This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across OECD and European Union countries, bringing together the latest evidence on disease burden, risk factors, health system performance and economic impacts. Despite decades of policy effort, NCDs continue to rise, driven by worsening risk factors, population ageing and improved survival with chronic conditions. In addition to their profound health consequences, NCDs impose substantial social and economic costs, weakening productivity, increasing health expenditure and constraining long-term growth.
The report goes beyond describing trends, by identifying country-specific priority areas for action. Modelling analysis highlights where countries can achieve the greatest health and economic gains by aligning with the best-performing peers. The results shows that prevention, particularly action on key risk factors such as obesity, smoking and harmful alcohol use, delivers larger and broader benefits than treatment alone. The report also sets out three core pillars for effective NCD strategies: empowering individuals, creating supportive environments, and building responsive, prevention-oriented health systems.