A staggering 1.4 billion people worldwide were living with hypertension in 2024, yet only 22% had their condition under control, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) newly released Global Hypertension Report. The findings, expose a silent but deadly epidemic that continues to claim over 10 million lives annually, despite being both preventable and treatable.
The report, co-hosted by WHO, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Resolve to Save Lives, paints a grim picture of global health systems struggling to contain a disease that contributes to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and dementia.
“Every hour, over 1,000 people die from strokes and heart attacks caused by high blood pressure,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Most of these deaths are preventable. Countries have the tools to change this narrative.”
Yet the data reveals persistent gaps in access, awareness and treatment. Of the 195 countries and territories analyzed, 99 have national hypertension control rates below 20%. The burden is heaviest in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems face chronic resource constraints.
Between 2011 and 2025, cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension are projected to cost low- and middle-income countries US$ 3.7 trillion, equivalent to 2% of their combined GDP. Without urgent reforms, these nations risk deepening economic losses while millions continue to die prematurely.
Blood pressure medication remains one of the most cost-effective public health tools. Yet only 28% of low-income countries report general availability of all WHO-recommended hypertension medicines in pharmacies or primary care facilities. In contrast, 93% of high-income countries meet this benchmark.
“Safe, effective, low-cost medicines to control blood pressure exist, but far too many people can’t get them,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, President of Resolve to Save Lives. “Closing that gap will save lives, and billions of dollars every year.”
The report identifies key obstacles to progress. They include, weak health promotion policies targeting alcohol, tobacco, salt, and trans fats, limited access to validated blood pressure devices, lack of standardized treatment protocols and trained primary care teams, unreliable supply chains and costly medicines, inadequate financial protection for patients and poor data systems to monitor trends
Dr. Kelly Henning of Bloomberg Philanthropies emphasized the urgency: “Countries that integrate hypertension care into universal health coverage are making real progress. But too many are still left behind.”
The WHO urges governments to embed hypertension control into primary health care, invest in supply chains, and adopt strong policies to raise awareness. With political will and sustained investment, the report argues, millions of lives can be saved and the global tide of cardiovascular disease reversed.
