This publication presents the highlights of the World Mortality 2019 report. It summarizes the patterns, levels and trends in mortality drawn from the latest demographic estimates and projections for the world and regions, and for the 201 countries and areas with 90,000 inhabitants or more in 2019, as published in the World Population Prospects 2019. It assesses the extent of improvements in survival over the 25 years that have passed since the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and monitors progress towards the achievement of the related goals and targets of the Programme of Action and its contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.