Updated on 30 Nov 2025
India has a robust universal healthcare system in place to provide accessible and affordable medical services to its vast population. Despite this, many deadly diseases are still killing a huge number of people every year. Some of these illnesses are caused by microorganisms, while others are a result of our lifestyle and pollution.
In this blog, you will learn about the top 10 deadliest diseases in India. You will also see how lifestyle, environment, and healthcare play a big role.
The top 10 killer diseases in India
Here are the top 10 diseases that cause the most deaths in India:
1. Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD)
A major cause of heart attacks, IHD results from narrowed blood vessels, reducing blood supply to the heart. It's the leading cause of death in India, responsible for about 13% of total deaths. Common risk factors include poor diet, high LDL, smoking and lack of physical activity.
2. Stroke
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. It's the second leading cause of death, accounting for nearly 7% of fatalities. High blood pressure is a major contributor, along with diabetes and high cholesterol.
3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
This group of lung conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, blocks airflow and causes breathing issues. It's responsible for around 6% of deaths, mostly due to tobacco use and exposure to air pollution.
4. Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI)
Diseases affecting the lower part of the respiratory tract, like pneumonia and bronchitis, are particularly dangerous for young children and the elderly. These are caused by pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi. LRTI make up about 5–6% of deaths annually in India.
5. Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is often a result of an infection in the digestive tract. It can also be caused by allergies, digestive diseases, certain food intolerances, etc. Diarrhoea remains a leading killer, especially in children under five. It contributes to approximately 4% of total deaths in India every year.
6. Tuberculosis (TB)
India leads the world in TB cases. The airborne bacterial infection causes around 220,000 deaths each year. Malnutrition, overcrowding and drug-resistant strains have made TB a persistent public health threat.
7. Lung and other respiratory cancers
Lung cancer is a condition where cells in the lungs multiply in an uncontrolled manner to form malignant tumours. Smoking and air pollution are some risk factors for this condition. It is a rising cause of death in India, accounting for 8.1% of total cancer mortalities.
8. Diabetes mellitus
It is a chronic condition that impairs the body's ability to regulate blood sugar. India has over 100 million diabetic adults, and the condition is linked to complications like heart failure and kidney damage. It causes about 2% of deaths directly, with wider indirect impacts.
9. Hypertensive heart disease
This refers to heart conditions caused by high blood pressure over time. It includes heart failure and complications like arrhythmias. It’s increasingly common in India due to lifestyle shifts and contributes to 10.8% of deaths.
10. Kidney diseases
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is emerging as a silent killer. It is often linked to uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension. It’s responsible for 2.9% of deaths in India.
How India’s changing lifestyle is fuelling these diseases?
Over the last few decades, India’s way of life has changed a lot. More people now live in cities than in villages. Many work in offices, sit for long hours and eat fast food. Exercise has gone down, stress has gone up. Smoking and drinking are common, especially among young adults. All these lifestyle changes mean more people get diseases that used to be rare.
For example, diseases like diabetes, heart disease and some cancers are linked to an unhealthy lifestyle. Earlier, infections were India’s biggest killers. Now, “lifestyle diseases” are taking over.
The role of air pollution and environmental factors
Polluted air, contaminated water and unclean surroundings can make people sick. Here is how the environment is impacting health:
- Air pollution: PM2.5 and PM10 particles damage the lungs and heart
- Water pollution: unsafe drinking water leads to diarrhoea, cholera and digestive tract infections
- Soil contamination: chemicals in farming harm food safety
- Climate change: heatwaves, floods and new disease patterns
Why early diagnosis can save lives?
One major reason why many people die from these killer diseases is that they do not know they are sick until it is too late.
Why early diagnosis matters:
- Early treatment is more effective: Diseases caught early can often be cured or managed more easily. Early treatment stops the condition before it becomes too severe, giving the patient a far better chance of recovery.
- Lower cost of treatment: Finding a disease early means treatment is often cheaper due to simple medicines or minor procedures. Costly surgeries or long hospital stays are needed when the disease is advanced.
- Fewer complications: Early diagnosis prevents long-term damage to the body. For example, catching diabetes early can protect the kidneys and eyes. Spotting cancer early stops it from spreading to other organs.
- Better survival chances: Survival rates are much higher when treatment begins early. Late diagnosis means an advanced stage of the condition, fewer treatment options and a lower chance of survival.
Healthcare access in India: Urban vs rural divide
In India, there is a wide gap between urban and rural healthcare facilities. Cities have more hospitals and clinics with specialists and modern diagnostic facilities. People can get quality healthcare here, but it may come at a high cost. So, these hospitals are often only affordable to the high-income population. Also, in the urban areas, emergency services respond quickly and are often available 24*7.
In rural locations, hospitals with specialists and modern treatment facilities are often limited. The small clinics can provide affordable treatment for non-serious diseases. People usually have to travel long distances in case of emergencies to get quality medical help. Rural areas have slow or no emergency services, adding to the healthcare challenges.
How health insurance helps in managing critical illnesses?
Paying for treatment can drain your savings, as the medical costs in India are rising. That is why health insurance plans are becoming so important.
Here are the benefits of health insurance:
1. Covers expensive treatments
Health insurance pays for costly treatments that would otherwise be impossible for many people to afford.
2. Encourages regular check-ups
Many insurance plans include free health check-ups. These check-ups help people catch diseases early, improving survival chances and reducing the cost of treatment later.
3. Reduces financial stress
Knowing that health costs are covered helps families feel safer. They do not have to sell land or borrow huge amounts if a major illness happens. This protects them from falling into a financial crisis.
4. Supports better health choices
When people have insurance, they may be more willing to see a doctor for small problems instead of ignoring them. This leads to earlier treatment and healthier lives overall.
Conclusion
Many diseases are claiming lives that could often be saved with early action. Changing lifestyles, cleaner environments, better awareness and stronger healthcare systems can help reduce the mortality rate. You should take preventive measures to stay healthy and obtain health insurance to stay prepared in case of any medical emergencies.
If you are wondering how to obtain the ideal family health insurance, simply fill out the form on this page to get expert suggestions tailored to your needs.
FAQs
-
Which disease kills the most people in India?
Heart illness is the biggest killer in the nation, responsible for around 31.8% of all deaths.
-
How can people prevent lifestyle diseases?
To prevent lifestyle diseases, eat fresh food, exercise regularly, stop smoking and manage stress.
-
Is air pollution really that dangerous?
Yes. It can cause asthma, lung cancer, heart attacks and strokes.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a certified medical and/or nutrition professional for any questions. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.