The World Health Organisation has disclosed that an estimated 1.13 million people died from tuberculosis worldwide in 2025, warning that the infectious disease remains a major global public health threat despite improvements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
The organisation revealed this in its 2026 Global Tuberculosis Report, released on Thursday, November 12, 2026, which estimated that 10.6 million people developed the disease globally during the year under review.
According to the report, tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent worldwide, although the number of deaths has continued to decline over the past decade.
WHO said TB-related deaths dropped by four per cent in 2025 compared with approximately 1.18 million deaths recorded in 2024. It also reported a 35 per cent reduction in deaths between 2015 and 2025.
The decline represents an important milestone in the organisation’s End TB Strategy, although the achievement came five years behind the original schedule.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the reduction in infections and deaths as encouraging, particularly amid financial difficulties affecting healthcare programmes across several countries.
He, however, warned that the number of people dying from a preventable and treatable disease remained unacceptably high.
The report identified significant gaps in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, noting that only 8.4 million of the estimated 10.6 million people who developed the disease in 2025 were diagnosed.
This means approximately 2.2 million people were either undiagnosed or unreported, raising concerns about continued transmission within communities.
WHO also disclosed that only 59 per cent of newly diagnosed patients initially received a WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic test, despite the global target of achieving universal access to such testing by 2027.
On the global distribution of infections, the report identified 30 high-burden countries accounting for 88 per cent of all tuberculosis cases recorded in 2025.
Nigeria was among the eight countries responsible for approximately two-thirds of global infections, accounting for 4.9 per cent of the worldwide total.
Other countries on the list include India, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Bangladesh.
The organisation further raised concerns over drug-resistant tuberculosis, estimating that 370,000 people developed rifampicin-resistant TB in 2025.
However, only 42 per cent of those affected received treatment, highlighting the need for improved access to specialised diagnosis and effective medication.
On funding, WHO reported that domestic investment in tuberculosis programmes increased by 14 per cent to $5.6bn between 2024 and 2025. However, international financing declined by a similar proportion, creating challenges for countries dependent on external assistance.
The report also stressed the importance of increased investment in research, vaccines, improved diagnostic tools and shorter treatment options.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that primarily affect the lungs. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or spits.
Common symptoms include persistent coughing, chest pain, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite.
WHO emphasised that tuberculosis can be prevented and cured when detected early and treated appropriately.
The organisation estimated that effective treatment had saved approximately 86 million lives worldwide between 2000 and 2025.
It urged governments to strengthen healthcare systems, expand access to early diagnosis, protect funding for treatment programmes and intensify public awareness campaigns to reduce infections and prevent avoidable deaths.
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