Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the European Union.

Omissions

• The claim is a general statement without a specified reference year; the most recent Eurostat data available before the session date (2023, published 13 March 2026) confirms it. During the pandemic years the ranking remained stable: in 2021 circulatory diseases were still the main cause (1.71 million deaths, ~32%), ahead of cancer and COVID-19.

Sources

• PrimaryEurostat — News: '33% of deaths caused by circulatory diseases in 2023'In 2023, there were 4.84 million deaths among EU residents, mostly caused by circulatory diseases (1.59 million; 32.8% of all deaths), followed by cancer (1.16 million; 23.9%) and respiratory diseases (0.38 million).
• PrimaryEurostat — Statistics Explained: Causes of death statisticsCirculatory diseases accounted for close to one third (32.8%) of all deaths in the EU in 2023. The second most common cause of death was cancer (23.9%).
• PrimaryEurostat — Statistics Explained: Cardiovascular diseases statisticsStatistics on cardiovascular diseases show that they are the leading cause of death in the EU, mainly concerning heart attacks and strokes.
• PrimaryOECD — The State of Cardiovascular Health in the European Union (burden of CVD chapter)Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death and disability in the European Union, despite major declines in mortality... It is the leading cause of death in the EU, accounting for one-in-three of all deaths (1.7 million deaths in 2022).