In 2010, it was estimated that increased blood pressure accounted for 17.8% of premature death (9.4 million deaths, 162 million years of life lost) and 7% of disability (173 million DALYs) globally.
The burden of hypertension is greatest where resources are the lowest, with developing countries disproportionately impacted by hypertension. Over 14 million deaths from NCDs occur between the ages of 30 and 70 annually, of which 85% are in developing countries. Globally, it is estimated that approximately one half of people with hypertension are not aware they have it and that fewer than 20% are controlled. The World Economic Forum describes NCDs as the greatest threat to economic development, predicting a cumulative loss in global economic output of $47 trillion USD, or 5% of gross domestic product, by 2030. The importance of the WHL mission is emphasized by the recent United Nations (UN) Global Health Summit on NCDs which agreed to nine health targets to be achieved by 2025. The UN health targets included a 25% reduction in uncontrolled hypertension and a 30% reduction in dietary salt.