Tuberculosis remains a global health threat, despite recent progress. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 shows that TB continues to be one of the deadliest infectious diseases, claiming over 1.2 million lives and affecting 10.7 million people last year. Advances in diagnosis, treatment, and innovation have been offset by persistent challenges in funding and access to care.
The report notes a modest decline in the global TB incidence rate—nearly 2 % between 2023 and 2024—and a 3 % reduction in TB deaths during the same period. This improvement is largely attributed to the recovery of essential health services after the disruptions caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic. Some regions, such as the WHO African Region, have achieved notable gains, with a 28 % drop in TB incidence and a 46 % decline in deaths between 2015 and 2024. Nonetheless, ending TB worldwide will require accelerated progress in the highest‑burden countries. In 2024, 87 % of all new TB cases occurred in just 30 countries, and eight of those accounted for 67 % of the global total.
Significant advances have been made in TB diagnosis and treatment: 8.3 million people were newly diagnosed and began treatment in 2024, representing about 78 % of those who fell ill. The report emphasizes the importance of social protection and multisectoral action to address drivers of the epidemic, including undernutrition, HIV infection, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use. Yet 19 countries report social‑protection coverage rates below 50 %.
Funding gaps remain a major obstacle. Global financing for TB has stagnated since 2020, and international donor contributions are expected to decline from 2025 onward. WHO calls for sustained political commitment, increased domestic investment, and intensified research to accelerate progress. As Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the WHO Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs, stated, “We are at a defining moment in the fight against TB… with political commitment, sustained investment, and global solidarity, we can turn the tide and end this ancient killer once and for all.” Achieving the goal of ending TB by 2030 will require collective effort and dedication from governments, healthcare professionals, and the global community.
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