Global Burden of Disease (GBD)
The GBD study is the largest and most comprehensive effort to quantify health loss across places and over time, so health systems can be improved and disparities eliminated.
Nominations are now open for the GBD Emerging Researcher Award!
The $5,000 award supports early-career global health researchers as they study burden of disease in populations.
Latest findings from GBD 2021
The latest capstone paper with data through 2021 shows a seismic shift in health trends due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life expectancy declined in 84% of countries and territories during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy increased by almost 23 years from 49 to 71.7 years. But it declined by 1.6 years between 2019 and 2021.
By 2100, fertility rates will not be high enough to sustain population growth over time in 97% of countries and territories.
Researchers anticipate a massive shifting of births from high-income countries to low-income countries. Unless countries facilitate ethical immigration, populations are expected to contract in areas where fertility is below 2.1 children per person who could give birth.
GBD 2021 publications
Read the latest publications using data through 2021 and stay tuned for the full suite of results, including updated data tools.
Discover GBD research.
Review findings by disease, injury, or risk factor with our two-page factsheets.
Search results by location and get an overview of population health factors like life expectancy, fertility, and causes of death.
Analyze all GBD findings using our suite of data visualizations.