Global burden of death and diseases in 1990 (%). Those categories causing at least 1% of lost DALYs
| World | LDCs | MDCs | |
| Acute respiratory infections | 8.5 | 9.4 | 1.6 |
| Diarrhoea | 7.2 | 8.1 | 0.3 |
| Perinatal effects | 6.7 | 7.3 | 1.9 |
| Child cluster (measles, pertussis, polio, tetanus, diphtheria) | 5.2 | 5.8 | 0.008 |
| Cancer | 5.1 | 4.0 | 13.7 |
| Depression | 4.7 | 4.4 | 8.5 |
| Malnutrition/anaemia (direct effects) | 3.7 | 4.1 | 0.9 |
| Heart (ischaemic) | 3.4 | 2.5 | 9.9 |
| Tuberculosis | 2.8 | 3.1 | 0.3 |
| Cerebrovascular (stroke) | 2.8 | 2.4 | 5.9 |
| Motor vehicle accidents | 2.5 | 2.2 | 4.4 |
| Congenital (birth defects) | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.2 |
| Malaria | 2.3 | 2.6 | 0.003 |
| Maternal | 2.2 | 2.4 | 0.6 |
| Sexually transmitted w/HIV | 2.2 | 2.3 | 1.3 |
| Chronic obstructive lung disease | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Falls | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| War | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 |
| Suicide | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2.3 |
| Violence | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| Alcohol (direct effects) | 1.2 | 0.8 | 4.0 |
| Drowning | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.5 |
| Total (%) | 72 | 73 | 64 |
| Population (million) | 5260 | 4120 | 1140 |
| Lost DALYs (million) | 1380 | 1220 | 160 |
| Deaths (million) | 50.5 | 10.9 | 36.6 |
Source: Murray and Lopez.3
DALYs = disability adjusted life years; MDCs = more developed countries; LDCs = less developed countries.