May 15, 2025
The WHO released its World Health Report 2025 on May 15, 2025. According to the WHO:
“An estimated 1.4 billion more people were living healthier by the end of 2024, surpassing the 1 billion target. The progress in healthier lives was driven by reduction in tobacco use, improved air quality and better access to water, hygiene, and sanitation. But progress towards increased coverage of essential health services and protection from emergencies lagged; only 431 million more people gained access to essential health services without financial hardship, and close to 637 million more people were better protected from health emergencies.
“Maternal and child deaths are not falling fast enough to reach global targets. Progress has stalled, putting millions of lives at risk. This slowdown follows two decades of remarkable gains: between 2000 and 2023, maternal deaths dropped by over 40% and child deaths under 5 years of age more than halved. But underinvestment in primary health care, shortages of skilled health workers, and gaps in services like immunization and safe childbirth are now holding countries back.”
The WHO also noted:
“Premature deaths from NCDs [Non Communicable Diseases]—such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer—are rising, driven by population growth and aging, and now account for most deaths among people under the age of 70, worldwide. The world is currently off track to reduce NCD premature mortality by one-third by 2030. Progress has been possible where governments and civil society have committed to action: tobacco use is declining, and global alcohol consumption dropped from 5.7 to 5.0 litres per capita between 2010 and 2022. Air pollution remains one of the top causes of preventable death worldwide. The impact of poor mental health continues to hold back progress.
“Recovery in essential health services remains incomplete. A shortfall of 11.1 million health workers is still projected by 2030, with nearly 70% of the gap concentrated in the WHO African and Eastern Mediterranean regions.”
The full report, World health statistics 2025: monitoring health for the SDGs, sustainable development goals, can be downloaded in full for free from the WHO website.
World Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems and policies in the US and sixteen other OECD member nations.
Page last updated May 15, 2025 by Doug McVay, Editor.