WHO reports 1.1 million TB deaths in 2025, a 35% drop since 2015

The World Health Organization's Global Tuberculosis Report 2026, released on November 12, estimates that 10.6 million people contracted tuberculosis (TB) and 1.1 million died from the disease in 2025. The report notes a 35% decline in TB deaths since 2015, reaching the first mortality milestone of the WHO End TB Strategy, though the target year was missed.

Men accounted for about 54% of the 2025 cases, women 35%, and children 11%. Of the estimated 10.6 million cases, 8.4 million were diagnosed, leaving roughly 2.2 million undiagnosed or unreported. Only 59% of newly diagnosed patients received WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic tests, short of the 100% target set for 2027.

Drug-resistant TB remains a challenge: of the 370,000 estimated rifampicin-resistant cases, just 42% received treatment. However, the uptake of the WHO-recommended six-month regimen rose from 18% in 2024 to 42% in 2025.

Domestic funding for TB increased by 14% to $5.6 billion between 2024 and 2025, partially offsetting a similar decline in international financing. Despite progress, TB incidence fell only 14% since 2015, well below the 50% reduction goal for 2025, and the disease remains concentrated in 30 countries that account for 88% of global cases.

Research investment remains low, with $1.2 billion allocated in 2023—less than a quarter of the $5 billion annual target for 2027—highlighting the need for greater funding to develop new vaccines, diagnostics and treatments.