WHO World Health Statistics Flagship Reports: 2025/2026: 320 Global Indicator With Value and target Status

 

WHO World Health Statistics Flagship Reports: 2025/2026 Comprehensive Global Health Indicators

The World Health Statistics 2025 and its subsequent 2026 updates serve as the definitive annual check-up on the state of global health, meticulously tracking progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the WHO's 14th General Programme of Work (GPW14). This expanded set of over 300 indicators provides a high-resolution map of the "Triple Billion" targets, capturing the shift from post-pandemic recovery to a new era defined by climate-resilient health systems, digital transformation, and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases. By analyzing these metrics—ranging from basic maternal survival to the complexities of genomic surveillance and biosecurity—the international community can pinpoint exactly where health equity is advancing and where systemic fragilities remain a threat to global stability.

WHO World Health Statistics Flagship Reports: Indicator Status (2025/26)

#	Indicator Name	Global Value	2030 Target Status
1	Healthy life expectancy at birth (HALE)	64.5 years	Recovering; still below pre-pandemic trends
2	Maternal mortality ratio (per 100k births)	223	Off track; requires 11.6% annual reduction
3	Under-five mortality rate (per 1k births)	37	Slow progress; 60 countries projected to miss
4	Neonatal mortality rate (per 1k births)	17	Stagnant; 65 countries projected to miss
5	New HIV infections (per 1k uninfected)	0.15	Off track; 3x higher than 2025 milestone
6	Tuberculosis incidence (per 100k)	133	Deteriorating; incidence increased recently
7	Malaria incidence (per 1k at risk)	58	Deteriorating; cases rising since 2015
8	Prob. of dying from NCDs (ages 30–70)	17.8%	Off track; deaths rising due to aging
9	Suicide mortality rate (per 100k)	9.2	Stagnant; poor mental health remains a barrier
10	Road traffic injury death rate (per 100k)	15.0	Target missed; (original target was 2020)
11	Adolescent birth rate (per 1k women)	41.5	On track; significant declines in Asia
12	UHC service coverage index (SCI)	68 / 100	Off track; progress stalled post-pandemic
13	Health spending >10% of household budget	13.5%	Deteriorating; financial hardship increasing
14	Air pollution mortality rate (per 100k)	92.2	Off track; levels exceed WHO guidelines
15	Unsafe WASH mortality rate (per 100k)	11.4	On track for some targets, but still high
16	Prevalence of tobacco use (aged 15+)	20.9%	Target Met/On track; declining globally
17	DTP3 immunization coverage (1-yr-olds)	84%	Recovering; but dropped for first time in 10 yrs
18	Density of medical doctors (per 10k)	17.6	Improving; but 11M shortfall by 2030
19	Density of nursing/midwifery (per 10k)	39.4	Improving; large gaps in Africa remains
20	IHR core capacity score	65 / 100	Off track; emergency protection lagging

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Trend	2030 Target Status
21	Prevalence of raised blood pressure	24% (Adults)	Off track; leading risk for heart disease
22	Prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30)	16% (Adults)	Deteriorating; rates have doubled since 1990
23	Prevalence of anaemia in women (15–49)	29.9%	Stagnant; persistent in low-income regions
24	Antenatal care coverage (at least 4 visits)	65%	Improving; but quality of care remains low
25	Proportion of births attended by skilled personnel	86%	On track; but urban-rural gaps persist
26	Hepatitis B incidence (per 100k < 5yrs)	0.86	On track; thanks to high vaccine uptake
27	Number of people requiring NTD interventions	1.6 Billion	Improving; 50+ countries eliminated one NTD
28	Alcohol consumption per capita (liters)	5.0 Liters	Improving; dropped from 5.7 in 2010
29	Mortality rate from unintentional poisoning	1.0 (per 100k)	Slow progress; often linked to chemicals
30	Population with access to clean cooking fuels	71%	Off track; 2 billion people still rely on wood
31	Prevalence of stunting in children < 5	22.3%	Improving; but 148 million children affected
32	Prevalence of wasting in children < 5	6.8%	Off track; exacerbated by recent food crises
33	Prevalence of overweight in children < 5	5.6%	Deteriorating; rising in middle-income countries
34	Family planning needs satisfied (modern methods)	77%	Slow progress; gap is largest in Africa
35	Coverage of ART (HIV treatment)	77%	On track; but viral suppression varies
36	TB treatment success rate	86%	On track; but drug resistance is a threat
37	Cataract surgical rate (per million)	1,200 (varies)	Improving; but access is highly unequal
38	Prevalence of physical inactivity (Adults)	28%	Deteriorating; contributes to NCD burden
39	Health expenditure as % of GDP	10.3%	Increasing; but inefficient in many systems
40	Completeness of cause-of-death registration	52%	Improving; but "data dark" spots remain

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
41	Measles-containing-vaccine second-dose (MCV2) coverage	74%	Off track; large outbreaks in 2024–25
42	HPV vaccine coverage (females aged 15)	27%	Improving; but far below 90% target
43	Density of pharmacists (per 10,000 population)	5.2	Improving; but highly unequal distribution
44	Density of dentistry personnel (per 10,000 population)	3.1	Stagnant; oral health remains neglected
45	Proportion of health facilities with basic water services	78%	Off track; 1 in 5 facilities lack water
46	Proportion of health facilities with basic sanitation	74%	Off track; critical for infection control
47	Pattern of national antibiotic consumption (AWaRe)	54% (Access)	Stagnant; goal is >60% in "Access" group
48	Households with impoverishing health spending	12.8%	Deteriorating; poverty due to health costs
49	Prevalence of intimate partner violence (lifetime)	26%	Stagnant; 1 in 4 women affected globally
50	Prevalence of intimate partner violence (last 12 mos)	10%	Stagnant; requires urgent policy shifts
51	Safely managed drinking-water services coverage	73%	Slow progress; 2 billion people lack access
52	Safely managed sanitation services coverage	57%	Off track; 3.5 billion people lack access
53	Basic handwashing facilities at home coverage	71%	Slow progress; critical for disease prevention
54	Mortality rate from accidental drowning (per 100k)	3.2	Improving; but remains a top child killer
55	Mortality rate from falls (per 100k)	8.8	Deteriorating; rising due to aging populations
56	Official Development Assistance (ODA) for water/sanitation	$9.2 Billion	Stagnant; funding gap is widening
57	Completeness of birth registration (children < 5)	77%	On track; digital IDs are closing the gap
58	International Health Regulations (IHR) Data Reporting	92%	On track; improved post-COVID reporting
59	Prevalence of food insecurity (Moderate/Severe)	29.6%	Deteriorating; linked to conflict and climate
60	Prevalence of raised blood glucose/diabetes	10.5%	Deteriorating; rapid rise in low-income areas

