Liver Disease (Cirrhosis)
Global mortality data, country rankings, and trends for Liver Disease (Cirrhosis) from 1990 to 2021.
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Liver Disease (Cirrhosis) 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 liver disease (cirrhosis) 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.
Liver disease — predominantly cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma — kills over 1.3 million people each year. Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are the leading causes globally, together responsible for roughly 60% of cirrhosis deaths. Alcohol-related liver disease is the dominant aetiology in high-income countries and parts of Eastern Europe. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), driven by obesity and metabolic syndrome, is the fastest-growing liver condition worldwide, affecting an estimated 25% of the global adult population. Sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia bear a disproportionate burden of hepatitis-related liver disease, while alcohol-attributable cirrhosis is highest in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Liver disease often progresses silently over decades, meaning many patients present with advanced cirrhosis or liver cancer when treatment options are limited. Liver transplantation is the definitive treatment for end-stage liver disease but is available to only a fraction of those who need it.
Across 210 countries, liver disease (cirrhosis) accounts for an average of 2.3% of total deaths. Regional disparities are substantial: Latin America & Caribbean has the highest regional average at 2.6%, while North America records the lowest at 1.8%. These figures reflect the most recent available data and highlight geographic variation in liver disease (cirrhosis) mortality.
Hepatitis B vaccination — ideally with a birth dose — is the cornerstone of liver cancer prevention in endemic countries. Direct-acting antiviral therapy can cure over 95% of hepatitis C infections, halting liver fibrosis progression. Alcohol policy interventions (pricing, availability restrictions, advertising bans) reduce alcohol-attributable liver mortality. Addressing the NAFLD epidemic requires the same metabolic risk factor management strategies used for diabetes and cardiovascular disease: weight loss, physical activity, and dietary improvement. Screening of high-risk groups for hepatitis and liver fibrosis enables earlier intervention.