The World Health Organization released its World Health Statistics Report 2026 on May 13, 2026. According to the WHO news release (“Global health gains face threat of reversal,” WHO, May 13, 2026):

“The notable progress outlined in the report includes:
“- new HIV infections fell by 40% between 2010 and 2024;
“- both tobacco use and alcohol consumption have declined since 2010; and
“- the number of people needing interventions for neglected tropical diseases has dropped by 36% between 2010 and 2024.”

Though progress has been made in advancing health, challenges still remain. According to the release:

“Progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) has slowed sharply. The global UHC service coverage index rose only slightly from 68 to 71 between 2015 and 2023. One quarter of the global population faced financial hardship from health costs, and 1.6 billion people were living in or pushed into poverty due to out-of-pocket health spending in 2022. At the same time, childhood vaccination coverage remains below target, with immunity gaps contributing to outbreaks.

“Although global maternal mortality has fallen by 40% since 2000, it remains nearly three times higher than the 2030 target. Under-five mortality has declined by 51%, yet many countries are off track. Progress in reducing premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases has slowed significantly since 2015.

“Many drivers of ill health – nutritional, behavioural and environmental risks – are not improving fast enough. Air pollution contributed to an estimated 6.6 million deaths worldwide in 2021, while inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene contributed to 1.4 million deaths in 2019.”

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World health statistics 2026: monitoring health for the SDGs, sustainable development goals
Tables of health statistics by country and area, WHO region and globally

Breaking News

• World Health Statistics Report 2026 Released May 15, 2026
  The World Health Organization released its World Health Statistics Report 2026 on May 13, 2026. According to the WHO news release (“Global health gains face threat of reversal,” WHO, May 13, 2026): “The notable progress outlined in the report includes:“- new HIV infections fell by 40% between 2010 and 2024;“- both tobacco use and alcohol consumption ...
• Surprise Medical Billing Law Creates Windfall For Medical Practices, Physicians April 23, 2026
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• One Third of Americans Forced to Make Cut Backs to Pay for Healthcare March 12, 2026
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• US Health Care Spending Rose More Than 7 Percent In 2024 January 29, 2026
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• Tracking Universal Health Coverage December 6, 2025
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• New from OECD: Health At A Glance 2025 December 6, 2025
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• Impact of Urban Hospital Closures in the US October 17, 2025
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• European Health Forum Gastein 2025 September 30-October 3 September 9, 2025
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• Medicare, Prior Authorization, and a Six-State Trial of AI September 8, 2025
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• WHO Releases World Health Report 2025 May 15, 2025
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• WHO: Nursing workforce grows but disparities in access persist May 15, 2025
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• WHO: Health inequities are shortening lives by decades May 15, 2025
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• Medical Debt in Collections in the US May 1, 2025
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• Healthcare in the US Compared to Other High-Income Countries May 1, 2025
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• Gallup: 11% of US Adults Unable to Afford or Access Quality Healthcare April 2, 2025
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• Healthcare Policies in US States: The Washington Cares Fund March 6, 2025
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• US Healthcare Spending Hits $4.9 Trillion December 18, 2024
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• Support Grows for Government-Run Health System December 9, 2024
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• Nearly One Fourth of Working Age Adults Underinsured, New Report Shows November 22, 2024
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• World Health Systems Facts is @HealthSystemsFacts.bsky.social November 14, 2024
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• Nonprofit Hospitals and Charity Care November 7, 2024
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• Commonwealth Fund Releases Newest Installment of its Mirror Mirror Series of National Health System Comparisons September 21, 2024
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• Baker Institute Report Examines Hospital Prices, Costs, and Profits September 11, 2024
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• Healthcare in the US Becoming Less Affordable July 23, 2024
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• NY Times Investigative Series on Pharmacy Benefit Managers and High Prescription Drug Costs June 21, 2024
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• Journalism Organizations Plan Webinar Series on Business of Healthcare February 14, 2024
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• US Healthcare Spending in 2022: $4.5 Trillion January 2, 2024
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• Baker Institute: More Texans Insured Thanks To The ACA November 23, 2023
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• Update: Medicare Drug Price Negotiations Moving Forward October 19, 2023
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• Medicare Open Enrollment Season Runs October 15 – December 7 October 15, 2023
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• List of Drugs For Which Medicare Will Negotiate Prices Announced September 1, 2023
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• Learning From Others June 14, 2023
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• Practice Consolidation and Access to Quality Care May 14, 2023
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• Medicaid Re-Enrollment Begins Again April 1, 2023
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• The Existential Threat of Greed in US Health Care February 7, 2023
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• Oregon Becomes First US State To Guarantee Its Residents Access To Affordable Healthcare January 20, 2023
  January 20, 2023 In the November 2022 general election, Oregon voters narrowly approved Oregon Measure 111, the Right to Healthcare Amendment. The measure amended the state constitution, adding a guarantee of access to affordable healthcare for all Oregon residents. According to Ballotpedia, last accessed Jan. 20, 2023: “Ballot title “The ballot title was as follows:“Amends Constitution: State must ...
• Massive Savings Possible In US Health System October 21, 2021
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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, 2026 by Doug McVay, Editor.