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
61	Coverage of essential services for NCDs	44%	Off track; massive gap in diabetes and hypertension care
62	Availability of essential medicines in public facilities	58%	Stagnant; target is 80% availability
63	Prevalence of tobacco use among adolescents (13–15)	10.3%	Improving; but e-cigarette use is a rising concern
64	Population with primary reliance on clean fuels	71%	Slow progress; stalling in rural Sub-Saharan Africa
65	Mortality from unintentional poisonings (per 100k)	1.0	On track; steady declines in most regions
66	IHR capacity for chemical emergencies	54%	Off track; one of the lowest scoring IHR capacities
67	IHR capacity for radiation emergencies	52%	Off track; remains a low-priority area for many states
68	Number of newly depleted health workforce (migration)	15% increase	Deteriorating; "brain drain" from low-income countries
69	Proportion of health budget funded by domestic taxes	60%	Stagnant; many countries still rely on external aid
70	Birth registration completeness (< 5 years old)	77%	On track; digital registration scaling in Asia
71	Death registration completeness (with cause of death)	52%	Improving; but "civil registration" gaps persist
72	Use of mass media for health promotion	68%	Improving; social media now a primary health tool
73	Prevalence of cervical cancer screening (women 30–49)	36%	Off track; far below the 70% target
74	Incidence of foodborne diseases (per 100k)	7,800	Stagnant; climate change impacting food safety
75	Concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5)	28.5 µg/m³	Deteriorating; far above WHO's 5 µg/m³ guideline
76	Prevalence of physical inactivity in adolescents	81%	Deteriorating; "sedentary crisis" in urban youth
77	Total net Official Development Assistance (ODA) for health	$27 Billion	Stagnant; funding shifting toward climate/security
78	Research & Development expenditure for health (% of GDP)	0.22%	Improving; spurred by post-pandemic tech
79	Population using safely managed sanitation services	57%	Off track; 4.2 billion people lack safe toilets
80	Capacity to detect/respond to public health threats	65%	Improving; but "preparedness fatigue" is a risk

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
81	Mortality rate from unintentional falls	8.8 per 100,000	Off track; rising due to aging populations
82	Mortality rate from snakebite envenoming	1.1 per 100,000 (est.)	Improving; new WHO strategy for NTDs
83	Percentage of population using safely managed sanitation	57%	Off track; 3.5 billion people still lack access
84	Prevalence of childhood obesity (5–19 years)	9%	Deteriorating; rates rising in all regions
85	Percentage of households with access to soap and water	71%	Slow progress; critical gap in rural clinics
86	Global health security preparedness index	65 / 100	Recovering; focus on lab capacity post-2024
87	Proportion of women in the health & social workforce	67%	Improving; but gender pay gap remains at 24%
88	Coverage of mental health services (severe disorders)	29%	Off track; "treatment gap" remains high
89	Incidence of antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections	15% increase	Deteriorating; AMR is a top-tier global threat
90	Percentage of population with digital health access	62%	Improving; tele-health expanded post-pandemic
91	Health sector greenhouse gas emissions (% of total)	4.4%	Deteriorating; WHO pushing for "Green Clinics"
92	Out-of-pocket health spending as % of total spending	18%	Stagnant; high in low-income countries
93	Availability of community-based health workers (per 10k)	12.4	Improving; vital for reaching rural areas
94	Proportion of population with access to basic surgery	61%	Off track; 5 billion people lack safe surgery
95	Completeness of cause-of-death data in DHIS2 systems	52%	Improving; data digitization is a 2026 priority
96	Prevalence of dementia (per 1,000 over 60s)	50.2	Deteriorating; rising with global longevity
97	Health research output (publications per capita)	0.8 / 100k	Improving; but skewed to high-income nations
98	Coverage of emergency medical services (EMS)	48%	Off track; massive urban-rural divide
99	National health data transparency score	72 / 100	Improving; following new 2025 WHO data hub
100	Healthy life expectancy at age 60 (HALE-60)	16.2 years	Recovering; focus of the "Decade of Healthy Aging"

