Volunteers paint red hearts representing the victims who died of COVID-19 on the National COVID Memorial Wall outside St Thomas' Hospital in London, Britain, on March 31, 2021.(Photo: Xinhua)

The global COVID-19 death toll reached the 5-million milestone on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The United States remains the worst-hit country with about 46 million cases and about 746,000 deaths, accounting for more than 18 percent of the global caseload and nearly 15 percent of the global death toll.

Brazil recorded the world's second highest death toll, at about 608,000, followed by India with about 458,000 deaths.

Countries with over 130,000 fatalities also include Mexico, Russia, Peru, Britain and Italy, according to the university.

Global COVID-19 deaths topped 1 million on Sept. 28, 2020, hit 2 million on Jan. 15, 2021, exceeded 3 million on April 17, and crossed 4 million on July 7.