1.4 Billion Living with Hypertension – WHO Discloses

By JKM

An estimated 1.4 billion people around the world are living with hypertension, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest Global Hypertension Report (2024) — a startling figure that highlights one of the most widespread and neglected public health challenges of our time.

Despite being both preventable and treatable, hypertension continues to claim more than 10 million lives every year, largely through heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and dementia. Even more alarming, only 22% of those affected have their blood pressure under control.

The report, produced in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Resolve to Save Lives, shows that nearly half of adults with hypertension remain undiagnosed, while millions more lack access to basic care and affordable medicines.

“Every hour, over 1,000 people die from strokes and heart attacks caused by high blood pressure,” warned Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“Most of these deaths are preventable. Countries have the tools to change this narrative.”

The burden of hypertension falls heaviest on low- and middle-income countries, where weak health systems, medication shortages, and low awareness undermine prevention and treatment. Of 195 countries and territories analyzed, 99 have national hypertension control rates below 20%.

Between 2011 and 2025, cardiovascular diseases — including hypertension — are projected to cost these countries an estimated US$3.7 trillion, or about 2% of their combined GDP, underscoring the severe economic and social toll of inaction.

While blood pressure medicines are proven to be safe, effective, and low-cost, the report reveals stark inequalities in access: only 28% of low-income countries have all WHO-recommended hypertension drugs readily available, compared to 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.

“Closing that gap will save lives — and billions of dollars every year.”

The WHO identifies several critical barriers to progress, including weak policies addressing alcohol, tobacco, salt, and trans fats, lack of validated blood pressure devices, non-standardized treatment protocols, and inadequate data systems to track national trends.

Dr. Kelly Henning of Bloomberg Philanthropies noted that success stories exist where governments have integrated hypertension care into universal health coverage, but many nations remain far behind.

The WHO is calling for countries to embed hypertension screening and management into primary health care, ensure a steady supply of essential medicines, and raise public awareness through strong national policies.

With political commitment and sustained investment, the organization says, the world can prevent millions of premature deaths and turn back what it calls a “global health emergency hiding in plain sight.”