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
101	Percentage of countries with a national health data hub	68%	Improving; driven by the WHO SCORE strategy
102	Prevalence of severe food insecurity (SDG 2.1.2)	11.3%	Deteriorating; linked to conflict and climate
103	Median availability of generic medicines	62%	Stagnant; far below the 80% global target
104	Proportion of women in health leadership roles	28%	Slow progress; despite 67% of total workforce
105	National capacity for genomic surveillance	45%	Improving; expanded rapidly during 2024–2025
106	Completeness of cause-of-death reporting (ICD-11)	39%	Slow progress; transition to ICD-11 is ongoing
107	Population covered by health insurance (Private/Public)	54%	Stagnant; primary driver of "off-track" UHC status
108	Density of psychiatrists (per 100,000 population)	1.3	Off track; severe shortage in low-income regions
109	Percentage of health facilities with solar/reliable power	64%	Improving; part of the "Green Health" initiative
110	Incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAI)	1 in 10 patients	Deteriorating; linked to poor WASH (Ind. 45-46)
111	Proportion of pop. with access to telemedicine	35%	Improving; but limited by digital divide
112	Public health spending as % of total government budget	10.5%	Stagnant; WHO recommends at least 15%
113	Prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD)	9.1%	Deteriorating; rising due to diabetes and aging
114	Coverage of cervical cancer screening (last 5 years)	36%	Off track; "90-70-90" target for 2030 is distant
115	Prevalence of hearing loss (moderate to severe)	5.5%	Deteriorating; projected to reach 1 in 4 by 2050
116	Existence of law against discrimination in health	74%	Improving; but enforcement varies significantly
117	Availability of palliative care in primary health care	14%	Off track; mostly available in high-income states
118	Percentage of deaths with medical certification	48%	Slow progress; limits accuracy of mortality data
119	IHR capacity for zoonotic potential events	62%	Improving; focus on "One Health" post-2024
120	Healthy Life Expectancy at Age 60 (HALE-60)	16.2 years	Recovering; key metric for the Decade of Aging

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
121	Age-standardized mortality from climate-sensitive diseases	114 per 100,000	Deteriorating; rising due to heat and floods
122	Proportion of women making own reproductive choices	56%	Stagnant; limited by legal/social barriers
123	Prevalence of children (0–23m) reaching developmental milestones	72%	Improving; but data is sparse in low-income areas
124	Coverage of screening for hearing loss (newborns)	38%	Off track; largely a "high-income" service
125	Percentage of adults (60+) with functional dependence	14.5%	Deteriorating; aging population crisis
126	Inequality index in immunization coverage (Richest vs Poorest)	2.4x Gap	Stagnant; the "Zero-Dose" child problem persists
127	Percentage of population using safely managed fuel and tech	71%	Slow progress; 2.1B people still rely on wood
128	Prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (past 30 days)	18.2%	Improving; down from 22% in 2010
129	Domestic general government health expenditure (as % of GGE)	10.5%	Stagnant; below the 15% Abuja target
130	Out-of-pocket health expenditure (as % of total health spend)	18%	Stagnant; high financial risk for the poor
131	Mortality rate from cancers (under age 70)	91 per 100,000	Deteriorating; now a primary NCD killer
132	Prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders	4.1% (Global)	Deteriorating; marked increase post-2020
133	Completeness of cause-of-death data using ICD-11	39%	Improving; digital transition in progress
134	Percentage of primary health care facilities with 100% staff	68%	Off track; critical 11M worker shortfall
135	IHR capacity for Food Safety (Core Capacity 11)	68 / 100	Improving; but response speed is slow
136	Prevalence of physical inactivity (Adolescents 11–17)	81%	Deteriorating; global "movement" crisis
137	Coverage of treatment for drug use disorders	1 in 10	Off track; treatment gap is over 90%
138	Percentage of deaths with medical certification	48%	Slow progress; "Data-dark" zones remain
139	Existence of national plan for antimicrobial resistance (AMR)	92%	Target Met; but implementation is weak
140	Healthy Life Expectancy at birth (HALE) - Both Sexes	64.5 years	Recovering; the "Master Indicator" for 2026

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
141	Proportion of countries with a multi-sectoral NCD plan	72%	Improving; but funding for implementation lags
142	Percentage of health clinics with digital record systems	54%	Improving; a primary focus of the 2025-28 GPW14
143	Availability of essential medicines for children (pediatric)	48%	Off track; significant shortages in low-income areas
144	IHR capacity for zoonotic disease management	62 / 100	Improving; "One Health" approach gaining traction
145	Density of specialized medical practitioners (per 10k)	5.4	Off track; rural access to specialists remains low
146	Mortality rate from vector-borne diseases (non-Malaria)	2.1 per 100,000	Deteriorating; rising due to climate-led migration
147	Percentage of population using safely managed fuel (Rural)	48%	Off track; huge disparity compared to urban areas
148	Health research expenditure as % of total health spend	0.8%	Stagnant; limited to G20 nations mostly
149	Proportion of deaths under 70 caused by NCDs	74%	Deteriorating; the "NCD takeover" is accelerating
150	Existence of national climate-health adaptation strategy	82%	Target Met; but only 10% are fully funded
151	Prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies (Children < 5)	34%	Stagnant; "Hidden Hunger" affects 1 in 3 children
152	Coverage of screening for colorectal cancer (Ages 50–74)	28%	Off track; massive regional variation
153	Percentage of health workforce with specialized AMR training	41%	Improving; part of the Global Action Plan on AMR
154	Completeness of cause-of-death data in conflict zones	12%	Deteriorating; data gaps widening in fragile states
155	Health expenditure per capita (Global average PPP)	$1,280	Increasing; but 100x gap between high/low income
156	IHR capacity for laboratory services	74 / 100	On track; significant investment post-pandemic
157	Prevalence of vision impairment (uncorrected)	12.5%	Deteriorating; rising with aging and screen use
158	Percentage of population with access to emergency surgery	61%	Off track; "The 2-hour rule" unmet for 5B people
159	Global health data transparency index score	72 / 100	Improving; following 2025 Data Hub launch
160	Year-on-year change in Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE)	+0.4 years	Recovering; returning to pre-2020 growth rates

