GENEVA — After setback due to COVID, global burden of tuberculosis is declining once again, but five years behind original target, according to 2026 World TB Report released by WHO Thursday.
Key numbers for 2025:
- 10.6 million people developed TB, virtually flat vs 10.8m in 2024, and 1.13 million died, down 4% from 1.18m in 2024. WHO says treatment saved estimated 86 million lives since 2000.
- Incidence rate 129 new cases per 100,000 people, 1.6% decline from 131 in 2024.
- In decade 2015-2025, TB incidence fell by 14% vs 50% target for 2025 and 80% by 2030. Deaths fell by 35% vs 75% target for 2025, but 35% drop means world finally achieved first mortality milestone of WHO End TB Strategy, originally for 2020 — five years late.
- TB remains leading cause of death from single infectious agent. Burden concentrated: 30 high-burden countries accounted for 88% of cases. India 25% of total.
- Regional: Between 2015-2025 incidence declined 42% in European Region, 30% in African Region, 18% SE Asia, 6.6% Eastern Mediterranean, 0% Western Pacific. Americas rose fifth consecutive year, +13% vs 2015.
- India: 38% reduction in mortality since 2015, ahead of global avg, but far from 2025 elimination goal it set.
Diagnosis gap: Of 10.6m estimated cases, only 8.4m detected, leaving 2.2m undiagnosed or unreported. Only 59% of newly diagnosed got WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic test vs 100% target for 2027. 390k MDR/RR-TB cases.
Funding crisis:
- Total funding for prevention, diagnosis, treatment in LMICs reached $6.6bn in 2025, just 30% of $22bn annual target for 2027. Domestic funding increased 14% from 2024 to $5.6bn, offsetting similar 14% decline in international donor financing to $0.94bn.
- Research funding $1.2bn in 2023, less than quarter of $5bn target. 12 vaccine candidates in clinical development, 3 in Phase 3.
WHO DG Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “The continued decline in TB cases and deaths is very encouraging, especially given the challenges many countries have faced from funding cuts.”
Director Tereza Kasaeva: Innovation alone will not end TB, warning external shock from donor cut could cause further setbacks. Progress described as year of stability or small improvements after 2020-2024 pandemic disruption.
Report compiled from 187 countries covering >99% global cases and population.
Tags: #Tuberculosis #WHO #GlobalTBReport2026 #EndTB #PublicHealth