Deaths from injuries and violence constitute nearly 8% of all deaths globally

Injuries and violence take the lives of 4.4 million people worldwide each year. These deaths – almost the number resulting from two COVID-19 pandemics each year – constitute nearly 8% of all deaths globally. Three of the top five causes of death for people age 5-29 years are injury-related: road traffic injuries, homicide and suicide. Injuries and violence place a massive burden on national economies, costing countries billions of US dollars each year in health care, lost productivity and law enforcement.

This news alert is released in the context of the Virtual Showcase, being held from 22-26 March 2021, and established to maintain momentum of the 14th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion which was postponed from 2020 to 2022, and ensure that there is an opportunity between events to engage, network and continue knowledge sharing for the global injury prevention and safety promotion community.

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