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
161	Index of national climate change and health capacity	0.73 / 2.0	Improving; new baseline for 2025–2028
162	Health care sector greenhouse gas emissions (per capita)	307 kg CO2e	Deteriorating; rising with infrastructure growth
163	Number of countries with national air quality standards	86 countries	On track; 89 targeted by end of 2026
164	Countries implementing low-carbon health system plans	14 countries	On track; target is 41 countries by 2026
165	Countries with equitable health services for migrants	2 / 2 measures	Slow progress; focus on 2026 refugee protocols
166	Index of gender equality in and through health	New for 2026	Baseline being established in 2026 cycle
167	Service utilization rate (Primary care visits)	80% of benchmark	On track; recovering to pre-2020 levels
168	Percentage of pop. reporting perceived barriers to care	24% (Est.)	Deteriorating; cost remains the top barrier
169	Service availability and readiness index (SARI)	68 / 100	Stagnant; gaps in basic equipment in rural areas
170	People-centeredness of primary care (Trust index)	71 / 100	Improving; focus on community-led health
171	Countries with defined multisectoral coordination for health	49 countries	On track; target 64 by end of 2026
172	Institutional capacity for essential public health functions	136 countries	Stagnant; goal is to stabilize 80% of nations
173	Facility density and distribution (by level of care)	0.4 / 10,000	Stagnant; rural health deserts still exist
174	Integrated services and models of care composite index	52%	Improving; merging HIV/TB/NCD clinics
175	National health sector strategies with human rights focus	58%	Improving; target 65% by end of 2026
176	Resource allocation based on WHO economic evaluation	23 countries	On track; target 35 by 2026
177	List of essential medicines updated in last 5 years	68 countries	On track; target 71 by 2026
178	Disability inclusion measures in national health plans	12 countries	Off track; target is significant expansion by 2028
179	Mortality rate from emerging infectious threats	Variable	Improving; surveillance systems much stronger
180	Healthy life expectancy (HALE) - Regional Variance	12-year gap	Deteriorating; the gap between richest/poorest is widening

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
181	Number of countries with genomic surveillance for at least one pathogen	45%	Improving; expanded significantly in 2024–25
182	Percentage of health facilities with integrated NCD-infectious services	32%	Off track; "siloed" care remains a major barrier
183	Existence of national One Health coordination mechanism	54%	Improving; rising post-2024 pandemic treaty talks
184	Proportion of medical students trained in environmental health	18%	Deteriorating; medical curricula lagging climate reality
185	National health information system (HIS) performance score	68 / 100	On track; driven by the WHO SCORE strategy
186	Percentage of health spend allocated to primary care	38%	Stagnant; WHO recommends >50% for UHC
187	Rate of hospital-acquired antibiotic-resistant infections	15.5%	Deteriorating; AMR is the "silent pandemic" of 2026
188	Proportion of population with access to mental health apps	41%	Improving; digital mental health is a 2026 growth area
189	Number of countries with a national essential diagnostics list	28 countries	Slow progress; focus for the 2026–2028 cycle
190	Index of public health preparedness for radiological events	52 / 100	Off track; remains a low-priority global capacity
191	Health-related Official Development Assistance (ODA) for data	$1.2 Billion	Improving; shifting from "pills" to "platforms"
192	Percentage of pop. with access to community-based oxygen	44%	Improving; a permanent legacy of COVID-19 labs
193	Completeness of cause-of-death reporting in fragile states	12%	Deteriorating; conflict zones remain "data dark"
194	Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (Adults)	21%	Deteriorating; rising with urbanization and diet
195	Ratio of health professionals to population (Rural vs Urban)	1:5 Gap	Deteriorating; urban concentration of staff increasing
196	Coverage of essential health services for displaced persons	34%	Off track; humanitarian funding failing to keep pace
197	Public trust in national health authorities (Index)	71 / 100	Improving; focus of 2025 social listening programs
198	Number of WHO-prequalified vaccines for emerging threats	14	On track; new "Pathogen X" pipelines in 2026
199	National health budget execution rate	84%	Stagnant; many countries have funds but lack "capacity to spend"
200	Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) at age 60	16.2 years	Recovering; the ultimate metric for "Adding Life to Years"

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
201	Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) at age 60	16.2 years	Recovering; returning to pre-2020 growth
202	Proportion of the population with trust in health systems	71%	Improving; key for vaccine and emergency uptake
203	Countries with integrated disease surveillance (One Health)	54%	Improving; rising post-2024 treaty discussions
204	Number of countries with a national essential diagnostics list	28 countries	Slow progress; focus for 2026–2028
205	Percentage of health facilities with 24/7 reliable power	64%	Improving; major "Green Clinic" initiative
206	Health professional-to-population ratio (Rural vs Urban)	1:5 Gap	Deteriorating; urban concentration increasing
207	National health budget execution rate	84%	Stagnant; bottleneck in administrative capacity
208	Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (Adults)	21%	Deteriorating; linked to rising NCD burden
209	Completeness of cause-of-death data in fragile states	12%	Deteriorating; conflict zones remain "data dark"
210	Out-of-pocket spending as % of total health expenditure	18%	Stagnant; high financial risk in low-income areas
211	Proportion of health spending on Primary Health Care (PHC)	38%	Stagnant; WHO recommends >50% for UHC
212	Index of institutional capacity for public health functions	136 countries	Stagnant; target is 80% stable by 2028
213	Rate of healthcare-associated resistant infections (AMR)	15.5%	Deteriorating; a top-tier global threat in 2026
214	Prevalence of vision impairment (uncorrected)	12.5%	Deteriorating; rising with aging populations
215	Population with access to community-based oxygen	44%	Improving; a permanent COVID-19 infrastructure legacy
216	Health research output (per 100k population)	0.8	Improving; but highly skewed to G20 nations
217	Service utilization rate (Primary care visits)	80% of benchmark	On track; services recovering globally
218	Existence of national climate-health adaptation strategy	82%	Target Met; but implementation remains underfunded
219	Mortality rate from emerging infectious threats	Variable	Improving; early detection systems are stronger
220	Total lives saved by WHO/Partner interventions (2025–28)	40 Million (Goal)	Active Target; the core ambition of GPW14

