Malignant tumors, strokes, lung disease and diabetes mellitus, among other ailments that in 2012 caused 38 million deaths in the world, will remain as the primary cause of death, the document says.
Despite the total number of deaths, almost half occurs prematurely before the age of 70, the study adds.
"The economic consequences and social costs caused by the consumption of tobacco or alcohol, overweight or lack of regular physical activity are huge said the director of WHO, Margaret Chan, during the presentation of the report.
"Meanwhile -she added- a small investment of one or three dollars per person annually, could prevent millions of deaths".
Non-communicable diseases have great economic and social impact, particularly in low-income countries, and its consequences could jeopardize the attainment of the international development goals if appropriate measures are not taken, says the UN agency.
In 2013, WHO established a mechanism to reduce by 25 percent the total number of premature deaths caused by non-communicable diseases before 2025.
To do so, an action plan with measures to reduce alcohol consumption, salt intake in prepared foods, smoking over the age of 15 or increase of obesity and hypertension was defined. However, progress is slow.
