Death from overwork means dying from a stroke or heart disease linked to very long working hours. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) studied it. Working 55 hours or more a week led to about 745,000 such deaths in 2016. Japan calls it karōshi (過労死). Korea calls it gwarosa (과로사).
Maybe someone you love died suddenly, after years of long days. Maybe your own week has no end, and your body is starting to complain. Either way, you are in the right place.
This page explains the numbers in plain words. The guides below cover four places with a legal word for it. One more guide covers the signs to watch for in your own body.
How many people die from overwork?
On 17 May 2021, WHO and the ILO published the first global estimate. They looked at people who worked 55 hours or more a week. The result: 745,000 deaths in 2016 from stroke and heart disease.
| What WHO and the ILO found (2016) |
Number |
Source |
| Deaths from stroke and heart disease linked to 55+ hours a week |
745,194 |
Pega et al., 2021 |
| Of these, deaths from stroke |
about 398,000 |
WHO, 17 May 2021 |
| Of these, deaths from heart disease |
about 347,000 |
WHO, 17 May 2021 |
| Rise in these deaths since 2000 |
29% |
WHO, 17 May 2021 |
| People working 55+ hours a week |
488 million (8.9% of the world) |
Pega et al., 2021 |
| Years of healthy life lost |
23.3 million |
Pega et al., 2021 |
These deaths were 4.9% of all deaths from stroke and heart disease in 2016. WHO says long hours now cause about one third of all work-related disease. No other risk at work is bigger.
Evidence: established. It rests on 59 studies and more than 2,300 surveys from 154 countries. It is still an estimate. The real number for 2016 is likely between 705,786 and 784,601.
Who is most at risk?
Men carried most of the burden. They were 72% of the deaths.
The harm often shows up years later. Most people died aged 60 to 79. They had worked 55 hours or more a week between the ages of 45 and 74.
Where you live matters too. The study used WHO's world regions.
| Region (WHO) |
What the study found for 2016 |
Source |
| South-East Asia (includes India) |
Most stroke deaths (158,987) and most heart disease deaths (159,832). Highest share of people working long hours: 11.7%. |
Pega et al., 2021 |
| Western Pacific (includes China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia) |
Biggest rise in long working hours since 2000. A higher burden than most regions. |
Pega et al., 2021 |
| Europe |
Lowest share of people working long hours: 3.5%. |
Pega et al., 2021 |
| Africa |
Fewest heart disease deaths (16,942). |
Pega et al., 2021 |
| Americas |
Fewest stroke deaths (18,285). |
Pega et al., 2021 |
These are numbers for whole populations. They cannot tell you your own risk. A doctor can help with that.
Why can long working hours harm your heart?
Think of your body like a car engine. It can run fast for a short time. If it runs fast all day, every day, parts wear out.
The study describes two main ways long hours may cause harm:
- Stress hormones. Long hours keep your body in "stress mode". Over time, stress hormones can harm your heart and blood vessels.
- Less time to look after yourself. Long days can mean poor sleep, fast food and no exercise. Some people smoke or drink more to cope.
WHO compared people working 55 hours or more with people working 35 to 40 hours. The longer week was linked to a 35% higher risk of stroke. It was also linked to a 17% higher risk of dying from heart disease.
Evidence: established. Two large reviews found this link: one for stroke and one for heart disease.
"No job is worth the risk of stroke or heart disease," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in the 2021 release.
Which countries have a word for death from overwork?
Four places in East Asia have a word for it. Each one also has official rules for when a death counts as caused by work.
| Place |
Word |
What the rules say |
Source |
| Japan |
過労死 karōshi |
Defined in law since 2014. Covers death from stroke or heart disease caused by overwork, and suicide linked to a mental illness from heavy work stress. |
e-Gov, Act No. 100 of 2014 |
| South Korea |
과로사 gwarosa |
No separate law. Labour ministry rules: more than 60 hours a week on average for the 12 weeks before an illness shows a strong link to work. |
MOEL Notice 2026-14 |
| Mainland China |
过劳死 guolaosi |
No legal definition. A sudden death from illness at work, or within 48 hours after emergency treatment fails, can count as a work injury. |
Work-Related Injury Insurance Regulation |
| Taiwan |
過勞死 guolaosi |
Ministry of Labor guideline: more than 100 hours of overtime in the month before an illness shows a very strong link to work. |
MOL guideline, 2018 |
Read the full guides: karōshi in Japan, gwarosa in South Korea, guolaosi and 996 in China and guolaosi in Taiwan.
Most other countries have no special word. But overwork can still count as a cause of illness or death at work. Our warning signs and rights guide explains where to start.
Is overwork linked to suicide?
This is a hard question. We will answer it with care.
Japan's law on karōshi also counts suicide linked to a mental illness caused by heavy work stress. Japan calls this karōjisatsu (過労自殺).
Suicide is never caused by work alone. WHO says the reasons are "multi-faceted". Health, money, relationships, loss and work can all add up together.
Most people with heavy work stress do not become suicidal. And help works. If work is crushing you, a doctor, a counsellor or a helpline can help you find a way through. The free lines at the top of this page are a good place to start.
What can you do if you are worried?
- If you feel chest pain, or your face or arm suddenly goes weak, call your emergency number now. Do not wait for the end of your shift.
- See a doctor if you are always tired, sleep badly, or have new headaches or chest tightness. Tell them how many hours you work.
- Write down your hours every day. This record can protect you, and your family, later.
- Talk to someone. A union, a labour office or a helpline can explain your rights for free.
Our guide to warning signs and your rights has the details, with official links for many countries.
If someone you love died after years of long hours
We are so sorry. A sudden death can leave you shocked, angry and full of questions.
You may be able to ask for workers' compensation. This is money paid when a death is caused by work. Each country guide above explains the rules and the time limits.
You do not have to do it alone. Labour offices, lawyers' groups and families who went through the same loss can help. Please take one small step at a time.
