Acute Hepatitis
Global mortality data, country rankings, and trends for Acute Hepatitis from 1990 to 2021.
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Acute Hepatitis 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 acute hepatitis 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.
Viral hepatitis — primarily hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) — causes approximately 1.1 million deaths per year, mainly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. An estimated 296 million people live with chronic HBV infection and 58 million with chronic HCV. Sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia carry the highest HBV burden, while HCV prevalence is highest in Central Asia, North Africa, and among people who inject drugs globally. Acute hepatitis can also be caused by hepatitis A and E viruses, typically through contaminated water and food. Most chronic hepatitis infections are asymptomatic for decades, progressing silently to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and cancer. The majority of infected people are unaware of their status: globally, only 10% of HBV and 21% of HCV carriers have been diagnosed. Hepatitis mortality has been rising while most other infectious disease deaths have declined, earning it the label of a 'silent epidemic.'
Across 195 countries, acute hepatitis accounts for an average of 0.1% of total deaths. Regional disparities are substantial: South Asia has the highest regional average at 0.3%, while Latin America & Caribbean records the lowest at 0.0% — a 25.5-fold difference that underscores the geographic inequality in acute hepatitis mortality burden.
Hepatitis B vaccination — ideally with a birth dose followed by three infant doses — is the primary prevention strategy and is over 95% effective. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) cure over 95% of HCV infections in 8-12 weeks. The WHO elimination targets call for 90% diagnosis and 80% treatment coverage by 2030. Blood safety screening, injection safety, harm reduction for people who inject drugs, and safe food and water practices (for hepatitis A and E) complement vaccination and treatment.