The diseases afflicting the African population are responsible for a substantial loss in health, estimated at 704 765 879 DALYs in 2015 alone. In the WHO African Region, total losses amounted to 629 603 271 DALYs. Out of that total, 416 671 978 DALYs (59.1 %) were from communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions; 216 073 399 DALYs (30.7 %) were from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and 71 551 401 DALYs (10.2 %) were from injuries. Five countries (the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania) accounted for almost 50% of the total DALYs accrued in the Region.