The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm in its newly released Global Hypertension Report 2025, revealing that 1.4 billion people worldwide live with high blood pressure, but only a little over one in five manage to keep it under control.
Launched during the 80th United Nations General Assembly and co-hosted with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Resolve to Save Lives, the report highlights deep inequities in hypertension care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
A Growing Global Health and Economic Crisis
Hypertension remains a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and dementia. Without urgent action, WHO warns that millions will die prematurely while countries face trillions in economic losses. Between 2011 and 2025 alone, cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, are projected to cost LMICs nearly US$3.7 trillion – about 2% of their GDP.
“Every hour, over 1000 lives are lost to strokes and heart attacks caused by high blood pressure, and most of these deaths are preventable,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Persistent Barriers in Low-Income Countries
Analysis from 195 countries shows that nearly 100 countries record hypertension control rates below 20%. Key obstacles include:
- Weak policies on lifestyle risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, diet, inactivity)
- Poor access to validated blood pressure devices
- Lack of standardized treatment guidelines and trained primary care teams
- Unreliable medicine supply chains and high out-of-pocket costs
- Weak information systems to track and monitor progress
Notably, just 28% of low-income countries report that all WHO-recommended medicines are available in pharmacies or primary care facilities, compared with 93% of high-income countries.
“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.
Country Examples of Progress
Despite challenges, the report points to success stories:
- Bangladesh: Increased control rates from 15% to 56% in some regions by embedding treatment into essential health services.
- Philippines: Rolled out WHO’s HEARTS technical package nationwide.
- Republic of Korea: Reforms that lowered patient costs pushed national control rates to 59% in 2022.
“Countries that integrate hypertension care into universal health coverage are showing real results,” said Dr Kelly Henning of Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Strong policies and expanded access to treatment are critical.”
A Call to Action
WHO is urging governments to embed hypertension care into universal health coverage (UHC) reforms, strengthen primary health care systems, and ensure equitable access to essential medicines.
If fully implemented, the report notes, these measures could save millions of lives and reduce the massive social and economic toll of uncontrolled high blood pressure
