Geneva, November 15, 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) released its Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 today, offering a comprehensive assessment of the ongoing fight against tuberculosis (TB). The disease continues to rank among the top 10 causes of death worldwide and stands as the leading cause of mortality from a single infectious agent. In 2024, TB affected an estimated 10.7 million people globally and claimed over 1.2 million lives.
The report documents measurable progress since 2015, including a 12% net reduction in global TB incidence and a 29% decline in TB deaths. Between 2023 and 2024, incidence fell by nearly 2% and deaths by 3%, indicating a steady recovery of TB services disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated:
“Declines in the global burden of TB, and progress in testing, treatment, social protection and research are all welcome news after years of setbacks, but progress is not victory. The fact that TB continues to claim over a million lives each year, despite being preventable and curable, is simply unconscionable. WHO is working with countries to build on the progress they have made and accelerate the path to ending TB by 2030.”
Global TB Burden Remains Heavily Concentrated
In 2024, 87% of all TB cases occurred in just 30 high-burden countries. Eight countries alone accounted for 67% of the global total:
- India: 25%
- Indonesia: 10%
- Philippines: 6.8%
- China: 6.5%
- Pakistan: 6.3%
- Nigeria: 4.8%
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: 3.9%
- Bangladesh: 3.6%
Regional achievements vary widely. From 2015 to 2024, the WHO African Region recorded a 28% reduction in TB incidence and a 46% drop in deaths. The European Region achieved steeper declines: 39% in incidence and 49% in mortality. More than 100 countries reduced incidence by at least 20%, while 65 countries cut TB deaths by 35% or more, reaching initial milestones of the WHO End TB Strategy.
India Achieves Double the Global Decline Rate
India has recorded one of the fastest TB incidence reductions worldwide, dropping from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024—a 21% annual decline compared to the global 12%.
Key milestones reported by the Union Health Ministry include:
- TB mortality fell from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 21 per lakh in 2024.
- Treatment coverage rose from 53% in 2015 to over 92% in 2024 through innovative case-finding, rapid adoption of molecular diagnostics, service decentralization, and community mobilization.
- In 2024, 26.18 lakh patients were diagnosed against an estimated 27 lakh cases, leaving fewer than 1 lakh missing cases—down from 15 lakh in 2015.
- No significant rise occurred in multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB cases; India accounts for 32% of the global MDR-TB burden.
- Treatment success rate under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan reached 90%, exceeding the global average of 88%.
The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched in December 2024, screened over 19 crore vulnerable individuals, detecting 24.5 lakh TB patients, including 8.61 lakh asymptomatic cases.
Despite progress, India’s 2024 incidence of 187 per lakh remains distant from the national elimination target of 44 cases per 100,000 population by 2025—an 80% reduction goal.
What Is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is a contagious airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is preventable and curable.
Types of TB
- Pulmonary TB: Affects the lungs; highly contagious via airborne droplets from coughing, sneezing, or speaking.
- Extrapulmonary TB: Involves organs such as lymph nodes, bones, brain, kidneys, or pleura; less contagious and spreads internally from lung infections.
Standard Treatment
Drug-susceptible TB requires a six-month course of four antibiotics: rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol.
Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB)
MDR-TB resists rifampicin and isoniazid, the two most effective first-line drugs. It poses a public health crisis and security threat, demanding longer and costlier regimens.
Global Progress in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
In 2024:
- 8.3 million people were newly diagnosed and treated, covering 78% of estimated cases.
- Rapid molecular testing coverage increased from 48% (2023) to 54% (2024).
- Drug-susceptible TB treatment success rate held at 88%.
- 164,000 drug-resistant TB patients received treatment; success rate rose to 71% from 68%.
- 5.3 million high-risk individuals received preventive treatment, up from 4.7 million in 2023.
Since 2000, timely treatment has saved an estimated 83 million lives.
Social Protection and Underlying Risk Factors
The 2025 report introduces social protection coverage data for 30 high-burden countries, sourced from the International Labour Organization. Coverage ranges from 94% in Mongolia to 3.1% in Uganda, with 19 countries below 50%.
Key drivers of TB include undernutrition, HIV, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use. Poverty and structural inequities necessitate multisectoral interventions.
Critical Funding Gaps Endanger Gains
Global TB funding stalled at US$5.9 billion in 2024—only 27% of the US$22 billion annual target for 2027. Research funding reached US$1.2 billion in 2023, meeting 24% of needs.
Projected donor funding cuts from 2025 could add 2 million deaths and 10 million new cases by 2035.
Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme, warned:
“We are at a defining moment in the fight against TB. Funding cuts and persistent drivers of the epidemic threaten to undo hard-won gains, but with political commitment, sustained investment, and global solidarity, we can turn the tide and end this ancient killer once and for all.”
Innovation Pipeline Expands Despite Constraints
- 63 diagnostic tests in development
- 29 drugs in clinical trials (up from 8 in 2015)
- 18 vaccine candidates in trials, including 6 in Phase 3
WHO drives vaccine advancement through the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council.
Report Data: Comprehensive and Representative
Data from 184 of 215 countries and areas cover over 99% of the world’s population and TB cases, ensuring a reliable global overview of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment trends.
Path to Ending TB by 2030
The End TB Strategy targets:
- 90% reduction in TB deaths
- 80% reduction in TB incidence
- Zero catastrophic costs for affected families
Current trajectories fall short. Accelerated efforts are essential in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, which together represent over 40% of global cases.
WHO urges:
- Sustained high-level political commitment
- Increased domestic TB funding
- Safeguarding international donor support
- Faster research into new diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines
- Multisectoral action on poverty and comorbidities
Conclusion: Progress at a Crossroads
The Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 highlights India’s leadership—21% annual incidence decline, 92% treatment coverage, and 90% success rate under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan—proving large-scale impact is achievable through innovation and outreach.
Yet global gains remain fragile. With funding at one-quarter of targets, MDR-TB unchecked, and social drivers unaddressed, the world risks reversing a decade of progress.
Ending TB by 2030 demands immediate, unified action.
FAQs
1. What is the key highlight of the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 for India?
India achieved a 21% annual decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2024 (from 237 to 187 cases per lakh population), nearly double the global decline rate of 12%. Treatment coverage rose to over 92%, and the treatment success rate under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan reached 90%.
2. How many people were affected by TB globally in 2024?
An estimated 10.7 million people developed TB worldwide in 2024, and over 1.2 million died from the disease. TB remains among the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause from a single infectious agent.
3. What is Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB), and why is it a concern?
MDR-TB is a form of tuberculosis that does not respond to rifampicin and isoniazid, the two most effective first-line drugs. It remains a public health crisis and security threat, requiring longer, costlier treatment. India accounts for 32% of global MDR-TB cases, with no significant increase reported.
4. How much funding is available for TB globally, and is it enough?
In 2024, only US$5.9 billion was available for TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment—just over a quarter of the US$22 billion annual target for 2027. Research funding in 2023 was US$1.2 billion, meeting only 24% of needs. Cuts from 2025 could add 2 million deaths and 10 million cases by 2035.
5. What is the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, and what has it achieved?
Launched in December 2024, this flagship mission screened over 19 crore vulnerable individuals, detecting 24.5 lakh TB patients, including 8.61 lakh asymptomatic cases. It helped reduce missing cases from 15 lakh in 2015 to under 1 lakh in 2024 and boosted treatment success to 90%.
