Vietnam's mortality profile increasingly resembles that of countries dealing with ageing populations and chronic disease rather than one dominated by infectious illness.
According to the World Health Organization's latest country-level estimates for 2023, the leading individual cause of death in Vietnam is stroke, followed by ischaemic heart disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia and diabetes also rank near the top.
There is an important limitation to understand before interpreting the numbers. WHO notes that usable death-registration data for Vietnam remain insufficient, so its cause-of-death figures are statistical estimates assembled from multiple data sources rather than a complete count of every registered death. They are useful for understanding the overall burden of disease, but small differences between causes should not be treated as exact rankings with perfect precision.
Top 10 causes of death in Vietnam
The latest WHO Global Health Estimates give the following estimated death rates for Vietnam in 2023.
| Rank | Cause of death | Estimated deaths per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stroke | 137.9 |
| 2 | Ischaemic heart disease | 69.0 |
| 3 | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | 45.0 |
| 4 | Alzheimer disease and other dementias | 43.7 |
| 5 | Diabetes mellitus | 33.7 |
| 6 | Hypertensive heart disease | 25.9 |
| 7 | Lower respiratory infections | 24.8 |
| 8 | Cirrhosis of the liver | 24.4 |
| 9 | Trachea, bronchus and lung cancers | 21.5 |
| 10 | Kidney diseases | 20.4 |
The pattern is striking: most of the leading causes are noncommunicable diseases, rather than infections.
WHO estimates that noncommunicable diseases accounted for approximately 81% of deaths in Vietnam in 2023. Communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions accounted for about 9.6%, while injuries represented around 9.4%.
This broader shift is also reflected in Vietnam's rising life expectancy and ageing population. See Life Expectancy in Vietnam: How Long Do People Live? for the demographic context behind these changes.
1. Stroke
Stroke is the leading estimated cause of death in Vietnam, at 137.9 deaths per 100,000 population in WHO's 2023 estimates.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, either because a blood vessel becomes blocked or because a vessel ruptures and causes bleeding.
Important modifiable risk factors include:
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Physical inactivity
- Harmful alcohol use
- Poor diet
The particularly large gap between stroke and the second-ranked cause is notable. The WHO estimate for stroke mortality is roughly twice that of ischaemic heart disease.
Vietnam has made prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases an important public-health priority, particularly through better detection and management of hypertension and diabetes.
2. Ischaemic heart disease
Ischaemic heart disease is the second leading estimated cause of death, at 69 deaths per 100,000 people.
It develops when the arteries supplying the heart become narrowed or blocked, usually because of atherosclerosis. A heart attack can occur when blood flow is suddenly interrupted.
Many risk factors overlap with those for stroke:
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- High LDL cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Low physical activity
- Unhealthy diet
Stroke and ischaemic heart disease together show how important cardiovascular disease has become in Vietnam.
WHO has previously estimated that cardiovascular diseases as a group account for roughly a third of deaths in the country.
3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, ranks third at an estimated 45 deaths per 100,000 people.
COPD includes chronic respiratory conditions characterised by persistent airflow limitation. Smoking is one of its major causes, although long-term exposure to household and outdoor air pollution can also contribute.
Symptoms can include:
- Persistent cough
- Sputum production
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Reduced exercise tolerance
Vietnam's tobacco burden and exposure to air pollution make chronic respiratory disease an important long-term health issue.
Air quality varies considerably between Vietnamese cities and seasons. Our guide to Air Quality in Hanoi looks specifically at pollution exposure in the capital.
4. Alzheimer disease and other dementias
Alzheimer disease and other dementias rank fourth in WHO's 2023 estimates, at 43.7 deaths per 100,000.
This position reflects an important demographic change.
As more Vietnamese people survive into older age, diseases strongly associated with ageing make up a larger share of mortality and disability.
Dementia is not simply normal ageing. It involves progressive impairment of cognitive functions such as memory, reasoning, orientation and the ability to manage daily activities.
The mortality burden associated with dementia is likely to become increasingly relevant as Vietnam's population ages.
5. Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes ranks fifth, with an estimated mortality rate of 33.7 per 100,000 people.
Diabetes can damage blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, eyes and the cardiovascular system over time. It also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
The disease therefore contributes to mortality both directly and indirectly through complications.
WHO has identified diabetes and hypertension as growing priorities for Vietnam's primary healthcare system.
People living long term in the country can read Managing Diabetes in Vietnam for practical information on monitoring and ongoing care.
6. Hypertensive heart disease
Hypertensive heart disease accounts for an estimated 25.9 deaths per 100,000 people.
