32.7% of all deaths in the EU are caused by diseases of the circulatory system
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Circulatory diseases, cancer and respiratory diseases remain the leading causes of death in the European Union in 2022, according to fresh Eurostat data published on 21 March 2025. The overall statistics record 5.16 million deaths among EU residents per year - and they give a worrying portrait of European health care.
Cardiovascular diseases accounted for the largest number of deaths in 2022, with 1.68 million cases, representing 32.7% of the total. This includes heart attacks, strokes and other pathologies of the circulatory system, which remain the biggest challenge for the prevention and health care system in the EU.
Oncological diseases ranked second: cancer claimed 1.15 million lives (22.3%). Next are respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and pneumonia - 360 thousand deaths, which is 7% of all cases.
Despite the pandemic's retreat, COVID-19 still ranks high in the statistics: 310,000 deaths, or 6% of the total. This indicates the long-term effects of coronavirus infection, especially among vulnerable populations.
Next on the list are external causes of death, including accidents, suicide and violence - 240 thousand cases (4.7%). Diseases of the digestive system (4.2%), diseases of the nervous system (4.1%), and mental and behavioural disorders (4.1%) also remain notable factors. Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, caused another 180,000 deaths (3.5%).
