Kidney Disease Epidemic Worsens Worldwide, Claiming 1.5M Lives Annually

As of November 2025, chronic kidney disease has emerged as a major global health crisis, with the number of people worldwide estimated to have reduced kidney function soaring from 378 million in 1990 to 788 million in 2023. The condition, which causes the gradual loss of the kidneys' ability to filter waste and excess fluid from the blood, is now ranked among the top 10 causes of death globally, joining the likes of stroke, heart disease, and cancer.

The latest research, published in The Lancet, reveals that chronic kidney disease is not only a deadly condition in its own right, but also a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, accounting for approximately 12% of global cardiovascular deaths. The study also found that the condition ranked as the 12th leading cause of reduced quality of life due to disability in 2023.

Experts warn that chronic kidney disease is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, with many people unaware they have the condition until it has reached advanced stages. This is particularly concerning, as prompt treatment with medication and lifestyle changes can help prevent the need for more costly and invasive interventions, such as dialysis and kidney transplantation.

To address this growing epidemic, the World Health Organization has added chronic kidney disease to its agenda, aiming to reduce premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases by a third before 2030. However, it will take time to see improvements on a global scale, as the condition continues to claim an estimated 1.5 million lives each year.