The WHO African Region has achieved significant health gains over the past two decades, recording the fastest increase in life expectancy globally since 2000. Life expectancy rose to 64.5 years in 2019, while healthy life expectancy increased from 47.1 years in 2000 to 56.1 years in 2019. These improvements reflect sustained investments in health systems and disease control efforts across the Region.

Despite this progress, major challenges persist. The Region continues to experience one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally (531 per 100,000 live births in 2020), with substantial disparities in fragile settings. Access to reproductive health services remains limited, with contraceptive prevalence at 28% and 43.7% of women lacking access to modern contraceptives. Child health indicators show improvement; however, one in five children still miss basic vaccinations, and malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies remain widespread.

The African Region carries a disproportionate share of the global burden of infectious diseases. In 2021, 24.3 million adults were living with HIV, 2.5 million tuberculosis cases were reported, and 234 million malaria cases occurred. While antiretroviral therapy coverage has reached 68.7% and malaria incidence has declined significantly since 2000, the Region remains the epicenter of these diseases globally.

At the same time, the Region is undergoing a rapid epidemiological transition. Noncommunicable diseases are rising sharply, with 33% of adults experiencing raised blood pressure, a 45% increase in adult obesity since 2005, and 24 million people living with diabetes—over half of whom remain undiagnosed. Cancer incidence continues to grow, with survival rates below 20% in many settings.

Demographic pressures compound these health challenges. The Region is home to 255.8 million adolescents, with high adolescent birth rates (99 per 1,000 girls) and significant mental health burdens. Violence, injuries, and road traffic deaths further contribute to premature mortality. Climate change represents an escalating threat, with 622 disasters recorded between 2010 and 2020 and projected additional mortality and economic costs in the coming decades.

Health system capacity remains constrained, with only 2.9 doctors and 12.9 nurses or midwives per 10,000 population - well below global benchmarks. Persistent workforce shortages, financing gaps, antimicrobial resistance, and weak civil registration systems hinder effective service delivery and policy planning.

In summary, while the WHO African Region has made measurable progress in survival and disease control, gains remain uneven and vulnerable. The coexistence of infectious diseases, rising noncommunicable conditions, rapid population growth, climate vulnerability, and systemic health constraints underscores the need for integrated, equity-focused, and resilient health strategies. Strengthening primary health care, expanding reproductive and adolescent health services, investing in health workforce capacity, and building climate-resilient systems will be essential to achieving Health for All and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063.