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Heart disease statistics 2025

Illustrating the prevalence of heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide
Karen Berger medical writer and reviewer headshot
By and | Updated on Jan. 29, 2025 Medically reviewed by Josephine Bawab, Pharm.D.
Tablet displaying statistics: Heart disease statistics

Key takeaways

  • Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease, is a general term for several heart conditions.

  • Heart disease is the most common cause of death worldwide.

  • A combination of lifestyle factors, genetics, and other health conditions causes heart disease.

  • Heart disease treatment depends on the specific condition and underlying cause(s). Lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery may be required.

In this article:

The heart is approximately the size of a single clenched fist, yet it’s one of the most important organs in the human body. Problems with the heart cause problems for the whole body, which is why heart disease is a prominent public health concern. Keep reading to get the facts on how common heart disease is in the United States and worldwide, plus risk factors and common treatments.

RELATED: 15 signs of heart problems worth worrying about | Cardiac arrest vs. heart attack

What is heart disease?

Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease (CVD), is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, according to the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus. These include coronary heart disease (CHD), heart valve problems, and heart muscle disorder (cardiomyopathy). 

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A diseased heart can cause death by heart attack, heart failure, and more. The good news is that maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet can help prevent many contributors to heart disease—high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity, among others. 

Many heart conditions have no early symptoms at all, according to MedlinePlus. Fortunately, healthcare providers can easily screen for heart disease at your annual checkup. If a problem is suspected, your healthcare provider may order additional blood and imaging tests. 

How common is heart disease?

  • CVD is the world’s leading cause of death. (World Health Organization, 2021)
  • In 2019, CVD comprised 32% of deaths worldwide. (World Health Organization, 2021)
  • In 2021, 19.9 million people died from heart disease, which was an increase of over 7 million deaths since 1990. (American Heart Association, 2024)
  • CVD causes more than twice as many deaths as cancer each year. (World Heart Federation) 

Worldwide heart disease statistics

  • The number of CVD-related deaths per year is increasing worldwide—going from 12.3 million in 1990 to 19.9 million in 2021. (American Heart Association, 2024)
  • In 2021, the countries with the highest CVD mortality rate were Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Uzbekistan. (Our World in Data, 2023)
  • In  2021, the countries with the lowest CVD mortality rate were San Marino, South Korea, and Japan. (Our World in Data, 2023)
  • High blood pressure is the top risk factor contributing to CVD-related deaths, followed by diet and fine particle air pollution. (American Heart Association, 2024)

U.S. heart disease statistics

  • Between 2017 and 2020, 48.6% of U.S. adults had some form of CVD. (American Heart Association 2024)
  • 1 out of every 5 deaths in the United States is a result of CVD. (CDC, 2024)
  • One person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease. (CDC, 2024)
  • In 2021, CHD made up 40.3% of CVD-related deaths in the United States, followed by stroke (17.5%). (American Heart Association 2024)

RELATED: Hypertension treatments & medications

Heart disease statistics by state

The top 10 states with the highest age-adjusted CVD death rate (per 100,000 total population) in 2022 were:

  1. Oklahoma (257.1)
  2. Mississippi (248)
  3. Alabama (234.2)
  4. Arkansas (224.1)
  5. Louisiana (224)
  6. Tennessee (218.3)
  7. West Virginia (209.5)
  8. Kentucky (208.6)
  9. Michigan (206.3)
  10. Missouri (199.8)

(CDC, 2024)

As of 2021, the states with the highest percentage of populations with hypertension were:

  1. Mississippi (43.9)
  2. West Virginia (43.4)
  3. Alabama (42.7)
  4. Arkansas (40.7)
  5. Louisiana (40.2)

(America’s Health Rankings)

When it comes to obesity, a high risk factor for heart disease, these states have the highest percentage among their populations:

