Fire, Heat & Burns
Global mortality data, country rankings, and trends for Fire, Heat & Burns from 1990 to 2021.
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Fire, Heat & Burns is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. This page presents data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Global Burden of Disease Study, showing mortality trends, country rankings, and regional patterns. Understanding the epidemiology of fire, heat & burns helps inform public health interventions and resource allocation.
This data is sourced from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, processed via Our World in Data. Values represent each cause's share of total deaths (%) unless otherwise noted. Explore related mortality data using the links below.
Burns and fire-related injuries kill approximately 180,000 people per year, with the vast majority of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. South Asia has the highest fire-related death rates globally, driven by open-flame cooking, kerosene lamps, and loose clothing. Women and children are disproportionately affected. Burns are also a significant cause of morbidity, with survivors often facing disfigurement, contractures, disability, and psychological trauma. In high-income countries, house fires and workplace accidents are the primary causes, while in low-income settings, cooking fires and unsafe lighting are dominant. Fire-related mortality has declined globally due to improved building codes, smoke detectors, fire-resistant materials, and burn treatment. However, these gains have been concentrated in wealthier countries, and the gap between high- and low-income settings continues to widen.
Across 209 countries, fire, heat & burns accounts for an average of 0.3% of total deaths. Regional disparities are substantial: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest regional average at 0.6%, while North America records the lowest at 0.1% — a 7.3-fold difference that underscores the geographic inequality in fire, heat & burns mortality burden.
Safer cooking technologies (improved stoves, LPG, electric cooking) address the leading exposure in low-income settings. Building codes requiring smoke detectors, fire-resistant materials, and sprinkler systems save lives in residential and commercial buildings. Child-resistant lighters and matches, fire safety education, and regulation of flammable materials reduce household fire risk. Investment in burn treatment centres and rehabilitation services improves outcomes for survivors.