Clinical Scorecard: WHO 2026 Global TB Report: Mortality Misses 2025 Target

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• An estimated 1.13 million people died from TB in 2025, 35% fewer than in 2015; this met the 2020 mortality milestone but missed the 75% reduction target for 2025.
• An estimated 10.6 million people developed TB in 2025. Incidence declined 14% since 2015, below the End TB Strategy milestone of a 50% reduction by 2025.
• The 8.4 million newly diagnosed and officially reported cases represented 79% of estimated incident cases; 59% of newly diagnosed patients initially received a WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic test.
• Only 155,333 of an estimated 370,000 people who developed rifampicin-resistant TB received treatment in 2025; treatment success was approximately 70%, compared with 90% for drug-susceptible TB.
• Preventive therapy reached 60% of people living with HIV newly enrolled in ART and 26% of household contacts. A pooled average of 47% of people treated for TB and their households faced catastrophic costs in surveyed countries.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic tests were initially used for 59% of newly diagnosed patients in 2025; the report identifies universal initial rapid testing by 2027 as the goal.
• Officially reported diagnoses covered 79% of estimated incident cases, with an estimated gap of approximately 2.2 million cases.

Management

• Of an estimated 370,000 people who developed rifampicin-resistant TB, 42% received treatment in 2025.
• Six-month regimens accounted for 42% of rifampicin-resistant TB treatment in 2025, up from 18% in 2024.
• TB preventive therapy was provided to 5.2 million people at elevated risk, including 3.7 million household contacts and 1.5 million people living with HIV.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• The report's estimates were drawn primarily from annual data submitted by national health ministries; 187 countries and areas reported information to WHO in 2026.
• WHO reported global TB incidence, mortality, diagnosis and reporting, treatment coverage and outcomes, preventive therapy coverage, and financial barriers.

Risks

• TB remained the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent worldwide.
• Rifampicin resistance is consequential because rifampicin is the most effective first-line anti-TB drug.
• In 41 national surveys completed between 2015 and 2025, a pooled average of 47% of people treated for TB and their households faced catastrophic total costs, defined as expenses exceeding 20% of annual household income.
• International donor funding across 131 low- and middle-income countries declined 14% in 2025, from $1.1 billion to $940 million in constant 2025 US dollars.

Patient & Prescribing Data

People with TB, including rifampicin-resistant TB; household contacts; people living with HIV; and other people at elevated risk.

In 2025, treatment success was approximately 70% for rifampicin-resistant TB and 90% for drug-susceptible TB. Six-month regimens made up 42% of rifampicin-resistant TB treatment. Preventive therapy coverage was 60% among people living with HIV newly enrolled in ART and 26% among household contacts.

Clinical Best Practices

• The report identifies universal initial use of WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic tests by 2027 as a goal.
• Track the gap between estimated incident TB cases and officially reported diagnoses.
• Monitor rifampicin-resistant TB treatment coverage and outcomes alongside drug-susceptible TB outcomes.
• Track preventive therapy coverage separately for people living with HIV and household contacts.

Related Resources & Content

• WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2026