The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised urgent concerns over the long-term global health impact of COVID-19, according to its 2025 World Health Statistics Report. The report reveals that global life expectancy dropped by 1.8 years between 2019 and 2021, marking the most severe decline in recent history and effectively erasing a decade of health progress.
The effects of the pandemic extend beyond death tolls. It significantly heightened mental health challenges, particularly anxiety and depression, which together reduced healthy life expectancy by six weeks worldwide.
“The world is failing its annual health checkup,” said Dr. Samira Asma, WHO’s Director of Data Analytics and Delivery for Impact. Still, she emphasized that rapid progress is possible with consistent data and improvement-focused programs.
Uneven Progress Toward WHO’s Triple Billion Targets
The report showed mixed success in achieving WHO’s strategic health goals:
- 1.4 billion people gained healthier lives, surpassing the “One Billion” target.
- However, only 431 million people accessed essential health services without financial strain—well below the goal.
- 637 million were better protected from health emergencies, falling short of expectations for resilience building.
Maternal and Child Health Progress Stalling
Though maternal mortality dropped by over 40% and under-5 deaths halved from 2000 to 2023, recent years have seen stagnation. WHO cautions that without intensified efforts, the world risks missing the opportunity to prevent 700,000 maternal and 8 million child deaths between 2024 and 2030.
NCDs Surging, Premature Deaths on the Rise
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)—like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes—now cause over half of all deaths in people under 70. While mortality rates have improved, the absolute number of deaths from NCDs is rising.
Key drivers include:
- Persistent tobacco use
- Inconsistent alcohol reduction efforts
- Poor management of hypertension and diabetes
- Air pollution and unhealthy living conditions
This trend places the world off track to meet the SDG goal of reducing premature NCD deaths by a third by 2030.
Key Obstacles to Global Health
The report highlights several challenges hampering health improvements:
- A projected shortage of 11.1 million health workers by 2030, mainly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Malaria resurgence since 2015 and growing antimicrobial resistance.
- Incomplete recovery in childhood vaccination coverage post-pandemic.
- Continued threats from air pollution, malnutrition, and unsafe environments.
- Disruptions in global health financing, especially affecting low- and middle-income countries.
Glimmers of Hope and Call to Action
Despite the grim outlook, there are positive signs:
- Global tobacco use continues to decline.
- Alcohol consumption dropped from 5.7 to 5.0 litres per capita between 2010 and 2022.
- Progress in sanitation, hygiene, clean water, and air quality has led to better living conditions for many.
The WHO urges urgent, coordinated global action to get back on track and reinvigorate progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
