The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a stark projection of a rising global burden of hypertension, warning that the number of individuals affected by the condition may surpass 1.5 billion by the year 2030.
The organisation disclosed this alarming forecast in its newly released “2025 Global Report on Hypertension,” highlighting that millions of people continue to die annually from heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure directly resulting from uncontrolled high blood pressure.
“Over the coming decades, the global burden of hypertension is projected to rise, with the number of affected individuals potentially surpassing 1.5 billion by 2030,” the report stated.
The WHO noted that an estimated 1.4 billion adults aged 30–79 years globally were already living with hypertension in 2024. It explained that this potential increase “is driven by demographic changes, such as population growth and ageing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the largest increases are anticipated.”
The health impact of this surge is expected to be most severe in countries grappling with risk factors such as poor-quality diets high in sodium and low in potassium, widespread tobacco use, increasing rates of overweight and obesity, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and high levels of household and ambient air pollution.
“In addition, settings with ageing populations and limited access to health care or unaffordable services are expected to see increased societal and economic costs, including health care expenditures, lost productivity, and premature mortality. These factors will add further pressure on existing health systems and communities,” the report elaborated.
The global health body also decried the “sobering” state of hypertension control worldwide, noting that despite decades of efforts, progress has been slow and even stagnant in many nations.
Pointing out that “over 1 billion people face [an] avoidable risk of heart attack, stroke and death from uncontrolled high blood pressure every second of every day,” the WHO described uncontrolled hypertension as a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and cognitive decline.
“The global picture of hypertension control remains sobering. Progress has been slow and, in many settings, stagnant. Despite decades of effort, only four countries have reached the target of controlling blood pressure in 50% of affected individuals,” the report revealed.
It further emphasized that “this high global prevalence underscores the urgent need for countries to implement measures for its prevention and control; and the large number of people with uncontrolled hypertension exposes persistent gaps in effective management.”
This global report comes amid rising cases of hypertension in Nigeria, where a significant number of cases remain undiagnosed and untreated, leaving a large portion of the population vulnerable to heart attacks, strokes, and sudden death.
According to the Nigerian Hypertension Society, about one in every three adults in the country has hypertension. The society notes that most people with the condition are unaware of it, and a majority of those who are aware are either not on treatment or are not being properly treated.
Echoing these concerns, a medical practitioner, Dr. Samai’la Musa Gindaus, identified key challenges in managing the condition in Nigeria. He listed late presentation at health facilities, limited access to early diagnosis, low health literacy, and fragmented care as major obstacles, stressing the urgent need for a robust and improved healthcare delivery system to effectively address the growing crisis.