  1. West Virginia (41.0)
  2. Louisiana (40.1)
  3. Oklahoma (40.0)
  4. Mississippi (39.5)
  5. Tennessee (38.9)

(America’s Health Rankings)

Heart disease statistics by gender

  • Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. (CDC, 2024)
  • The average age at the first heart attack is 65.6 years for males and 72.0 years for females, according to data from 2005 to 2014. (American Heart Association, 2024)
  • Men are more likely than women to have a heart attack. (OASH Office on Women’s Health, 2021)
  • Women who have a heart attack are more likely to die than their male counterparts. (OASH Office on Women’s Health, 2021)

RELATED: Women’s heart health | Men’s heart health

Heart disease statistics by race and ethnicity in the United States

  • From 2017–2020, non-Hispanic Black females and males had the highest prevalence of CVD. (American Heart Association 2024)
  • Heart disease caused 11.9% of deaths among Hispanic people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)
  • Heart disease caused 15.5% of deaths among American Indian or Alaska Native people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)
  • Heart disease caused 18% of deaths among White (non-Hispanic) people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)
  • Heart disease caused 18.3% of deaths among Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)
  • Heart disease caused 18.6% of deaths among Asian people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)
  • Heart disease caused 22.6% of deaths among Black (non-Hispanic) people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)

Heart attack and stroke statistics

  • Approximately 1.5 million heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) and strokes occur in the United States each year. (Million Hearts, 2021)
  • In 2021, stroke caused about 1 in every 21 deaths in the United States (American Heart Association, 2024)
  • In the United States, about 9.3% of people who had a heart attack outside a medical facility in 2022 survived long enough to receive emergency treatment and be admitted and then discharged from the hospital. (American Heart Association, 2024)
  • Each year, approximately 605,000 new heart attacks and 200,000 recurrent heart attacks occur in the United States. (CDC, 2024)
  • Approximately 1 in 5 heart attacks are silent, meaning that the damage is done without the person experiencing symptoms. (CDC, 2024)

The cost of heart disease

  • Between 2019 and 2020, CVD cost the United States $422.3 billion in healthcare services and lost productivity. (American Heart Association, 2024)
  • Spending on CVD hospitalizations is responsible for 15% of total U.S. healthcare spending. (Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 2024)
  • Individuals with hypertension spend, on average, $1,920 per year more on health care than individuals without hypertension in the United States. (Journal of the American Heart Association, 2018)

Causes of heart disease

Anyone reading these sobering statistics might wonder: What causes heart disease in the first place? Causes vary depending on the person and type of heart disease, but many factors can increase a person’s risk of developing a cardiovascular disease.

According to the National Library of Medicine, possible causes of heart disease include:

  • Lifestyle (such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and tobacco or alcohol use)
  • Genetics (family history of heart disease)
  • Infections 
  • Medicines
  • Having other conditions, such as:
    • Metabolic syndrome
    • High blood pressure
    • High cholesterol 
    • Diabetes
    • Obesity
    • Autoimmune or inflammatory disease
    • Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

And that’s not all. Chronic stress can cause heart problems, too, according to the American Heart Association. That means people experiencing chronic stress due to interpersonal issues, housing insecurity, financial troubles, or other reasons might have a higher risk of CVD. 

How to prevent heart disease

There’s no changing genetics, but there are steps you can take to keep heart disease at bay. “The key is finding strategies that resonate with each individual,” says Anthony Kaveh, MD, an integrated medicine specialist. “We all bring our own histories and experiences to our health, and we need to find integrated approaches that resonate with our experiences to engage in healthy lifestyle choices consistently.”

