Global health progress uneven and facing reversals, WHO report finds
The Story
The World Health Statistics 2026 report, published by the World Health Organization, finds that while global health has improved over the past decade, progress is uneven, slowing, and in some areas reversing. The world remains off track to achieve any of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Notable gains include a 40% drop in new HIV infections between 2010 and 2024, declines in tobacco use and alcohol consumption, and a 36% reduction in people needing interventions for neglected tropical diseases. However, malaria incidence has increased by 8.5% since 2015, anemia affects 30.7% of women of reproductive age with no improvement, and intimate partner violence affects 1 in 4 women globally. The COVID-19 pandemic is linked to an estimated 22.1 million excess deaths between 2020 and 2023, more than three times the official COVID-19 death count. WHO officials emphasized the need for stronger health systems, prevention, improved data collection, and sustainable financing to address persistent inequalities and health threats.
Key Facts
- New HIV infections fell by 40% between 2010 and 2024.
- Tobacco use and alcohol consumption have declined since 2010.
- Number of people needing interventions for neglected tropical diseases dropped by 36% between 2010 and 2024.
- Between 2015 and 2024, 961 million people gained access to safely managed drinking water, 1.2 billion to sanitation, 1.6 billion to basic hygiene, and 1.4 billion to clean cooking solutions.
- The WHO African Region achieved faster-than-global reductions in HIV (-70%) and tuberculosis (-28%).
- Malaria incidence increased by 8.5% since 2015.
- Anaemia affects 30.7% of women of reproductive age, with no improvement over the past decade.
- Prevalence of overweight among children under five reached 5.5% in 2024.
- Intimate partner violence affects 1 in 4 women globally.
- The service coverage index rose only slightly from 68 to 71 between 2015 and 2023.
- 1.6 billion people faced financial hardship from health costs in 2022.
- Global maternal mortality fell by 40% since 2000 but remains nearly three times higher than the 2030 target.
- Under-five mortality declined by 51%, yet many countries are off track.
- Air pollution contributed to an estimated 6.6 million deaths in 2021; inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene contributed to 1.4 million deaths in 2019.
- The COVID-19 pandemic was linked to an estimated 22.1 million excess deaths between 2020 and 2023.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
- Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems, Access and Data
- Dr Alain Labrique, Director for the Department of Data, Digital Health, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
Sources: World Health Organization
