Global Tuberculosis Cases Reach 10.6 Million in 2025, WHO Reports

In 2025, around 10.6 million people worldwide developed tuberculosis (TB), according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The organization also reported that 1.1 million people died from the disease that year, despite ongoing global efforts to combat it.

The WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2026, released recently, noted a 35 percent decline in TB deaths since 2015. However, TB continues to be the leading cause of death from a single infectious disease.

The report highlighted that about 2.2 million of those who developed TB in 2025 were either not diagnosed or not reported. Only 8.4 million cases were officially diagnosed. The global rate of new TB cases decreased by just 14 percent from 2015 to 2025, falling short of the WHO’s goal of a 50 percent reduction.

While there has been progress, such as saving an estimated 86 million lives through treatment since 2000, the burden of the disease is still concentrated in 30 countries, which accounted for 88 percent of all cases in 2025. Africa saw a 30 percent decline in TB cases, while Europe achieved a 42 percent reduction. In contrast, the Americas experienced a 13 percent increase in TB cases.

WHO also pointed out significant gaps in diagnosis, with only 59 percent of newly diagnosed patients receiving rapid tests recommended by the organization. Drug-resistant TB remains a serious issue, with around 370,000 people developing a resistant form of the disease in 2025, but only 42 percent of them received treatment.

Funding for TB programs has seen a rise, with domestic investment increasing by 14 percent to about $5.6 billion. However, research funding is still lacking, standing at just $1.2 billion in 2023, far below the $5 billion annual target set for 2027.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, described the decrease in cases and deaths as a positive sign, even as funding cuts have impacted many countries. He urged governments to enhance access to TB services and to safeguard essential funding for ongoing efforts to combat the disease.