The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released its World Health Statistics 2026 report, revealing that progress towards the health-related Sustainable Development Goals is too slow. The WHO warns that none of the numeric targets for the health-related goals is on track globally. With fewer than five years remaining, progress has stalled due to deeply interconnected factors.
The historic setback of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing 22.1 million excess deaths, erased a decade of life expectancy gains. At the same time, a severe health financing crisis and declining international aid have crippled public healthcare systems. Consequently, universal health coverage has decelerated, leaving billions facing financial hardship.
Pervasive inequalities continue to hinder progress, with a disproportionate burden falling on low-income countries and notable regional variations. Environmental risks remain a leading threat; exposure to air pollution alone caused 6.6 million preventable deaths in 2021.
On a positive note, access to vital services has expanded significantly between 2015 and 2024, with 961 million more people gaining access to safely managed drinking water and 1.2 billion gaining access to safely managed sanitation. Nevertheless, severe disparities persist, with billions remaining unserved and rural communities continuing to lag far behind urban areas.