cases globally account – New Delhi: Even though the number of TB cases in India has declined by an impressive 21%, the country was expected to account for 25% of all new TB cases globally in 2024, according to the WHO Global TB Report 2025. TB incidence in India – the number of new cases reported each year – is expected to fall from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024, almost double the global rate of decline.

(12%), making it one of the steepest reductions recorded in high-burden countries. The report said 30 high TB-burden countries account for 87% of total global TB cases, with India, Indonesia, the Philippines, China and Pakistan accounting for more than half (55%) of all new infections. The South-East Asia region alone contributed 34% of global cases, followed by the Western Pacific (27%) and Africa (25%).

According to a statement issued by the Health Ministry, India’s sharp decline reflects intensive efforts under the TB Free India campaign, supported by innovative case-finding strategies, adoption of advanced diagnostic technologies and large-scale community mobilization. Treatment coverage increased from 53% in 2015 to more than 92% in 2024.

Of the estimated 27 lakh cases, 26. 18 lakh patients were diagnosed, reducing “missing” TB cases from 15 lakh to less than one lakh.

Treatment success rates reached 90%, above the global average of 88%, with no major increase in multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).