COVID-19 dropped out of the world's top 10 causes of death in 2023, ranking 14th with 0.9 million deaths, as global life expectancy recovered to near pre-pandemic levels. Revised WHO estimates now show COVID-19 was the leading cause of death in 2021 with 9.4 million deaths, contributing 14.7 million total deaths in 2020-2021. Noncommunicable diseases like heart disease, stroke, and COPD now dominate mortality, accounting for 74% of deaths globally.