Saudi Chronic Disease Deaths Drop 40%, Life Nears 80

Saudi Arabia has recorded a roughly 40% reduction in deaths linked to chronic diseases compared with baseline levels in 2016–2017, while average life expectancy has climbed to around 79.7 years — placing the Kingdom close to its Vision 2030 target of 80 years.

The decline covers noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes and cancers, and is framed as a drop in premature deaths. Life expectancy has risen from roughly 74 years in 2016 to nearly 80 today, one of the clearest signs of improving population health nationwide.

Broader health gains

The chronic disease results come alongside other significant improvements in national health indicators. Deaths from infectious diseases have fallen by about 50%, while road traffic fatalities have dropped by around 60%. Together, these figures point to progress across prevention, treatment and public safety.

Official statistics show that about 19% of adults aged 15 and over live with at least one chronic condition, with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol among the most common. This underlines why continued screening, early detection and healthy lifestyle habits remain a priority for residents and expats alike.

For families across Riyadh, Jeddah and other cities, the numbers translate into longer, healthier lives and a stronger healthcare system. Current strategic health plans aim to build on the 40% decline by further reducing standardized mortality from noncommunicable diseases by 2030.

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