In a year marked by armed conflict, climate shocks, and tightening health budgets, 2025 still delivered measurable gains for global health. According to the World Health Organization, advances in disease control, vaccination, and international cooperation demonstrated what coordinated, evidence-based action can achieve, even as pressure on health systems intensified across many regions.

WHO described the year as one of contrasts, combining scientific and public health breakthroughs with growing risks linked to underfunding, instability, and service disruptions. The balance between progress and strain, the agency noted, highlights both the potential of global cooperation and the fragility of recent gains.

Breakthroughs in Infectious Disease Elimination

Several countries reached significant milestones in eliminating long-standing infectious diseases. The Maldives became the first country to achieve triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Brazil also eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV, making it the most populous country in the Americas to do so.

Progress extended to neglected tropical diseases. Burundi, Egypt, and Fiji eliminated trachoma, while Guinea and Kenya eliminated sleeping sickness. Niger became the first African country to eliminate river blindness. Since 2010, the number of people requiring treatment for neglected tropical diseases has fallen by nearly one-third, reflecting sustained investment in prevention and treatment.

Tuberculosis and Malaria Trends

Tuberculosis deaths continued to decline, particularly in Africa and Europe, where mortality has fallen by more than 45 percent over the past decade. However, TB still caused an estimated 1.2 million deaths in 2024, with risks remaining high in populations affected by HIV, undernutrition, and weak health services.

Malaria control also advanced. Georgia, Suriname, and Timor-Leste were certified malaria-free, while seven African countries introduced malaria vaccines in 2025. Combined with improved mosquito nets and other tools, these measures helped prevent an estimated 170 million malaria cases and one million deaths in 2024.

Strengthening Global Health Cooperation

Beyond disease-specific outcomes, 2025 marked progress in international health governance. Countries adopted the world’s first Pandemic Agreement and strengthened the International Health Regulations, creating a framework for faster and more equitable responses to future health emergencies.

World leaders also endorsed a political declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health. WHO issued new evidence-based guidance across a wide range of areas, including maternal care, meningitis, diabetes in pregnancy, and child-appropriate cancer medicines.

Health Gains, Unevenly Shared

WHO’s World Health Statistics 2025 report found that 1.4 billion additional people are now living healthier lives, driven by reduced tobacco use, cleaner air, and improved access to safe water and sanitation. Immunisation remained a cornerstone of this progress. Since 2000, global vaccination efforts have reduced measles deaths by 88 percent, saving nearly 59 million lives. In 2025, more countries expanded vaccination against human papillomavirus, bringing global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer closer to target.

However, gaps persist. An estimated 20 million children missed essential vaccines due to conflict, supply disruptions, and misinformation. Maternal and child mortality rates are also declining too slowly to meet global targets, pointing to the need for stronger primary healthcare systems and safer childbirth services.

Funding Pressures and Emergency Response

Funding cuts during 2025 disrupted key services, including maternal health, routine immunisation, HIV prevention, and disease surveillance. WHO warned that prolonged financing shortfalls could reverse hard-won progress.

Despite these constraints, the agency supported emergency health responses in 79 countries and territories, including Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. Assistance included delivering medicines, keeping hospitals operational, supporting vaccination campaigns, and maintaining access to essential care during crises.

Looking Toward 2026

As WHO looks ahead to 2026, it highlights the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement and strengthened International Health Regulations as signals of renewed commitment to preparedness. The agency reaffirmed its founding principle that the highest attainable standard of health should be a universal right, not a privilege.

With sustained investment, scientific collaboration, and international solidarity, WHO argues that recent progress can be protected and expanded, even in an increasingly complex global environment.

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