The AHA offers a list of eight key health factors and behaviors to consider when working to improve cardiovascular health:

  • Nutrition: “Diet is the cornerstone to preventing heart disease,” Dr. Kaveh says. Research suggests that diets rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and legumes are good for heart health. Examples include the anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet. And, don’t forget drinks: Men should limit alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day, and women should not drink more than one alcoholic beverage per day.
  • Physical activity: After focusing on diet, Dr. Kaveh suggests focusing on physical activity. Research suggests that even just one to three weekly workouts help protect against cardiovascular disease. However, a good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week.
  • Stopping smoking: In the United States, smoking is the leading risk factor for years of life lost to premature mortality, according to the AHA. If you are struggling to quit smoking, talk to your healthcare provider. They can offer tips and strategies for successful smoking cessation.
  • Weight loss: Obesity increases a person’s risk of heart disease, according to the AHA. Healthy weight loss can help protect against CVD.
  • Healthy cholesterol levels: High cholesterol is a known risk factor for heart disease. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels can reduce the chance of developing CVD.
  • Sleep: Adequate sleep is essential to both mental and physical health, including heart health. That’s why the AHA lists sleep as one of the eight essential factors for reducing the risk of CVD.
  • Preventing or treating diabetes: Research shows that diabetes and CVD are closely linked. The good news is that there are many effective diabetes treatments—and it might be possible to reverse prediabetes with diet and lifestyle changes.
  • Treating high blood pressure: Like high cholesterol, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for CVD, according to the AHA. If you have high blood pressure, talk to your healthcare provider about the appropriate combination of lifestyle changes and hypertension treatments for you.

Dr. Kaveh tells his patients that there’s a lot of value in small lifestyle alterations. “Our small choices every day have a tremendous cumulative impact,” he says. “More importantly, it appears that it is never too late to reap the benefits of a heart-protective lifestyle.”

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Treating heart disease

Heart disease treatments vary based on the condition and its severity. According to Mayo Clinic, treatments may include a combination of lifestyle changes, medicines, a heart procedure, or heart surgery.

Lifestyle changes for heart disease are typically aimed at reducing risk factors, such as high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. However, healthcare providers sometimes deem it necessary to treat these heart-related conditions with prescription drugs, such as:

More severe or life-threatening heart conditions may require surgical procedures, such as bypass surgery, pacemaker insertion, or stent placement.

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Heart disease questions and answers

What percentage of the population has heart disease?

The American Heart Association (AHA) estimated that more than 48% of the U.S. population had heart disease between 2017 and 2020.

What percent of deaths are caused by heart disease?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that heart disease accounts for 32% of deaths worldwide. 

What country has the highest number of deaths from cardiovascular disease?

According to Our World in Data, the countries with the highest CVD mortality rate in 2021 were Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Uzbekistan.

What countries have the lowest number of deaths from cardiovascular disease? 

According to Our World in Data, the countries with the lowest CVD mortality rate in 2021 were San Marino, South Korea, and Japan.

Is heart disease increasing or decreasing?

The incidence rate of heart disease is slowly decreasing in the United States, according to the CDC. However, heart disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide, including in the United States.

What is the mortality rate of heart disease?

Cardiovascular disease causes 1 out of every 5 deaths in the United States, according to the CDC.

What percent of heart attacks are fatal in the United States?

The percentage of heart attacks that are fatal varies based on location, race, and gender. 

As treatment options and accessibility expand, the general trend is that fewer heart attacks are fatal now than in previous years—20.0% of U.S. adults 65 years and older in 1995 versus 12.4% in 2014, for instance.

What is the leading cause of heart disease?

Heart disease can be caused by a number of risk factors, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and more, according to the American Heart Association.

According to a 2024 American Heart Association press release, people who have experienced COVID-19 infection also have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke up to three years after being sick.

How long has heart disease been the leading cause of death?

Heart disease has been the United States’ leading cause of death since 1921, according to researchers.

What are the early signs of heart disease?

Heart disease does not always produce early symptoms, according to the National Library of Medicine. Symptoms of heart attacks or stroke include chest pain, shortness of breath, and sudden weakness. Each symptom is an indicator of heart trouble that warrants urgent medical attention.

What are the different types of heart disease?

Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease, is an umbrella term that includes all conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels—including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and atherosclerosis. 

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