Malignant tumors and heart disease were the two most common causes of death in both sexes in 2022. Cancer resulted in the death of 11,650 people in Israel this year. The most common types of cancer among men are: trachea, bronchi and lung cancer (20.1%), colorectal and rectal cancer (9.7%) and pancreatic cancer (8.6%). The most common types of cancer among women are: breast cancer (18.4%), trachea, bronchial and lung cancer (11.6%) and colon, rectal and rectal cancer (9.4%).
The report also shows that the corona epidemic that broke out in Israel, as well as in the entire world, was the third most common cause of death between the years 2020-2022. The disease reached its peak in 2021, when it resulted in the death of 4,800 people in Israel, which is 9.5% of all deaths that year. In the list of the ten leading causes of death in Israel between these years, diabetes, dementia and pneumonia are also included.
More mortality from infectious diseases
It is also noted in the report that in the last decade the mortality rates in Israel from infectious diseases have increased, and between the years 2020-2022, over 2000 people died each year as a result. On the other hand, there has been a decrease of more than 80% in the last 40 years, in the mortality rates from ischemic heart disease (impairment of the heart’s function), and cerebrovascular diseases.
Examining the differences between women and men, it can be seen that the death rate in 2022 for all causes was 1.5 times higher among men compared to women. The disparities between the sexes are particularly large when compared to death from external causes – when it comes to death as a result of murder, for example, the rate among men was 5.1 times higher than women, in car accidents – 3.8 times and in suicide – 3.4 times. Conversely, the rate of death from dementia was higher (1.1 times) in women compared to men.
The Central Bureau of Statistics states that the most common causes of death among infants up to one year of age were perinatal causes (before birth), and birth defects. Among toddlers aged 1 to 4, the most common causes of death are external causes. 18.6% of deaths at the age of 5-17 were caused by cancer.
In an international comparison of Israel with the OECD countries, the report states that Israel ranks eighth in mortality from all causes. Mortality rates from the leading causes of death in Israel – cancer, ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases – are lower in Israel than in most OECD countries. However, the mortality rates from infectious diseases in Israel are the highest in the OECD countries. The death rates from diabetes and kidney diseases are also high in Israel compared to these countries. In most causes of death, no difference was found in the relative ranking between men and women in Israel, compared to other countries, except in the context of cancer. Among men, the death rate from cancer is low compared to most OECD countries. Among women, the mortality rate from breast cancer is one of the highest among OECD countries.
Distribution of the leading causes of death in Israel, 2020-2022 (ranked by the year 2022)