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What is World Heart Day?
World Heart Day is observed every September 29 and led by the World Heart Federation in partnership with the WHO. It raises awareness of cardiovascular disease — the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for around 17.9 million deaths each year.
Why September 29?
World Heart Day was launched in 2000 by the World Heart Federation, with its then-president Antoni Bayés de Luna proposing a global day to confront the rising burden of cardiovascular disease. It was originally observed on the last Sunday in September, then fixed to September 29 from 2011 onwards to give the campaign a consistent annual date.
Upcoming dates
World Heart Day falls on September 29 every year. The next five occurrences:
| Year | Date | Day of week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | September 29, 2026 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | September 29, 2027 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | September 29, 2028 | Friday |
| 2029 | September 29, 2029 | Saturday |
| 2030 | September 29, 2030 | Sunday |
Cardiovascular disease by the numbers
From the WHO Cardiovascular Diseases fact sheet and the WHF Global Heart and Circulatory Diseases Factsheet:
- 17.9 million deaths from CVD in 2019 — 32% of all global deaths.
- 85% of CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes.
- Over 75% of CVD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- An estimated 523 million people worldwide are living with cardiovascular disease.
- CVD is responsible for around one-third of all deaths in people under 70.
Recent themes
| Year | Theme |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Use Heart for Action |
| 2023 | Use Heart, Know Heart |
| 2022 | Use Heart for Every Heart |
| 2021 | Use Heart to Connect |
| 2020 | Use Heart to Beat Cardiovascular Disease |
Sources & references
- World Heart Federation — World Heart Day.
- WHO — Cardiovascular diseases fact sheet — source of global mortality figures.
- WHF World Heart Report 2023.
FAQs
World Heart Day is led by the World Heart Federation (WHF), a Geneva-based non-governmental organisation, in official partnership with the World Health Organization. The WHF represents more than 200 cardiology societies and heart foundations in over 100 countries.
The first World Heart Day was held on September 24, 2000. It was originally on the last Sunday of September, then fixed on September 29 from 2011 onwards. World Heart Day was created by then-WHF president Antoni Bayés de Luna.
September 29 is symbolic rather than commemorative — it was selected when the WHF moved the day off its original "last Sunday of September" rotation in 2011 to give the campaign a consistent annual date. There is no specific historical event tied to September 29.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the world's leading cause of death. WHO estimates 17.9 million people died from CVD in 2019, accounting for 32% of all global deaths. Around 85% of those deaths were from heart attacks and strokes; over 75% occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
WHF sets a multi-year umbrella theme with annual variations. The 2024 theme was Use Heart for Action. Past themes include Use Heart, Know Heart (2023) and Use Heart for Every Heart (2022). The current campaign is published at world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-day.
No. World Heart Day is an awareness day, not a public holiday. Many hospitals, cardiology societies and workplaces run free screening events, walks and educational sessions to mark it.