Despite these figures, the data represent a measure of progress against the world’s leading infectious disease killer, which is caused by bacteria primarily affecting the lungs.
The 1.13 million deaths recorded in 2025 represent a 4 percent reduction from 2024 and a 35 percent decline since 2015. While this mortality milestone aligns with the WHO’s End TB Strategy, the organization noted it was achieved five years behind the original schedule. Between 2015 and 2025, the global TB incidence rate—defined as new cases per 100,000 population—declined by 14 percent, falling short of the 50 percent reduction milestone targeted for 2025.
“The continued decline in TB cases and deaths is very encouraging, especially given the challenges many countries have faced from funding cuts,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Progress is being made in tackling tuberculosis (TB). But it's far too slow. The TB incidence rate has fallen by just 14% since 2015, far short of the 50% reduction milestone for 2025. TB deaths have fallen by 35% over the same period, reaching the first mortality milestone in… pic.twitter.com/ydaeBQy0So
“Innovation alone will not end TB,” Tereza Kasaeva, MD, PhD, director of WHO's Department for HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections, said at a press briefing.
Many governments have dug deeper into their own budgets to protect the gains they have made. And yet, more than one million people still die each year from a disease that is preventable and treatable. Dr Tedros
Financial instability has impacted the global response. However, research investment remains insufficient, standing at US$ 1.2 billion in 2023, which is less than one-quarter of the US$ 5 billion annual target set for 2027.
Progress in reducing TB incidence has been uneven across different regions. Between 2015 and 2025, incidence fell by 42 percent in the WHO European Region and 30 percent in the African Region. In contrast, South-East Asia recorded an 18 percent decline, the Eastern Mediterranean saw a 6.6 percent reduction, and the Western Pacific recorded no net change. The global burden is heavily concentrated in 30 countries, which accounted for 88 percent of all people who developed TB in 2025.
Major gaps in diagnosis remain. Of the 10.6 million people who developed the disease in 2025, only 8.4 million were diagnosed, leaving 2.2 million people undiagnosed or unreported.
“This represents a major advance in expanding access to more effective, people-friendly treatments that can help more people recover while reducing the burden of care on individuals and health systems,” TB Alliance said regarding the fact that an estimated 370,000 people developed rifampicin-resistant TB in 2025, with only 42 percent receiving treatment.
Tuberculosis (TB) that doesn’t respond to standard drugs is called drug-resistant TB and emerges when TB medicines are used inappropriately. In 2025, drug-resistant TB remained a public health crisis, with 370 000 people developing it just last year. pic.twitter.com/vsHvDzBczO
The Union Health Ministry reported that the country’s estimated mortality rate dropped from 280 deaths per million in 2015 to 180 per million in 2025.
The WHO report highlights a pipeline of new diagnostics, treatments, and vaccine candidates. Among the innovations is a new near point-of-care molecular test that detects TB from tongue swabs, designed to assist populations like babies and the elderly who may struggle with sputum production.
Charlie Weller, Head of Vaccines at Wellcome, emphasized that while progress in country investment is promising, more financing is required to reach global targets and ensure equitable access to interventions.
The WHO has called for stronger political commitment and sustainable financing to accelerate the end of the epidemic. Individuals seeking information regarding TB symptoms, screening, or treatment should consult with qualified healthcare professionals or their local public health authorities for guidance tailored to their specific health needs.
The top eight countries contributed 67 percent of the worldwide caseload in 2025:
| Country | Share of Global TB Cases |
|---|---|
| India | 25 percent |
| Indonesia | 10 percent |
| Philippines | 6.8 percent |
| China | 6.5 percent |
| Pakistan | 6.4 percent |
| Nigeria | 4.9 percent |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 3.9 percent |
| Bangladesh | 3.7 percent |