📉 Tuberculosis deaths have decreased by 29 percent globally since 2015

📉 Tuberculosis deaths have decreased by 29 percent globally since 2015

Global tuberculosis deaths fell to 1.23 million – the lowest number ever recorded. Since 2000, tuberculosis treatment has saved an estimated 83 million lives. Over 100 countries have reduced mortality by at least 20 percent since 2015.

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  • Global tuberculosis deaths fell by 29 percent between 2015 and 2024, to 1.23 million – the lowest number ever recorded.
  • Since 2000, tuberculosis treatment has saved an estimated 83 million lives.
  • Over 100 countries have reduced mortality by at least 20 percent since 2015.

Lowest number of deaths ever recorded

Tuberculosis deaths fell to 1.23 million in 2024. This is the lowest number ever recorded and a 29 percent decrease since 2015. The development shows a return to long-term progress after the pandemic years.

The global rate of people falling ill with tuberculosis decreased by nearly two percent between 2023 and 2024. Deaths fell by three percent during the same period.

Since 2000, tuberculosis treatment has saved an estimated 83 million lives. WHO's new global tuberculosis report for 2025 shows that 8.3 million people were diagnosed with tuberculosis and gained access to treatment during 2024.

Major progress in Africa and Europe

WHO's African region achieved a 28 percent reduction in the number of new tuberculosis cases per 100,000 population between 2015 and 2024. Deaths in the same region decreased by 46 percent.

The European region had even larger reductions. The number of new cases fell by 39 percent and deaths decreased by 49 percent during the same period.

Over 100 countries achieved at least a 20 percent reduction in new tuberculosis cases. 65 countries reduced tuberculosis-related deaths by 35 percent or more.

Improved diagnostics and treatment

Coverage of rapid testing for tuberculosis diagnosis increased from 48 percent in 2023 to 54 percent in 2024. Treatment for drug-susceptible tuberculosis maintained its high effectiveness with a success rate of 88 percent.

The number of people developing drug-resistant tuberculosis each year has decreased. Over 164,000 people received treatment for this form of tuberculosis during 2024. Treatment success improved to 71 percent, an increase from 68 percent the previous year.

5.3 million people at high risk of tuberculosis received preventive treatment in 2024, compared to 4.7 million in 2023.

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