MANILA(June 30) — Nearly one out of every five deaths recorded in the Philippines this year was caused by heart disease, as cardiovascular illnesses, cancer and stroke continued to dominate the country’s leading causes of death, according to preliminary government data.
Figures released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that ischemic heart disease remained the nation’s deadliest illness in 2025, claiming 122,339 lives, or 19.7 percent of all deaths recorded across the country.
Cancer ranked second with 70,668 deaths, while stroke came in third after claiming 60,947 lives, reflecting the continued toll of non-communicable diseases on Filipino families.
Pneumonia, with 43,106 deaths, and diabetes, which claimed 37,978 lives, completed the top five causes of mortality.
The PSA said the pattern has remained virtually unchanged from 2024, signaling that preventable and manageable diseases continue to pose major health risks despite advances in medical care and growing public awareness.
Behind every statistic is a family coping with the loss of a loved one—a reminder of the importance of regular health checkups, healthier lifestyles, early screening, and timely treatment.
The mortality data were compiled from death registrations submitted by city and municipal civil registrars nationwide. The report excludes Filipinos who died abroad but includes deaths of foreign nationals and overseas-based Filipinos if the deaths occurred within the Philippines.
The PSA emphasized that the figures are still preliminary and may be updated as additional death registrations are processed. The agency expects to release the final mortality report in January 2027.
For communities, the latest figures serve as more than just statistics—they are a call to prioritize heart health, cancer screening, stroke prevention, diabetes management, and access to quality healthcare before illnesses become life-threatening.