Long-term high blood pressure makes the heart work harder and can eventually cause structural changes, heart failure and other cardiovascular complications.
Hypertension is particularly important because people can have markedly elevated blood pressure for years without obvious symptoms.
That means screening and treatment can have benefits long before someone feels ill.
7. Lower respiratory infections
Lower respiratory infections rank seventh at approximately 24.8 deaths per 100,000 people.
This category includes serious infections affecting the lower airways and lungs, including pneumonia.
Older adults, young children and people with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems can be particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes.
Unlike most conditions near the top of Vietnam's mortality ranking, lower respiratory infections are communicable diseases.
Their continued presence in the top ten demonstrates that Vietnam faces a double burden: chronic diseases now dominate mortality, but serious infectious diseases have not disappeared.
8. Cirrhosis of the liver
Cirrhosis ranks eighth at an estimated 24.4 deaths per 100,000 people.
Cirrhosis is advanced scarring of the liver caused by long-term damage. Causes can include:
- Chronic hepatitis B
- Chronic hepatitis C
- Harmful alcohol consumption
- Metabolic liver disease
- Other chronic liver disorders
Vietnam has historically had a substantial burden of viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B, making liver disease an important component of the country's health profile.
9. Lung cancer
Cancers of the trachea, bronchus and lung together rank ninth at an estimated 21.5 deaths per 100,000 people.
Smoking remains the dominant preventable risk factor for lung cancer, although air pollution and occupational exposures can also contribute.
There is also a notable sex difference in WHO's estimates. Lung cancer is much more prominent among Vietnamese men than women, consistent with historically much higher smoking rates among men.
Cancer overall creates a substantially larger mortality burden than the single lung-cancer category suggests because deaths from liver, breast, colorectal, stomach and other cancers are counted separately.
For a broader overview of treatment options within the country, see Cancer Treatment in Vietnam: Hospitals, Costs and Care.
10. Kidney diseases
Kidney diseases complete the top ten at an estimated 20.4 deaths per 100,000 people.
Chronic kidney disease can progress slowly for years before reaching an advanced stage.
Major risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Certain kidney disorders
- Some medicines and toxins
The appearance of diabetes, hypertensive heart disease and kidney disease within the same mortality ranking is not coincidental. These conditions frequently interact and can reinforce one another.
People who require advanced renal care can read Kidney Disease and Dialysis in Vietnam for more information about treatment locally.
Leading causes of death in Vietnamese men
The ranking differs somewhat for men.
WHO's estimated top causes of death among Vietnamese men in 2023 were:
| Rank | Cause | Deaths per 100,000 men |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stroke | 167.9 |
| 2 | Ischaemic heart disease | 81.7 |
| 3 | COPD | 47.0 |
| 4 | Cirrhosis of the liver | 40.3 |
| 5 | Trachea, bronchus and lung cancers | 30.8 |
| 6 | Diabetes mellitus | 29.0 |
| 7 | Liver cancer | 28.6 |
| 8 | Lower respiratory infections | 26.4 |
| 9 | Falls | 20.7 |
| 10 | Kidney diseases | 19.8 |
Liver disease, lung cancer and liver cancer are notably prominent among men.
Leading causes of death in Vietnamese women
Among women, the profile differs:
| Rank | Cause | Deaths per 100,000 women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stroke | 109.2 |
| 2 | Alzheimer disease and other dementias | 67.6 |
| 3 | Ischaemic heart disease | 56.9 |
| 4 | COPD | 43.0 |
| 5 | Diabetes mellitus | 38.3 |
| 6 | Hypertensive heart disease | 32.3 |
| 7 | Lower respiratory infections | 23.3 |
| 8 | Kidney diseases | 20.9 |
| 9 | Breast cancer | 20.0 |
| 10 | Falls | 18.1 |
Dementia is particularly prominent among women, partly because women generally live longer and therefore spend more years at ages when dementia becomes substantially more common.
Breast cancer also enters the female top ten.
Men and women have different mortality patterns
Some of the largest differences are easier to see side by side.
| Cause | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke | 167.9 | 109.2 |
| Ischaemic heart disease | 81.7 | 56.9 |
| COPD | 47.0 | 43.0 |
| Diabetes | 29.0 | 38.3 |
| Cirrhosis | 40.3 | Below female top 10 |
| Lung cancer | 30.8 | Below female top 10 |
| Dementia | Below male top 10 | 67.6 |
Values are WHO estimated deaths per 100,000 population for each sex in 2023.
The differences reflect a combination of longevity, smoking and alcohol patterns, metabolic risk, disease exposure and other social and biological factors.
Chronic disease now dominates mortality in Vietnam
The most important message is broader than the exact ranking.
