MANILA, Philippines – Ischaemic heart disease remained the top cause of death in the Philippines in 2024, with 75,446 recorded cases from January to September, according to a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The latest PSA data showed that the disease accounted for 19.4 percent of total deaths nationwide, followed by neoplasms (cancers) with 42,870 cases (11.0 percent) and cerebrovascular diseases with 38,908 cases (10.0 percent). Pneumonia ranked fourth with 25,453 deaths (6.5 percent), while diabetes mellitus placed fifth with 24,469 cases (6.3 percent).

The PSA report also listed other leading causes of death in the country:

• Hypertensive diseases – 21,319 deaths (5.5 percent)
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases – 14,975 deaths (3.9 percent)
• Other heart diseases – 14,952 deaths (3.8 percent)
• Respiratory tuberculosis – 11,531 deaths (3 percent)
• Kidney diseases – 11,490 deaths (3 percent)

These figures were gathered from registered deaths across city and municipal civil registrars nationwide. 

The PSA noted that the data remains provisional, as it is based on reports received as of January 31, 2025, and may be subject to updates.

Deaths of Filipinos abroad were not included in the report, but foreign nationals who passed away in the Philippines during the period were counted, it said.