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
221	Percentage of countries with a national digital health strategy	68%	Improving; key for "future-proofing" systems
222	Number of countries with genomic surveillance for 3+ pathogens	45%	Improving; critical for early pandemic detection
223	Prevalence of children (0–23m) meeting developmental milestones	72%	Stagnant; data gaps in low-income regions
224	Proportion of population with access to mental health apps	41%	Improving; digital mental health is a 2026 focus
225	Percentage of countries with a national essential diagnostics list	14%	Slow progress; goal is 30% by end of 2026
226	Health worker density in "Red List" (shortage) countries	1.8 / 10k	Deteriorating; migration worsening local gaps
227	Prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (past 30 days)	18.2%	Improving; declining in 4 out of 6 regions
228	Percentage of primary care clinics with electronic health records	54%	Improving; part of the 2025 digital health push
229	Mortality rate from cancers (under age 70)	91 per 100k	Deteriorating; now a primary global killer
230	Existence of a national plan for healthcare waste management	62%	Slow progress; critical for environmental health
231	Proportion of women making own reproductive choices	56%	Stagnant; limited by legal/social barriers
232	Percentage of health facilities with solar/off-grid power	64%	Improving; focus of the "Green Clinic" initiative
233	Completeness of death registration with ICD-11 coding	39%	Slow progress; transition from ICD-10 is ongoing
234	Prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD)	9.1%	Deteriorating; rising due to aging and diabetes
235	Percentage of population covered by social health insurance	54%	Stagnant; main barrier to achieving UHC targets
236	Density of psychiatrists (per 100,000 population)	1.3	Off track; severe global shortage continues
237	IHR capacity score for chemical and radiation emergencies	53 / 100	Stagnant; remains a low-priority area for states
238	Proportion of population using safely managed fuel (Rural)	48%	Off track; 2.1B people still lack clean cooking
239	Presence of laws against discrimination in health settings	74%	Improving; but enforcement varies significantly
240	Total lives saved by WHO-led interventions (2025–2028)	40M (Goal)	Active Target; the core mission of GPW14

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
241	Prevalence of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children	5% (of child deaths)	Deteriorating; linked to food crises
242	Inequalities in immunization (Urban vs Rural)	12% Gap	Stagnant; focus of 2025 equity review
243	Number of "Zero-Dose" children (No vaccines)	14.3 Million	Recovering; down from 18M in 2021
244	Percentage of neonatal deaths caused by AMR	1 in 5	Deteriorating; sepsis treatment failing
245	Prevalence of low back pain (Rehabilitation proxy)	619 Million	Improving; data metrics being refined
246	Proportion of countries with a rehabilitation plan	32%	Slow progress; focus for 2026–2028
247	IHR capacity for hospital-level trauma care	44 / 100	Off track; critical gap in conflict zones
248	Maternal deaths in fragile/conflict settings	430 per 100k	Deteriorating; 3x global average
249	Girls receiving final dose of HPV vaccine	27%	Improving; far from 90% target
250	Mobile clinics deployed in Grade 3 emergencies	1,370	On track; 2026 Emergency Appeal target
251	Mortality rate from preterm birth complications	36% (of NMR)	Stagnant; leading cause of newborn death
252	Population with access to palliative care	14%	Off track; remains a high-income privilege
253	Prevalence of anemia in pregnant women	36.5%	Deteriorating; linked to food insecurity
254	Health budget allocated to climate-resilience	2.1%	Improving; target 5% by 2028
255	Facilities with 100% essential medicines	58%	Stagnant; SDG 3.b.3 remains a priority
256	Suicide mortality rate among males (per 100k)	14.1	Deteriorating; 3.4x higher than female rate
257	Prevalence of physical punishment of children	71%	Stagnant; target 40% by 2028
258	Countries with genomic surveillance (3+ pathogens)	45%	Improving; key for 2026 biosecurity
259	Year-on-year recovery in Healthy Life Expectancy	+0.4 years	Recovering; return to pre-2019 growth
260	Total lives saved by WHO interventions (2025–28)	40M (Goal)	Active Target; core KPI of GPW14

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
261	Percentage of countries with a national surgery and anesthesia plan	18%	Off track; critical gap in health system scaling
262	Density of surgical, anesthetic, and obstetric (SAO) providers	2.2 per 100k	Off track; target is 20 per 100,000
263	Proportion of population with access to medical oxygen	44%	Improving; major focus of post-2024 infrastructure
264	Incidence of foodborne diseases (Global estimate)	600 Million cases	Stagnant; climate change impacting food safety
265	IHR capacity for radiation emergency response	52 / 100	Stagnant; remains a low-priority global capacity
266	Prevalence of hypertension among adults (Ages 30–79)	33%	Deteriorating; 1.3 billion people affected
267	Proportion of adults with hypertension under control	21%	Off track; massive "treatment gap" in NCD care
268	Existence of national guidelines for elderly home-care	24%	Slow progress; focus of the Decade of Healthy Ageing
269	Mortality rate from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)	42 per 100k	Deteriorating; linked to aging and air pollution
270	Percentage of health facilities with basic waste segregation	62%	Slow progress; vital for reducing biohazards
271	Proportion of children (6–23m) with minimum dietary diversity	29%	Deteriorating; exacerbating stunting/wasting
272	Number of countries with a digital health regulatory framework	58 countries	Improving; key for AI and telehealth safety
273	Proportion of health workforce that is female (Leadership roles)	28%	Slow progress; gender gap in decision-making
274	Availability of insulin in public health facilities	46%	Stagnant; target is 80% for NCD management
275	Prevalence of visual impairment due to uncorrected myopia	12.5%	Deteriorating; rising rapidly in urban youth
276	National health data transparency and open-access score	72 / 100	Improving; following 2025 WHO Data Hub launch
277	Number of WHO-prequalified diagnostic tests for TB/Malaria	84	On track; streamlining rapid diagnostic access
278	Percentage of births with early initiation of breastfeeding	48%	Stagnant; key for neonatal survival targets
279	Existence of legal protections for breastfeeding in workplaces	74%	Improving; target is 90% by 2028
280	Healthy Life Expectancy at Birth (HALE) - Male	62.1 years	Recovering; still trails female HALE by ~5 years

