TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHOW) held a press conference on Monday (June 17), releasing the number of deaths in 2023 and the top ten causes of death.
The MHOW announced that the number of deaths last year was 205,575, a decrease of 2,863 from 2022. It attributed the decline to fewer COVID deaths, per UDN.
According to the MOHW, the top ten causes of death in Taiwan last year include: 1) malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumors), 2) heart disease, 3) pneumonia, 4) cerebrovascular disease, 5) diabetes, 6) COVID, 7) hypertensive disease, 8) accidents and adverse effects, 9) chronic lower respiratory disease, 10) nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis.
Among the top ten causes of death, cancer and heart disease continue to rank in the top two. Cancer ranked first among the top ten causes of death for 42 consecutive years dating back to 1982.
For older people, falling ranked second among deaths for people aged 45–64 and 65 years and older. MHOW data also showed higher risks of death for older people living by themselves.
As for death by suicide, the mortality rate for those over 65 years old dropped when compared to 2022.
The MHOW also announced the top ten cancer mortality rates for Taiwanese: 1) trachea, bronchus, and lung; 2) liver; 3) colon, rectum, and anus; 4) breast cancer; 5) prostate; 6) oral; 7) pancreatic; 8) gastric; 9) esophageal; and 10) ovarian.
The MHOW said that one person died of cancer every 9 minutes and 53 seconds in 2023, which is 14 seconds faster than the cancer death rate in 2022, where one person succumbed to the disease every 10 minutes and 7 seconds.
