1 in 6 Bacterial Infections Is Drug-Resistant | WHO Global Report 2025

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is when antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics become less effective. In October 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025, summarizing the global situation.

1 in 6 Cases

According to the report, among laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide in 2023, 1 in 6 was caused by bacteria that were less susceptible to common antibiotics. The data were collected from more than 100 countries participating in WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS). For the first time, this report presented estimated resistance rates for 22 antibiotics used to treat infections of the urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, and bloodstream, as well as gonococcal infections.

Key Figures from the Report
・In 2023, 1 in 6 bacterial infections was caused by bacteria that were less susceptible to antibiotics
・From 2018 to 2023, resistance increased in more than 40% of the monitored combinations, with an average annual rise of 5 to 15%
・1 in 3 in Southeast Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean region; 1 in 5 in the African region

Large Regional Differences

Resistance rates vary by region. In WHO’s Southeast Asia Region and Eastern Mediterranean Region, about 1 in 3 infections were caused by resistant bacteria; in the African Region, the figure was about 1 in 5. The report also states that between 2018 and 2023, resistance increased in more than 40% of the monitored bacteria-antibiotic combinations, with average annual growth of 5 to 15%.

What WHO Is Calling For

WHO is calling on countries to strengthen surveillance systems, take measures to ensure appropriate use of antibiotics, and develop testing and diagnostic systems. Antimicrobial resistance is a long-term challenge that also overlaps with population aging (How WHO Views Global Aging). Statistics on lifestyle-related diseases worldwide are covered in Global Diabetes Cases Reach 830 Million as well.

Reference: World Health Organization (WHO), Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025

※This article introduces statistics and system information published by public institutions and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any specific disease. If you have health concerns, please consult a medical institution.

—The Value Village Editorial Team