Worldwide, road traffic injuries kill approximately 1.35 million people every year. An additional 20–50 million people are injured in non-fatal crashes annually, with many sustaining disabilities as a result of their injuries. Road traffic injuries represent the eighth leading cause of death for all age groups and the leading cause of premature death for those aged 5–29 years worldwide. Despite the significant global burden of road traffic injuries, the rates of death relative to the size of the world’s population have remained stable in recent years.

The Region has the third highest road traffic death rate in the world

In 2016, an estimated 120 362 people died from road traffic injuries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region constituting almost 9% of the world’s estimated road traffic deaths despite the Region accounting for only 5% of the world’s vehicles. Between 2013 and 2016 the road traffic death rate in the Region remained relatively stable.

The overall road traffic death rate in the Region is 18 deaths per 100 000 population, which, although comparable to the global average of 18.2 per 100 000 population, represents the third highest road traffic death rate in the world after the African (26.6 per 100 000 population) and South-East Asia (20.7 per 100 000 population) regions.

Estimated road traffic death rates vary greatly among countries in the Region, ranging from a low of 5.3 to a high of 28.8 deaths per 100 000 population. Only seven countries have an estimated road traffic death rate lower than the regional average of 18 deaths per 100 000 population.

This factsheet for the Eastern Mediterranean Region draws on data from the "Global status report on road safety 2018". It describes the status of road safety in 19 of the 22 countries and territories of the Region, representing 95.5% of the population and comprising five high-income, 12 middle-income, and two low-income countries.

Related links

Road safety in the Region: facts from the global status report on road safety 2018

Reducing injury, disability, death and economic losses through road safety in the Region