely associated with mortality, and food insecurity positively associated. Mutually adjusted, only education remained protective (pooled hazard ratio 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.98). Most deaths occurred at home, but, except in India, most individuals received medical attention during their final illness. Chronic diseases were the main causes of death, together with tuberculosis and liver disease, with stroke the leading cause in nearly all sites. ConclusionsEducation seems to have an important latent effect on mortality into late life. However, compositional differences in socioeconomic position do not explain differences in mortality between sites. Social protection for older people, and the effectiveness of health systems in preventing and treating chronic disease, may be as important as economic and human development. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary

India IN: Mortality from CVD, Cancer, Diabetes or CRD between Exact Ages 30 and 70: Male data was reported at 26.700 NA in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 26.800 NA for 2015. India IN: Mortality from CVD, Cancer, Diabetes or CRD between Exact Ages 30 and 70: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 27.100 NA from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.700 NA in 2000 and a record low of 26.700 NA in 2016. India IN: Mortality from CVD, Cancer, Diabetes or CRD between Exact Ages 30 and 70: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Mortality from CVD, cancer, diabetes or CRD is the percent of 30-year-old-people who would die before their 70th birthday from any of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease, assuming that s/he would experience current mortality rates at every age and s/he would not die from any other cause of death (e.g., injuries or HIV/AIDS).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

Cause of death, by non-communicable diseases (% of total) in India was reported at 65.93 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Cause of death, by non-communicable diseases (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Traffic accidents caused the most number of deaths across India in 2022, at over *** thousand and most of the traffic accidents occurred at roads where the traffic was uncontrolled. The maximum number of accidental deaths across the south Asian country were reported in the city of Mumbai.

Seroprevalence of 67.6% is used with 765 million infectionsa from an age-adjusted population as of 14 Jun-6 Jul 2021 from the 4th nationwide serosurvey [6].

India IN: Mortality from CVD, Cancer, Diabetes or CRD between Exact Ages 30 and 70: Female data was reported at 19.800 NA in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 20.000 NA for 2015. India IN: Mortality from CVD, Cancer, Diabetes or CRD between Exact Ages 30 and 70: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 21.200 NA from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.400 NA in 2000 and a record low of 19.800 NA in 2016. India IN: Mortality from CVD, Cancer, Diabetes or CRD between Exact Ages 30 and 70: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Mortality from CVD, cancer, diabetes or CRD is the percent of 30-year-old-people who would die before their 70th birthday from any of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease, assuming that s/he would experience current mortality rates at every age and s/he would not die from any other cause of death (e.g., injuries or HIV/AIDS).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

In 2023, the infant mortality rate in India was at about 24.5 deaths per 1,000 live births, a significant decrease from previous years. Infant mortality as an indicatorThe infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births. This rate is an important key indicator for a country’s health and standard of living; a low infant mortality rate indicates a high standard of healthcare. Causes of infant mortality include premature birth, sepsis or meningitis, sudden infant death syndrome, and pneumonia. Globally, the infant mortality rate has shrunk from 63 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to 27 since 1990 and is forecast to drop to 8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births by the year 2100. India’s rural problemWith 32 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, India is neither among the countries with the highest nor among those with the lowest infant mortality rate. Its decrease indicates an increase in medical care and hygiene, as well as a decrease in female infanticide. Increasing life expectancy at birth is another indicator that shows that the living conditions of the Indian population are improving. Still, India’s inhabitants predominantly live in rural areas, where standards of living as well as access to medical care and hygiene are traditionally lower and more complicated than in cities. Public health programs are thus put in place by the government to ensure further improvement.

UNICEF's country profile for India, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

Cause of death, by injury (% of total) in India was reported at 9.9006 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Cause of death, by injury (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Vital Statistics: Death Rate: per 1000 Population: Kerala: Rural data was reported at 7.000 NA in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.100 NA for 2019. Vital Statistics: Death Rate: per 1000 Population: Kerala: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 6.800 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2020, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.300 NA in 2016 and a record low of 6.000 NA in 2004. Vital Statistics: Death Rate: per 1000 Population: Kerala: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAH003: Vital Statistics: Death Rate: by States.

India IN: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: per 100,000 Population data was reported at 2.400 Ratio in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.400 Ratio for 2015. India IN: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: per 100,000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 3.000 Ratio from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.200 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 2.400 Ratio in 2016. India IN: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: per 100,000 Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.World Bank: Health Statistics. Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisonings is the number of deaths from unintentional poisonings in a year per 100,000 population. Unintentional poisoning can be caused by household chemicals, pesticides, kerosene, carbon monoxide and medicines, or can be the result of environmental contamination or occupational chemical exposure.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in India was reported at 6.611 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Death rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2022, there were no deaths due to epidemics reported across India, excluding deaths caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2015 saw the last wave of deaths due to epidemic diseases with *** fatalities.

