Despite decades of progress, tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, killing 1.25 million people in 2023, according to a new WHO report.
Despite being both preventable and curable, tuberculosis (TB) killed more people than any other infection in 2023, according to a March 2025 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The disease claimed 1.25 million lives, including 161,000 people living with HIV.
TB thrives in overcrowded, under-resourced areas, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. It remains the leading cause of death among people with HIV and a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance.
Though global efforts have saved 79 million lives since 2000, progress is slowing. In 2023, only 40% of drug-resistant TB cases were treated.
Symptoms of TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. The disease spreads through the air and mainly affects the lungs.
The WHO is urging coordinated action and an annual $22 billion investment to meet the 2030 goal of ending the epidemic. “TB will continue to thrive in silence,” the report warns, “unless urgent gaps in care and funding are addressed.”