MEDICAL STATS / WHO
Maternal mortality 62.7 per 100,000 (2014), Persistent health issues maternal mortality, high prevalence of low birth rate and childhood malnutrition, TB, malaria and Hepatitis B.
However, of recent concern is the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which include cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes, mental health, aged care and disability. According to the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, in 2015 NCDs caused the most deaths and disability combined. (IHME, 2016).
Also, compared to other countries in its World Health Organization (WHO)-assigned region, the DPRK has the highest percent of people dying from cardiovascular disease (e.g., stroke, heart attack), and has one of the highest male smoking (>50%) and alcohol consumption (>40%) rates in the world.