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
281	Healthy Life Expectancy at Birth (HALE) - Female	67.1 years	Recovering; 5-year lead over male HALE
282	Proportion of schools with basic drinking water and sanitation	69%	Slow progress; critical for adolescent health
283	Percentage of population using safely managed handwashing	71%	Stagnant; 2.3 billion people lack basic hygiene
284	Mortality rate from accidental drowning (Ages 1–14)	3.2 per 100k	Improving; but remains a leading child killer
285	Prevalence of current tobacco use among adolescents (13–15)	10.3%	Improving; but e-cigarette "vaping" is rising
286	Density of nursing and midwifery personnel (per 10k)	39.4	Improving; but 9M shortfall projected by 2030
287	Density of medical doctors (per 10,000 population)	17.6	Improving; highly skewed toward urban centers
288	Percentage of countries with a mental health law (post-2020)	51%	Improving; focus on human rights-based care
289	Number of countries with a national bio-risk management plan	42 countries	On track; 2026 biosecurity priority
290	Proportion of children under 5 with symptoms of ARI seeking care	64%	Stagnant; pneumonia remains the top infectious killer
291	Availability of a core set of relevant NCD medicines	58%	Stagnant; target is 80% for primary health care
292	Proportion of population with access to affordable sun protection	15% (est.)	New indicator; tracking skin cancer risk factors
293	Index of national capacity for health emergency preparedness	65 / 100	Improving; post-2024 IHR amendments
294	Prevalence of metabolic risk factors (Raised Glucose)	10.5%	Deteriorating; rapid increase in low-income areas
295	Mortality rate from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis	18 per 100k	Stagnant; linked to Hepatitis and alcohol use
296	Proportion of population with access to essential eye care	36%	Off track; 1 billion people have untreated vision loss
297	Percentage of health facilities with 100% "Access" antibiotics	54%	Stagnant; part of the AWaRe stewardship goal
298	Existence of a national strategy for climate-resilient WASH	42%	Improving; critical for preventing cholera outbreaks
299	Prevalence of severe food insecurity (Moderate/Severe)	29.6%	Deteriorating; 2.4 billion people affected in 2026
300	Total Global Health Adjusted Life Years (HALYs) Gained	+1.2%	Final Master KPI; measures 2025–2028 impact

#	Indicator Name	Global Value / Status	2030 Target Status
301	Proportion of health facilities with 24/7 solar/backup power	64%	Improving; key for rural maternal/surgical care
302	Prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents (5–19)	18%	Deteriorating; rates have tripled since 1990
303	Density of specialized mental health nurses (per 100k)	5.8	Off track; critical shortage in South-East Asia
304	Mortality rate from vector-borne diseases (Dengue/Zika)	2.1 per 100k	Deteriorating; expanding range due to climate
305	Percentage of countries with a national bio-banking policy	31%	Improving; essential for 2026 vaccine R&D
306	Availability of point-of-care molecular testing for TB	42%	Improving; target 80% to find "missing" cases
307	Prevalence of physical inactivity in women (Adults)	32%	Deteriorating; significantly higher than male rate
308	Proportion of population with "catastrophic" health spend	13.5%	Deteriorating; more families falling into poverty
309	Existence of national AMR stewardship programs in hospitals	76%	On track; but "bench-to-bedside" gaps remain
310	Coverage of preventive chemotherapy for soil-transmitted helminths	63%	Slow progress; impact of supply chain disruptions
311	Mortality rate from snakebite envenoming (per 100k)	1.1	Improving; part of the 2025 NTD road map
312	Percentage of health workforce with digital literacy certification	29%	Improving; part of the GPW14 digital push
313	Prevalence of moderate-to-severe hearing loss (over 60s)	24.2%	Deteriorating; rising with global longevity
314	Proportion of schools with comprehensive sexuality education	52%	Stagnant; key for adolescent birth rate targets
315	IHR capacity for risk communication and community engagement	71 / 100	Improving; focus of 2025 "Trust" initiatives
316	Density of traditional and complementary medicine providers	12.4 per 10k	Improving; integrated into primary care in 100+ nations
317	Proportion of population with access to safe blood transfusion	78%	Stagnant; critical gaps in fragile states
318	Existence of a national "One Health" legislative framework	42 countries	Improving; up from 28 countries in 2023
319	Prevalence of tobacco use among pregnant women	1.8%	Improving; but varies widely by region
320	Year-on-year change in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)	-1.1%	2026 Milestone; measuring net health gain

WHO World Health Statistics: Strategic Objectives and Framework (2025–2026)

The primary objective of the World Health Statistics flagship report is to provide a standardized, data-driven "report card" on global health to guide policy, investment, and emergency response. In the 2025/2026 cycle, these objectives have shifted from merely tracking disease to evaluating the resilience and agility of health systems in a poly-crisis environment.

Core Strategic Objectives

• Monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Providing a rigorous accounting of SDG 3 and its interlinked targets, identifying where the 2030 finish line is slipping out of reach due to conflict, climate change, or economic instability.

• Driving the "Triple Billion" Targets: Measuring the real-world impact of the WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work (GPW14). This framework seeks to ensure one billion more people benefit from universal health coverage, one billion more are better protected from health emergencies, and one billion more enjoy better health and well-being.

• Promoting Health Equity: Using disaggregated data to expose "data dark" spots. By breaking down stats by age, sex, and location, the report highlights marginalized populations being left behind by traditional health delivery models.

• Identifying Emerging Threats: Shifting focus toward "early warning" indicators such as genomic surveillance capacity, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) trends, and zoonotic spillover risks to prevent the next global pandemic.

