The World Health Organization has reported a significant rise in cholera deaths last year, despite seeing overall fewer cases reported.
In 2025, 47 countries, territories, and areas reported 451,499 cholera cases and 7,870 deaths. This is the highest number of annual cholera deaths reported to WHO since 1999.
Seven countries reported more than 10,000 cholera cases: Yemen (93,463 cases; 246 deaths), South Sudan (79,480; 1258), Sudan (73,597; 2161), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (71,168; 2071), Angola (36,341; 895), Nigeria (24,354; 548), and Bangladesh (22,709; no deaths reported). Together, they accounted for 89% of reported cases and 91% of reported deaths.
All seven countries recorded conflict- or disaster-related internal displacement during the year. Angola was the only country to newly exceed 10,000 reported cases in 2025, after reporting no cases in 2024.
Cholera: A significant global health concern
Regionally, Africa reported 245,501 cases and 5338 deaths from 22 countries, the largest regional burden. Cases were 34% higher and deaths 58% higher than in 2024, when countries in the Region reported 183,275 cases and 3375 deaths.
This is followed not too distantly by the Eastern Mediterranean region with 176,654 cases and 2438 deaths.
Ten countries that had reported cases in 2024 submitted a zero report for 2025. Among them, Comoros had the highest 2024 case count (10,692 cases), followed by Iraq (596), Liberia (340), Togo (281), and the Syrian Arab Republic (169).
In total, 81 countries submitted a zero report for 2025, an increase from 58 in 2024, and no data were received from another 77 countries.