WHO Report Shows Health Progress Stalled Since Pandemic

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest World Health Statistics 2025 report, reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major setbacks in global health, most notably reversing a decade of gains in life expectancy and healthy living.

“This report shows that the world is failing its health checkup. But countries have shown that rapid progress is possible. With speed, scale, and smart investments, every country can deliver measurable gains,”  says Samira Asma, Assistant Director-General for Data, Analytics, and Delivery for Impact, WHO.

Between 2019 and 2021, global life expectancy dropped by 1.8 years which represents the sharpest decline in recent history. The report highlights that increased anxiety and depression during the pandemic reduced global healthy life expectancy by six weeks, effectively nullifying progress made against noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) during the same period.

The report also tracks progress toward WHO’s Triple Billion targets: healthier populations, universal health coverage, and better protection from health emergencies. While 1.4 billion more people were living healthier lives by the end of 2024, surpassing the 1 billion goal — progress in access to essential health services and protection from emergencies continues to lag. Only 431 million people gained access to essential health services without financial hardship, and about 637 million more people were better protected from emergencies.

“These are avoidable tragedies. They point to critical gaps in access, protection, and investment — especially for women and girls,” says Tedros Adhanom, Director General, WHO.

The report notes that maternal and child mortality rates are no longer declining fast enough to meet global targets. Between 2000 and 2023, maternal deaths dropped by over 40% and deaths of children under five fell by more than half. However, recent progress has stalled due to underinvestment in primary healthcare, workforce shortages, and service disruptions. Without corrective action, an estimated 700,000 maternal deaths and 8 million under-five deaths could occur between 2024 and 2030.

Premature deaths from NCDs — including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer — are now the leading causes of death among people under 70. The world remains off track to reduce NCD premature mortality by one-third by 2030. However, the report cites encouraging trends where governments have implemented strong public health measures: tobacco use is down, and per capita alcohol consumption fell from 5.7 to 5.0 liters between 2010 and 2022.

Despite signs of recovery, essential health services have not returned to normal. A global shortfall of 11.1 million health workers is projected by 2030, with most of the deficit affecting the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions. Air pollution remains a top preventable cause of death, and mental health challenges continue to weigh on global health systems.

Progress on infectious diseases is uneven. HIV and tuberculosis cases are declining, and fewer people require treatment for neglected tropical diseases. However, malaria has resurged since 2015, and antimicrobial resistance remains a challenge. Childhood immunization rates, particularly for the DTP3 vaccine, have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Underlying health risks such as malnutrition, air pollution, and unsafe living conditions continue to hinder progress. In addition, recent disruptions to international aid threaten to reverse gains in countries with the highest healthcare needs. WHO stresses the need for sustained domestic and international investment to protect current progress and address emerging threats.