Heart Disease Rates by Country 2024

Countries can be evaluated for the impact of heart disease both in terms of the rates of heart disease and the rates of deaths related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here are eight countries listed in the order of CVD-related deaths, as per the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2021).

1. Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan registered the HD-related death rate at 798 cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people, which was the highest in the world in 2021. The country also had one of the highest rates of heart disease compared to other countries worldwide, at 12,566 per 100,000 people. In 2019, over 64% of all deaths in Uzbekistan could be attributed to heart disease (Our World in Data), making the high burden of cardiovascular disease a significant public health issue for this country.

2. Nauru

In 2021, roughly 722 people out of 100,000 died from cardiovascular disease in Nauru. This CVD-related death rate placed the country as the second-highest in the world in this category. The country also rated first in that year for the prevalence of heart disease, at 17,904 per 100K people. Nauru faces significant challenges due to poor dietary habits which contribute to the country's high rates of heart disease. The traditional diet in this nation is rich in fatty and sugary foods and is associated with increased cardiovascular diseases. In fact, Nauru is known for one of the highest obesity rates in the world, with a significant portion of the adult population classified as obese. In 2007, Nauru implemented a 30% tax on imported sugar, confectionery, carbonated soft drinks, cordials, flavored milks, and drink mixes in an effort to reduce the impact of sugar on its population’s health (WASSH).

3. Azerbaijan

About 627 per 100,000 people died in 2021 due to heart disease in Azerbaijan. At the same time, the country registered at position 17 on the list of countries with the highest rate of CVD-related deaths. Azerbaijan's healthcare system offers universal cardiovascular care through mandatory health insurance, reducing out-of-pocket costs. However, geographic disparities and a fee-for-service model that favors quantity over quality are examples of challenges that still compromise care standards in this country (Balkan Medical Journal, 2024).

4. Tajikistan

In Tajikistan, 625 people out of every 100,000 died in 2021 from cardiovascular disease. The rate of heart disease in this country put it at number 14 that year, with 10,105 CVD-related deaths. Around 40% of Tajikistan's population is overweight and 9% are obese, with low physical activity and unhealthy dietary habits being the major risk factors for high CVD rates. Limited access to emergency medical services, outdated stroke treatments, and high prevalence of hypertension strongly contribute to the country's cardiovascular health challenges, (Central Asian Journal of Global Health, 2018).

5. Afghanistan

In the year 2021, 600 people out of every 100,000 in the population died from heart disease in Afghanistan. CVD prevalence was 12,610 per 100K, placing the country as third in the world in this regard, right after Nauru and Vanuatu. Significant risk factors for heart disease in this country include tobacco use, raised total cholesterol, and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption (especially among men). Urban residence and higher fruit and vegetable intake appear to be protective factors for women, (Population Medicine, 2021).

6. North Macedonia

In North Macedonia, roughly 586 per 100,000 people in the population died from heart disease in 2021. Its CVD-related death rate was 8,644 per 100K people. In North Macedonia, significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease include smoking and poor eating habits, particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas. Not enough healthcare workers, limited availability of medicines, and inadequate access to health services in rural areas are some of the highest CVD contributing factors, (International Journal for Equity in Health, 2024).

7. Solomon Islands

Nearly 554 people out of every 100,000 died in Solomon Islands in 2021 from heart disease. The rate of CVD in this country was 12,297 per 100K people. Key CVD risk factors in Solomon Islands include high rates of tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and limited access to healthcare services and medications, (BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 2021).

8. Vanuatu

Finally, number eight on the list is Vanuatu, another country in Oceania, like Nauru and Solomon Islands. In Vanuatu, about 548 people out of every 100,000 died from heart disease in 2021. Similarly to other countries in Oceania, Vanuatu’s CVD rates are to be largely attributed to smoking, poor diets, and limited access to healthcare, (BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 2021).