Lifestyle-related illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and thyroid disorders have increased significantly in India over the past decade, while infectious diseases have declined, according to the latest nationwide health survey by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The survey found that nearly half of the population now reports cardiovascular and metabolic ailments, compared with 31% a decade ago.

In 2025, around 25.6% of respondents said they suffered from cardiovascular conditions, up from 16.7% during the 2017-18 survey period.

Similarly, 24.2% reported metabolic and endocrine disorders in the 15 days before the survey, compared with 15% in the previous round. These non-communicable diseases were found to be especially common among people aged above 45, suggesting a growing lifestyle-related health burden.

At the same time, infectious diseases such as fever, jaundice and diarrhoea showed a decline. About 15% of people reported infections in 2025, down from 32% in 2017-18. However, infections still accounted for more than half of reported illnesses among children aged up to 14 years.

The survey, which covered nearly 1.4 lakh households across India, also showed a rise in overall illness levels. Around 13.1% of Indians said they had been ill in the previous 15 days, compared with 7.5% in the last survey.

Women reported higher illness rates than men, with 14.4% of women saying they were unwell, compared with 11.8% of men.

Health problems were also more common among older people. Among those aged 60 and above, 43.9% reported illness in the last 15 days, up from 27.7% in 2017-18. In the 45-59 age group, the figure rose to 22.5% from 11.4%.

Hospitalisation rates remained moderate at 2.9 cases per 100 persons annually. Urban areas recorded a slightly higher rate of 3.2%, compared with 2.7% in rural areas.

However, treatment costs have increased sharply. The average out-of-pocket expenditure per hospitalisation rose to Rs 34,064, compared with Rs 20,135 in 2017-18.

The survey also highlighted a major expansion in government-sponsored health insurance coverage. In rural India, coverage increased to 47% from 14%, while in urban areas it rose to 44% from 19% during the same period.