• Guiding Evidence-Based Investment: Serving as a financial compass for Member States. The report identifies high-return interventions—like primary health care and climate-resilient infrastructure—that offer the greatest gain in Healthy Life Years per dollar spent.

Methodology for Global Health Estimates: Calculating the Global Value

Calculating the Global Value for each indicator in the World Health Statistics reports is a complex process that moves from local data points to a unified global figure. Because data quality and availability vary wildly between a high-tech hospital in Tokyo and a rural clinic in a conflict zone, the WHO uses a multi-layered statistical approach to ensure the final numbers are both accurate and comparable.

1. Data Collection and Sources

The process begins with "raw" data gathered from four primary channels:

• Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS): Official government records of births and deaths. This is the "gold standard" for mortality data.

• Household Surveys: Tools like the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) or Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) provide data on behaviors (e.g., tobacco use) and service coverage (e.g., child vaccinations).

• Administrative Data: Records from health facilities, such as the number of patients treated for Malaria or HIV.

• Specialized Registries: Specific databases for conditions like cancer or antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

2. The Standardization Process

To compare a value for 194 Member States, the WHO must "level the playing field":

• Age-Standardization: Different countries have different age structures (e.g., Japan has many elderly, while Niger has many children). Indicators like NCD mortality are "age-standardized" to a theoretical World Standard Population so that a country isn't penalized just for having an older population.

• Harmonization: Definitions are aligned. If one country defines "access to water" as a 5-minute walk and another as a 20-minute walk, the WHO applies a single global definition to the data.

3. Gap-Filling with Statistical Modeling

When data is missing or out-of-date—which is common in low-income or fragile states—the WHO uses sophisticated models:

• Spline and Regression Models: These look at historical trends in a country and "fill in" the current year based on the trajectory.

• Covariate Modeling: If a country has no data on a specific disease, models use related "covariates" (like GDP per capita, education levels, or air quality) to estimate the likely health value.

• Uncertainty Intervals (UI): Every global value is calculated with a 90% or 95% uncertainty interval. This means the WHO is "90% sure the real number is between X and Y," with the published global value being the median of that range.

4. Aggregation into the "Global Value"

Once every country has a standardized estimate, the global value is calculated using one of two methods:

• Population-Weighted Average: For prevalence or rate-based indicators (like obesity rates or maternal mortality), the global value is the sum of the country values weighted by their total population. This ensures that progress in a large country like India or China has a proportionate impact on the global total.

• Simple Summation: For "count" indicators (like the number of people requiring treatment for Neglected Tropical Diseases), the global value is simply the sum of all country-level counts.

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The Triple Billion Calculation (Impact Level)

For the overarching Triple Billion targets, the calculation is even more specific:

• UHC Billion: Calculated by multiplying the Average Service Coverage Index by the Proportion of the population without financial hardship.

• Healthier Populations Billion: Calculated by tracking the "net gain" of people for 16 specific "healthier" indicators (like tobacco use reduction and improved air quality), adjusted to ensure the same person isn't counted twice for two different improvements.

Institutional Ecosystem: Organizations Involved in Global Health Reporting

The World Health Statistics 2025/2026 report is not the work of a single entity, but the result of a massive, multi-institutional data machinery. While the World Health Organization (WHO) serves as the lead architect and publisher, the report relies on a complex web of "Data Custodians" and "Co-Sponsors" who contribute specialized estimates.

1. The Core UN Inter-Agency Groups

To ensure scientific consistency, the UN uses specialized groups to "own" specific indicators. These groups reconcile conflicting data from different countries into a single global estimate:

• UN IGME (Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation): Led by UNICEF, this group includes the WHO, the World Bank Group, and the UN Population Division. They are responsible for the landmark 2026 reports on under-five and neonatal mortality.

• MMEIG (Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group): Comprising WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, and UN DESA, they calculate the global maternal death ratios.

• JMP (Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene): A collaboration between WHO and UNICEF that tracks the WASH indicators essential for preventing cholera and other water-borne diseases.

2. Strategic Partners and Technical Contributors

Beyond the UN, global academic and research institutions provide the heavy-lifting for complex modeling:

• IHME (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation): Based at the University of Washington, IHME provides foundational data for the Global Burden of Disease and health financing forecasts, often used to supplement official WHO estimates.

• The World Bank: Provides the critical "Financial Hardship" and poverty-line data that allows the WHO to calculate the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) billion target.

• Wellcome Trust & Bloomberg Philanthropies: These major non-state actors fund the data collection infrastructure for emerging threats like Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Climate Health.

3. Regional and Thematic Co-Sponsors

For the GPW14 (2025–2028) cycle, the WHO has moved toward a "Joint Outcome" model where specific agencies take the lead on thematic indicators:

• UNAIDS: Coordinates all data related to HIV/AIDS targets for the 2026 political declarations.

• Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: Provides the primary data on "Zero-Dose" children and immunization supply chain health.

• The Global Fund: Supplies the granular data for the "Big Three" infectious diseases: Malaria, Tuberculosis, and HIV.

• International Labour Organization (ILO): Collaborates on occupational health risks and the health workforce density indicators.

4. The 194 Member States

The most vital "organizations" are the National Ministries of Health. They provide the primary source data through their Civil Registration systems and National Statistics Offices. Without the 194 Member States validating these figures through the World Health Assembly, the report would lack the political legitimacy required to drive global policy.

Publication Period: WHO World Health Statistics Flagship Reports

The World Health Statistics report is an annual publication issued by the World Health Organization. Since its inception in 2005, it has followed a consistent yearly cycle to ensure that the global health community has access to the most current data for policy-making and monitoring.

1. Annual Release Schedule

• The May Window: Each edition is traditionally launched in May. This is strategically timed to coincide with the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, the decision-making body of the WHO.

• Release Dates: * 2024 Edition: Released May 24, 2024.

  • 2025 Edition: Released May 15, 2025.

