Home / Health / Global TB Cases Reach Record High in 2024
Global TB Cases Reach Record High in 2024
12 Nov
Summary
- TB diagnoses worldwide rose to 8.3 million in 2024
- TB deaths fell to 1.23 million in 2024, down from 1.25 million
- U.S. TB cases reached highest level in over a dozen years
As of November 12, 2025, the global fight against tuberculosis has faced a significant setback. According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) data, the number of people diagnosed with TB worldwide rose to a record 8.3 million in 2024, up from the previous high in 2023.
While the increase in diagnoses suggests that screening and treatment efforts have improved after the COVID-19 pandemic, the sheer scale of the problem remains alarming. The new figures represent 78% of the estimated 10.6 million people who actually fell ill with TB last year.
On a positive note, the number of deaths caused by TB fell slightly in 2024 to 1.23 million, down from 1.25 million the previous year. However, tuberculosis remains one of the top causes of death globally, and experts worry that recent funding cuts by the U.S. government and other donors could jeopardize the fight against the disease.
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In the United States, TB cases continued to rise, reaching the highest level in more than a dozen years in 2024. The vast majority of these infections were diagnosed in people born outside the country, underscoring the global nature of the challenge.
