The "Global Atlas on Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Diseases" is the second atlas on the worldwide epidemic of cardiovascular diseases published by the World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases lead the noncommunicable diseases epidemic contributing to nearly one third of global deaths; 17.3 million deaths a year. The 2011 atlas has been compiled mainly using publications and databases produced and maintained by the World Health Organization. The "Atlas" contains chapters on death and disability, behavioral and metabolic risk factors and determinants, evidence-based interventions for prevention and control, primary health care, inequities, implementation gaps, policies, strategies, Best Buys, health in all policies and monitoring in relation to cardiovascular diseases. The striking differences in death, disability and trends in cardiovascular diseases between high income countries and low and middle income countries described in this volume are largely related to the differences in public policies within as well as outside the health sector, the availability of financial resources for health, prevention and early detection practices, capacity of the health workforce accessibility to diagnosis and treatment and primary care services. The "Atlas" also provides a baseline for monitoring of trends and for assessing progress made by countries in addressing the cardiovascular epidemic.