WHO presents annual World Health Statistics 2025 report: what does it say about global health priorities?
WHO has presented a new report World Health Statistics 2025, reflecting global trends and progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although rare diseases are not directly analyzed, the document contains a number of data that are important for the formation of all health policies.
Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) is a key indicator reflecting not only the length of life, but also its quality.
From 2000 to 2019, HALE increased by 5.4 years (from 58.1 to 63.5 years). The main contribution was made by a decrease in mortality:
- in children under 5 years of age - due to a decrease in mortality from diarrhea, pneumonia, measles;
- in adults - due to a decrease in mortality from stroke, coronary heart disease, COPD.
However, in 2019–2021, there was a decrease in HALE by 1.6 years - almost a third of the accumulated increase over two decades. The main reasons are:
- COVID-19 mortality (–1.29 years);
- increased incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders (–0.12 years);
- deterioration of health in people over 30 years old.
There is also an increase in the incidence of diabetes, pain syndromes, dementia and other chronic conditions that reduce quality of life.
Universal health coverage (UHC) remains insufficient.
From 2018 to 2024, only 431 million additional people gained access to the services they needed without the risk of financial hardship. This is less than half of the “+1 billion” target. By 2025, the coverage is projected to be 500 million, which remains significantly below the planned level.
The financial burden on households remains high: 13.5% of the world's population spend more than 10% of their family budget on health care. Such expenses are especially critical for chronic and high-cost diseases.
The shortage of health workers persists: in 2023, the global deficit was 14.7 million people, and by 2030, a shortage of 11.1 million is projected, with 70% in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Premature mortality (before age 70) declined from 2000 to 2019, but progress slowed after 2015. Only a third of countries are projected to show an acceleration in the decline in premature mortality by 2050.
Mental health has emerged as a key driver of healthy life years lost.
Anxiety and depressive disorders contributed significantly to the decline in HALE in all regions. Women, despite their higher life expectancy, lose their advantage in healthy years due to chronic conditions, pain, mental health, and gynecological diseases.
Immunization coverage remains uneven within countries.
Differences in coverage persist by maternal income and education. Eliminating these disparities could increase national coverage by 10 percentage points and halve the proportion of children who have not received a single dose of vaccine.
The report highlights the need to reorient health systems to preserve quality of life, ensure financial sustainability of the population and develop human resources. Monitoring HALE and other integral indicators is becoming a key element of health policy on the way to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