India IN: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: Male: per 100,000 Male Population data was reported at 2.800 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.900 Ratio for 2015. India IN: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: Male: per 100,000 Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 3.600 Ratio from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.400 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 2.800 Ratio in 2016. India IN: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: Male: per 100,000 Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.World Bank: Health Statistics. Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisonings is the number of male deaths from unintentional poisonings in a year per 100,000 male population. Unintentional poisoning can be caused by household chemicals, pesticides, kerosene, carbon monoxide and medicines, or can be the result of environmental contamination or occupational chemical exposure.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

India IN: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: Female: per 100,000 Female Population data was reported at 1.900 Ratio in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.900 Ratio for 2015. India IN: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: Female: per 100,000 Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 2.300 Ratio from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.800 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 1.900 Ratio in 2016. India IN: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: Female: per 100,000 Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.World Bank: Health Statistics. Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisonings is the number of female deaths from unintentional poisonings in a year per 100,000 female population. Unintentional poisoning can be caused by household chemicals, pesticides, kerosene, carbon monoxide and medicines, or can be the result of environmental contamination or occupational chemical exposure.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

The Third Plague Epidemic began in the mid-1800s in Yunnan, China, (an area that is still a natural reservoir for the Yersinia pestis bacteria) and had a huge death toll across Asia in the next century. While plague was confined to the Yunnan region for some decades, the mass displacement and social upheaval caused by the Taiping Rebellion saw millions flee the area , bringing the disease to other parts of the country. A plague epidemic then emerged in British-controlled Hong Kong in 1894, where merchants then unknowingly transported infected rats to other parts of the empire along various trade routes. Arrival in Bombay The first Indian cases were reported in Bombay (present-day Mumbai), and the Bombay Presidency suffered more losses than any other region in India (although there were some individual years where the state of Punjab reported more deaths). As with most disease or famine outbreaks in the region, the British authorities were slow to react, and their eventual response was in many ways too late. In some cases authorities even facilitated the spread of the disease; with multiple accounts of the military forcing healthy people into quarantine camps, evicting and burning homes of the afflicted, or by using such excessive force that the public would refuse medical help. Spread in India Lack of understanding among the Indian public was also to their own detriment. Some religions in India forbid the killing of rats, while some people simply refused to acknowledge that they were sick. As the plague in Bombay spiraled out of control, many fled to other parts of the country, taking the plague with them. It is estimated that there were over one million deaths in India by 1902, and almost one million further deaths in 1903 alone. The first four months of 1904 also saw over half a million deaths, almost matching the entire total for 1902. Plague would remain endemic to India for the next few decades, and there are varying reports of up to 10 or 12 million total plague deaths in this time. The public health measures taken to combat the plague in the early 20th century would mark the beginnings of India's public health system, and some of the quarantine measures put in place by the colonial government were even used in 2020 during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers interested in the effect of health on various life outcomes (such as employment, earnings and life satisfaction) often use self-reported health and disease status as an indicator of true, underlying health status. Self-reports appear to be reasonable measures of overall health. For example, self-assessed overall health has been found to be a reliable predictor of mortality. However, the validity of self-reports is questionable when investigating specific diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. A small and nascent body of research comparing self-reported status on certain diseases with the true status based on clinical diagnoses has found significant gaps. These validation exercises predominantly use data from high-income countries. In this paper, we use survey data from India to compare self-reports of disease prevalence to diagnostic tests conducted on the same individuals. We focus on hypertension and lung disease, two of the primary causes of death in India. We find that self-reported measures substantially understate the true disease burden for both conditions. The attenuation bias from using self-reports is over 80 percent for both diseases, and bigger than estimates from high-income countries. We test and reject the hypothesis that self-reports of the disease status are identical to the true disease status in expectation. We identify characteristics associated with false negative reporting (reporting not having the disease but testing positive for it) for both diseases. The large awareness gap between self-reports and true disease burden indicates multiple deficiencies in India’s public health policy. The survey data depicts limited access to medical facilities, high levels of health illiteracy, low rates of health insurance, and other barriers related to poverty and lack of equity in the delivery of health services. These factors prevent timely intervention for managing health and controlling disease, invariably leading to morbidity and often to premature death.

Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions (% of total) in India was reported at 24.17 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.