Muhammad Hammad

The World health statistics report is the annual compilation of health and health-related indicators, which has been published by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2005.

The 2026 edition consists of three chapters: Chapter 1 reviews the status of the health-related indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), covering age- and cause-specific mortality, infectious diseases, risk factors for health, and universal health coverage (UHC) and health systems. Chapter 2 presents an in-depth analysis of global and regional estimates of excess mortality associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, life expectancy and healthy life expectancy (HALE). Chapter 3 assesses the availability and quality of country cause-of-death registration as reported to the WHO mortality database. This chapter also presents selected country experiences demonstrating how strengthening civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems improves the quality, completeness and use of mortality data.

The information presented in World health statistics 2026 is based on data available from global monitoring as of March 2026. These data have been compiled primarily from publications and databases produced and maintained by WHO, other United Nations (UN) entities (such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Population Division in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations), UN Inter Agency bodies of which WHO is a member and other international organizations.

Infectious diseases

The report reveals that progress in fighting infectious diseases is falling short of global targets, with HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, and neglected tropical diseases still prevalent. Despite some successes, like a 40% reduction in HIV incidence since 2010 and progress against neglected tropical diseases, many regions are off track to meet 2030 goals. Malaria cases are rising, and antimicrobial resistance is a major threat. Funding cuts risk worsening the situation, affecting billions worldwide.

Risk factors for ill health

The report highlights various health-related risks and their impact on populations. Child malnutrition remains a concern, with 22.4% of children under 5 experiencing stunting in 2024. Anemia affects 30.7% of women aged 15-49 years. Tobacco use is declining, but alcohol consumption is a persistent issue. Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services is improving, but 2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water.

Air pollution is a major threat, with 99% of the global population exposed to unhealthy PM2.5 levels. Adolescent pregnancy and violence against women and girls, including intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence, remain significant concerns, with 682 million women experiencing physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Progress is slow, and many targets are off track to be met by 2030.

UHC and health systems

Progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has slowed, with service coverage improving at a 67% slower rate and financial hardship reductions declining by 23% since 2015. Global immunization progress has stalled, and health workforce shortages persist, with 2.1 billion people facing financial hardship due to out-of-pocket health expenses in 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues, highlighting the need for strengthened health systems, primary health care, and equitable coverage to achieve UHC goals by 2030.

Cause-specific mortality

Global health progress shows mixed results. Maternal mortality declined 40% since 2000 but remains high at 197 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, with the African Region facing the highest burden. Under-5 mortality dropped 51% since 2000, yet 4.9 million children died in 2024, mostly from preventable causes. Noncommunicable diseases caused 18% of premature deaths in 2019, with slow progress.

Road traffic deaths decreased 5.4% since 2010, but 1.18 million died in 2021. Suicide and homicide trends vary regionally. Environmental risks like air pollution (6.6 million deaths in 2021) and unsafe WASH services (1.4 million deaths in 2019) remain major concerns. Progress is uneven, and many targets are off track.

SDG progress to date

Progress towards health-related SDGs is off track, with none of the 52 indicators meeting global targets as of 2025. Most show slow progress, and some can’t be assessed due to data gaps. About 75% of indicators have global data for 2015-2025, but 13% lack trend analysis data, and four indicators have outdated data (pre-2020). Overall, progress is slow and uneven, with insufficient data hindering robust analysis.

COVID-19 pandemic related excess mortality

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an estimated 22.1 million excess deaths globally from 2020-2023, with 57% occurring in males and 65% in people 65+ years. Excess mortality peaked in 2021 (10.4 million) and declined to 3.3 million in 2023. The South-East Asia Region and lower-middle-income countries were disproportionately affected. High-income countries had better mortality data reporting (90%), while low-income countries had none, highlighting the need for strengthened health information systems and targeted interventions to protect vulnerable groups.

Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy

Global life expectancy rose from 67 years in 2000 to 73 years in 2019, with females living longer (76 years) than males (71 years). The COVID-19 pandemic reversed this trend, dropping life expectancy to 71 years in 2021, with recovery to 73 years by 2023. Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) also declined from 63 years in 2019 to 61 years in 2021, recovering to 63 years by 2023. The African Region and low-income countries saw significant gains pre-pandemic, while the Region of the Americas was hardest hit, losing 3 years of life expectancy. Recovery varied, with the African Region surpassing pre-pandemic levels, while high-income countries still lagged behind in HALE by 2023.

Strengthening mortality data systems to enhance mortality surveillance

Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems are crucial for tracking population health but face significant challenges. Only 33% of countries have high-quality mortality data, with most in the Americas and Europe. Many countries, especially in Africa and South-East Asia, have incomplete or low-quality data, hindering health monitoring and response. Delays in reporting are common, with 32% of countries never reporting cause-of-death data to WHO. Strengthening CRVS systems, improving data quality, and investing in digital health infrastructure are essential for informed decision-making and effective public health action.

CRVS strengthening in action: selected country experiences across WHO regions

WHO supports countries in strengthening Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems, establishing standards for medical certification and cause-of-death classification (ICD-11). Countries like Bhutan, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Morocco have made significant progress in improving mortality data quality, coverage, and use by adopting ICD-11, digitalizing systems, and building capacity. These efforts have led to more accurate and timely mortality statistics, enhancing health planning and decision-making. Continued investment in CRVS systems is essential for producing reliable and comparable data.