WHO estimates that 81% of deaths in Vietnam are caused by noncommunicable diseases.
These include:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Cancer
- Chronic respiratory diseases
- Diabetes
- Dementia
- Chronic kidney disease
This represents a major transition from the infectious-disease patterns that historically dominated mortality in lower-income countries.
Vietnam still faces tuberculosis, dengue, respiratory infections and other communicable diseases, but chronic disease now represents the much larger mortality burden.
Why stroke is such an important issue
Stroke sits at the intersection of several common risk factors found elsewhere in the ranking.
High blood pressure increases stroke risk. Diabetes increases cardiovascular risk. Smoking contributes to vascular disease. Kidney disease and cardiovascular disease frequently coexist.
Preventing one condition can therefore reduce the risk of several others.
Important population-level measures include:
- Detecting and treating high blood pressure
- Reducing tobacco use
- Controlling diabetes
- Reducing excessive salt intake
- Regular physical activity
- Managing cholesterol
- Limiting harmful alcohol consumption
WHO and Vietnam's Ministry of Health have increasingly focused on bringing management of hypertension, diabetes and other chronic conditions closer to primary-care services.
How reliable are these rankings?
They should be interpreted carefully.
WHO explicitly notes that death-registration data for Vietnam are unavailable or unusable for cause-of-death estimation because of quality limitations.
The organisation therefore produces estimates using several sources, including:
- Available national mortality data
- WHO technical programmes
- United Nations partners
- Inter-agency estimates
- Global Burden of Disease research
- Other epidemiological studies
WHO then consults national authorities before publishing its Global Health Estimates.
The figures are therefore substantially more useful than guessing from hospital statistics, but they are still estimates.
It is reasonable to conclude that stroke and cardiovascular disease are major causes of death in Vietnam. It would be much less reasonable to interpret a difference of one or two deaths per 100,000 between two lower-ranked conditions as exact.
Are infectious diseases still important in Vietnam?
Yes.
A mortality ranking is not the same as a list of the diseases a traveller is most likely to catch.
A relatively uncommon disease can still be important for prevention, while a major cause of death such as dementia is not an infectious travel risk at all.
Vietnam continues to deal with infectious diseases including dengue, tuberculosis, influenza, hepatitis and other respiratory infections.
For that reason, travellers should not use the national causes-of-death table as their personal travel-risk ranking. Most Common Illnesses in Vietnam addresses the more practical question of health problems encountered in the country.
What to remember
The latest WHO estimates show a clear answer to the question of what kills the most people in Vietnam: stroke is the leading individual cause of death.
It is followed by ischaemic heart disease, COPD, Alzheimer disease and other dementias, and diabetes.
The bigger public-health story is that approximately four out of five deaths in Vietnam are now attributed to noncommunicable diseases.
Vietnam therefore faces many of the same long-term challenges as other ageing societies: cardiovascular disease, metabolic illness, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, dementia and kidney disease.
At the same time, respiratory infections and other communicable diseases remain relevant, creating a healthcare burden that combines chronic and infectious disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below answer common searches about mortality in Vietnam.
What is the leading cause of death in Vietnam?
Stroke is the leading estimated cause of death in Vietnam. WHO's latest 2023 estimates put stroke mortality at approximately 137.9 deaths per 100,000 people, substantially higher than ischaemic heart disease, which ranks second.
What are the top causes of death in Vietnam?
According to WHO's 2023 estimates, the leading causes are stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Alzheimer disease and other dementias, diabetes, hypertensive heart disease, lower respiratory infections, liver cirrhosis, lung cancer and kidney disease.
What percentage of deaths in Vietnam are caused by chronic diseases?
WHO estimates that noncommunicable diseases accounted for about 81% of deaths in Vietnam in 2023. These include cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes, dementia and kidney disease.
Is cancer the main cause of death in Vietnam?
No single cancer ranks above stroke or ischaemic heart disease in WHO's latest estimates. However, cancer represents a major overall burden because deaths are divided among lung, liver, breast, colorectal, stomach and other cancer types.
Do men and women have the same leading causes of death in Vietnam?
No. Stroke ranks first for both sexes, but liver disease and lung cancer are more prominent among men, while dementia and breast cancer are more prominent in the female ranking.
Are WHO figures for deaths in Vietnam exact?
No. WHO states that Vietnam's available death-registration data have quality limitations, so its cause-of-death figures are modelled estimates based on multiple national and international data sources. They are useful for identifying major health priorities but should not be interpreted as exact registered death counts.
Sources
Writer
Tan Nguyen
Medical writer for Vietnam Clinic. MD, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.