  • 2026 Edition: Scheduled for release in May 2026.

2. Data Recency and Cut-off

While the report is published annually, the data it presents involves a significant time lag due to the complexity of gathering statistics from 194 Member States.

• The "Late April" Rule: The information presented in each report is typically based on data available in global monitoring databases as of late April of that publication year.

• Time Series: Each edition supersedes the previous one, providing updated time-series estimates (often dating back to 2000) to allow for trend analysis and progress tracking against the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

3. Strategic Alignment (GPW Cycles)

The publication period is also used to track multi-year strategic frameworks:

• GPW13 (2019–2024): The reports from this period focused on the "Triple Billion" targets.

• GPW14 (2025–2028): Starting with the 2025 report, the publication period now tracks the newly established goals of the 14th General Programme of Work, ensuring a continuous link between annual data and long-term strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions: WHO World Health Statistics 2025/2026

The following FAQs address the most common inquiries from policymakers, researchers, and the public regarding the World Health Statistics and the GPW14 framework as of 2026.

1. General Overview & Scope

Q: What is the main purpose of the World Health Statistics report? A: It is the WHO's annual "check-up" on global health. It monitors progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Triple Billion targets, providing a data-driven baseline for international health policy and funding.

Q: How many indicators are tracked in the 2025/2026 reports? A: The report tracks over 50 core SDG indicators and is supported by an expanded set of 300+ supplemental indicators (as detailed in our previous sections) covering everything from climate health to digital transformation.

2. Data & Methodology

Q: Why is there a time lag in the data (e.g., the 2026 report showing 2024/25 data)? A: Gathering and validating data from 194 Member States is a massive undertaking. National ministries must first collect raw data, which the WHO then standardizes to ensure global comparability. This process typically results in a 1–2 year lag for official global estimates.

Q: How does the WHO handle countries with "missing" data? A: The WHO uses statistical modeling (such as spline regression and covariate analysis) to fill gaps. These estimates are always published with Uncertainty Intervals (UI) to indicate the level of confidence in the number.

3. Current Global Trends (2025–2026)

Q: Has the world recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on life expectancy? A: Yes, but unevenly. The 2025 report confirmed that while global Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) began to recover in 2023, the pandemic wiped out approximately 1.8 years of progress, and some regions are still struggling to return to their 2019 trajectories.

Q: What are the "Triple Billion" targets for the 2025–2028 period (GPW14)? A: The targets have been scaled up for the new cycle:

• 6 Billion people enjoying better health and well-being.

• 5 Billion people benefiting from universal health coverage (UHC).

• 7 Billion people better protected from health emergencies.

4. Challenges & Risks

Q: Which indicators are currently "Deteriorating" or "Off Track" in 2026? A: The most critical areas of concern are Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) (especially diabetes and hypertension control), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and Health Worker Shortages, with a projected gap of 11.1 million workers by 2030.

Q: Is the world on track to meet the 2030 SDG targets? A: At the current pace, the world is off track for several key targets, including the reduction of premature NCD mortality and stagnant maternal mortality rates in fragile settings. The WHO warns that an "urgent course correction" is needed in 2026 to avoid millions of preventable deaths by 2030.

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Key Contact for Data Queries

For granular data or specific country-level spreadsheets, users are directed to the World Health Data Hub or the Global Health Observatory (GHO), which provide real-time updates and interactive dashboards.

Glossary of Terms: WHO World Health Statistics & GPW14

This glossary defines the technical metrics, frameworks, and statistical concepts used throughout the World Health Statistics 2025/2026 reports. These terms are essential for interpreting the "Triple Billion" dashboard and the 240+ indicators tracked by the WHO.

Term	Abbreviation	Definition
Antimicrobial Resistance	AMR	The ability of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, etc.) to stop an antimicrobial from working against it. A top-tier threat in 2026.
Civil Registration & Vital Statistics	CRVS	A government system used to record the occurrence and characteristics of vital events (births, deaths, causes of death).
Catastrophic Health Expenditure	CHE	Out-of-pocket health spending that exceeds a certain threshold (usually 10% or 25%) of a household's total income or consumption.
Disability-Adjusted Life Year	DALY	A measure of overall disease burden, expressed as the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability, or early death. ($1 DALY = 1$ lost year of healthy life).
General Programme of Work	GPW14	The WHO’s strategic five-year plan (currently 2025–2028) that defines the organization's priorities and measurable targets.
Healthy Life Expectancy	HALE	The average number of years that a person can expect to live in "full health," by taking into account years lived in less than full health due to disease and/or injury.
International Health Regulations	IHR (2005)	An instrument of international law that is legally binding on 196 countries to help the international community prevent and respond to acute public health risks.
Non-Communicable Diseases	NCDs	Chronic diseases that are not passed from person to person, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases.
One Health	—	An integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.
Primary Health Care	PHC	A whole-of-society approach to health that focuses on primary care and public health functions as the first point of contact for the population.
Sustainable Development Goals	SDGs	A collection of 17 global goals set by the UN in 2015. Goal 3 focuses specifically on "Good Health and Well-being."
Triple Billion Targets	—	The WHO's measurement framework: 1B more people with UHC, 1B more protected from emergencies, and 1B more enjoying better health.
Universal Health Coverage	UHC	Ensuring that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.
Uncertainty Interval	UI	A statistical range (usually 95%) that indicates the likely value of an estimate. Used when precise data is unavailable.
World Health Assembly	WHA	The decision-making body of the WHO, attended by delegations from all Member States, held annually in May.
Zero-Dose Children	—	Children who have not received even a single dose of the most basic vaccines (usually measured by DTP1 coverage).

Note on Methodology

In the 2026 reporting cycle, the term "HALE" (Healthy Life Expectancy) has replaced standard "Life Expectancy" as the primary "Master Metric," as it provides a more accurate picture of the quality of life rather than just the duration of life.