Health data in Thailand have also underlined the human cost of PM2.5 exposure.
Public Health Ministry figures showed that around 3 million Thais suffered from illnesses linked to PM2.5 in 2024, including respiratory, eye and skin-related conditions.
Poor health data weakens responseWHO also warned that gaps in high-quality public-health data remain a major barrier to solving health problems.
Nearly one-third of countries had never reported cause-of-death data at all, and only one-third met WHO standards for high-quality mortality data.
“Investing in stronger, more equitable health systems, including resilient health data systems is essential to target action, close gaps and ensure accountability.”
Health data in Thailand have also underlined the human cost of PM2.5 exposure. Public Health Ministry figures showed that around 3 million Thais suffered from illnesses linked to PM2.5 in 2024, including respiratory, eye and skin-related conditions.
Covid-19 impact still being felt
WHO said the Covid-19 pandemic continued to leave a deep mark on global health.
Between 2020 and 2023, the pandemic was associated with 22.1 million excess deaths, around three times the officially reported Covid-19 death toll. The crisis reversed years of accumulated gains in global life expectancy, while recovery has remained unequal across regions.
Poor health data weakens response
WHO also warned that gaps in high-quality public-health data remain a major barrier to solving health problems.
By the end of 2025, only 18% of countries had reported mortality data to WHO within one year. Nearly one-third of countries had never reported cause-of-death data at all, and only one-third met WHO standards for high-quality mortality data.
Of the roughly 61 million deaths worldwide in 2023, only one-third had recorded cause-of-death information, and only one-fifth were properly coded according to the international standard disease classification, or ICD.
Dr Alain Labrique, WHO’s director of data and digital health, said the data gap limits the ability to monitor health trends in real time, compare outcomes between countries and design effective public-health responses.
WHO calls for investment in equity
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the figures showed both progress and deeply rooted inequality.
“These data tell a story of both progress and persistent inequality, with many people, especially women, children and those in underserved communities, still denied the basic conditions for a healthy life,” he said. “Investing in stronger, more equitable health systems, including resilient health data systems is essential to target action, close gaps and ensure accountability.”
