An estimated 10.6 million people developed tuberculosis worldwide in 2025, and 1.1 million died from it, according to the World Health Organization’s 2026 Global Tuberculosis Report, released on November 12. Both figures continued to decline, but the report warned that falling international funding, gaps in diagnosis and uneven regional progress remain challenges.

Global tuberculosis deaths have fallen 35% since 2015, and timely treatment has saved an estimated 86 million lives since 2000. Progress on incidence has been slower: the global tuberculosis incidence rate has fallen 14% since 2015, far short of the target of a 50% reduction by 2025. Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, the report said.

The burden is concentrated in 30 countries, which accounted for 88% of new tuberculosis cases in 2025. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the continued decline in cases and deaths encouraging, while noting that more than one million people still die each year from a preventable and treatable disease. He urged countries and partners to expand access to tuberculosis services, secure funding and accelerate the development of new tools.

Source: m.thepaper.cn (originally published 2026-11-13 14:35 UTC+8)